(a) Pre-operation inspection
. Each public aquatic facility shall pass a pre-operation inspection by the Administrator prior to use by the public each permit year. A re-inspection fee shall be required for all further pre-operation inspections, as set forth by separate resolution.
(b) Annual Inspection
. Each public aquatic facility shall also
annually
submit certification by a licensed, registered electrician that the electrical equipment for the aquatic facility meets all local, state, and federal electrical codes on a form promulgated by the city.
(c) Representative Training
. A representative from each public aquatic facility shall attend one code update/orientation pool meeting per year that is offered quarterly by the Administrator. This representative should be the person in charge, the certified pool operator, and/or designee of the person in charge or certified pool operator. It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge and the certified pool operator to be knowledgeable about all information conveyed through the pre-season pool safety meeting.
(d) Additional inspections
. Additional inspections shall be performed as often as necessary for the enforcement of this article. The Administrator shall determine the frequency of inspections to be made under this article.
(e) Minimum inspection standards
. At a minimum, any pool or spa inspected under the authority of this article must comply with the following standards in order to pass inspection:
(1) All pumps, filters, heaters, disinfectant and chemical feeders, drains, ladders, handrails, lighting, ropes, and appurtenant equipment used in the operation of all pools and spas shall be maintained in a good state of repair and in compliance with provisions of Texas Department of State Health Services Standards for Public Swimming Pools and Spas and the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, as amended.
(2) Every pool shall contain a disinfectant concentration of a minimum free available chlorine of 1.0 parts per million (ppm) and a maximum free available chlorine of 8.0 ppm.
As an alternative to the use of chlorine as a disinfectant, bromine may be used as a disinfectant in a pool. Every pool using bromine as a disinfectant shall contain a disinfectant concentration of minimum total bromine of 3.0 ppm and a maximum total bromine of 10.0 ppm. Use of any disinfectant other than chlorine or bromine must be approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(3) Every spa shall contain a disinfectant concentration of a minimum free available chlorine of 2.0 ppm and a maximum free available chlorine of 8.0 ppm. As an alternative to the use of chlorine as a disinfectant, bromine may be used as a disinfectant in a pool. Every pool using bromine as a disinfectant shall contain a disinfectant concentration of minimum total bromine of 4.0 ppm and a maximum total bromine of 10.0 ppm. Use of any disinfectant other than chlorine or bromine must be approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(4) Every pool and spa shall have water with a pH of not less than 7.0 and not more than 7.8.
(5) A pH test kit, accurate to the nearest 0.2 pH units, shall be provided at each pool and spa. A test kit for measuring the concentration of the disinfectant, accurate within 0.2 mg/L, shall be provided at each pool and at each spa. The owner, operator, and person in charge of each pool or spa are responsible for providing the required test kits. The test kit for measuring disinfectant concentration must use the DPD (dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine) method. The Administrator may, at the Administrator's discretion, accept a test kit that uses another testing method if the method is approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
(6) When the pool or spa is in operation, test must be performed once a day for disinfectant residual and pH concentration as listed in this section, exept when more frequent testing is required under the provisions of Texas Department of State Health Services Standards for Public Swimming Pools and Spas. The results of these tests must be recorded and maintained on-site for at least three years.
(7) The maximum temperature of the water in any pool or spa shall be 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Each spa shall be required to have an unbreakable, thermometer able to accurately measure the temperature in degrees Fahrenheit.
(8) If cyanuric acid is used to stabilize the free available chlorine, or if one of the chlorinated isocyanurate compounds is used as the disinfecting cheminal, the concentration of the cyanuric acid in the water shall not exceed 100 ppm. If 100 ppm of cyanuric acid is reached, the minimum free chlorine must be raised to 2.0 ppm until the cyanuric acid level is returned below 100ppm. Cyanuric acid should return below 100ppm as soon as possible.
(9) The total alkalinity of the pool or spa water should be at least 60 ppm to 180 ppm or greater.
(10) The presence of coliform bacteria in any sample shall be deemed to constitute unacceptable water quality.
(11) Every pool and spa shall have water clarity sufficient for the main drain and/or bottom to be clearly visible. Failure to meet this requirement shall be sufficient cause for immediate closure of the pool or spa.
(12) Every pool and spa shall be free of scum and foreign floating matter, sediment, dirt, slime, algae and all other foreign material.
(13) The circulation system of a pool or spa must be in operation and properly maintained at all times in order to maintain the required turn-over rate necessary to maintain water clarity according to this section.
(14) All systems for pools or spas shall be designed and maintained to protect against entrapment, entanglement, or evisceration hazard and not constitute a hazard to users. All suction test required under the provisions of Texas Department of State Health Services Standards for Public Swimming Pools and Spas must be performed as described and all reports submitted to the Administrator according the dates prescribed.
(15) Every pool and spa is required to have at least one continuous disinfection system that is capable of precisely introducing a sufficient quantity of approved disinfectant necessary to maintain the level stated in (e)(2) of this section. Hand broadcasting of chemicals directly on to the pool or spa surface shall not be allowed while the pool or spa is in use.
(16) Water introduced into the pool or spa shall be supplied through an approved air gap. Any other method of introducing water into the pool or spa system must comply with the plumbing code of the city.
(17) Areas surrounding a pool or spa, including bathhouses, dressing rooms, toilets, shower stalls and lounging areas shall be kept clean and in a state of good repair at all times.
(18) All chemicals used in a pool or spa water treatment shall be stored in their original containers and kept in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place, out of the reach of children, and should be kept in a locked room.
(19) All signs required by this article must be posted in accordance with the applicable requirements.
(20) All pools and spas must comply with the requirements of this article regarding depth markings.
(21) All pools must comply with all applicable requirements of this article regarding safety equipment.
(22) A suction outlet system shall be designed to protect against suction entrapment, evisceration, and hair entanglement, or entrapment hazards in accordance with "ANSI/APSP-16", American National Standard for Suction Entrapment Avoidance in Swimming Pools, Wading pools, Spas, Hot Tubs, and Catch basins. Skimmers are not considered suction outlets. If a pool or spa was constructed prior to 1/1/21, skimmers having equalizers, shall comply with all submerged outlet requirements in ANSI/APSP/ICC. "American National Standards Institute/Association of Pool and Spa Professionals/International Code Council"
(23) All pool and/or spa enclosures must be maintained in good repair and comply with the applicable state or local construction requirements.
(24) All gates to pool or spa enclosures must be self-closing and self-latching and meet any applicable construction requirements imposed under state or local law, including without limitation any requirement imposed by Texas Department of State Health Services Standards for Public Swimming Pools and Spas and/or by city ordinance.
(25) When not in use for an extended period of time such as off-season, the pool or spa water quality need not be maintained if the gate to the enclosure is properly secured and locked; except that water clarity must be maintained and algae must not be allowed to grow.
(26) At no time shall a pool or spa be allowed to give off objectionable odor, become a breeding site for insects, or create any nuisance or safety hazard.
(Ord. No. 3057, § 2, 8-23-01; Ord. No. 3085, § 11, 1-10-02; Ord. No. 4420, § 2, 3-09-23)