No person shall construct, operate or maintain a public pool unless he or she complies with the following provisions:
(a) License. No person shall construct, operate or maintain a public pool unless he or she has been duly licensed by the Building Commissioner.
Such license shall be valid for one year and shall be obtained as of April 1 of each year. The fee for such license shall be in accordance with the schedule set forth in Chapter 214 of the Administration Code. An application for the license shall be made in writing by the operator of such pool setting forth the location of the pool, its size and depth, the nature and type of its safety precautions to bathers, the nature and type of means of purifying the water, the nature and type of illumination, the number of personnel to be employed, the number of bathers expected to use the pool, the nature, type and location of showers, lavatories and toilets for bathers and such other information requested by the Building Commissioner. If, upon inspection, the Building Commissioner is satisfied that the pool, equipment and personnel comply with this chapter, he or she shall issue such license.
(b) Design and Construction Requirements. The Building Commissioner shall not issue a permit to construct or approve the construction of any public swimming pool or any alteration, addition, remodeling or other improvement thereto unless the following design and construction requirements are observed. Public swimming pools shall be constructed and maintained in conformity with the following requirements, and for pools already in existence, the Building Commissioner shall furnish the owners with a program of improvements and additions which shall be carried out over a period not to exceed five years in order to comply with the requirements of this chapter for new pools.
(1) Material. The water-containing surface of artificial swimming pools shall be light in color, impervious and provide a tight tank with smooth and easily cleaned surfaces. If the water-containing surface is not artificial but consists of earth, then such earth shall be covered with washed sand to a depth of two inches in all places where the water is less than six feet in depth.
(2) Drinking water. Lavatory and drinking water supplies shall be adequate in quality and quantity.
(3) Walks. Each public swimming pool shall be provided with a paved walk at least six feet in width so as to completely surround the pool. Such walk shall drain away from the pool. Such walk shall not be required where earth is used as the water-containing surface, if the ground surrounding the pool and extending twelve feet from the water's edge is covered with washed sand to a depth of two inches.
(4) Lighting. Lighting for public swimming pools shall be adequate for the protection of the public as may be determined by the Building Commissioner. All wiring and lighting shall be in accordance with the National Electrical Code, adopted in Chapter 1424, and all fixtures and equipment shall be approved by Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc.
(5) Hose. Hose connections and hose must be of ample size and pressure to clean all of the pool area.
(6) Towers and steps. Steps and ladders must be made of an impervious corrosion-resistant material with a uniform rise not to exceed twelve inches. The decks of diving towers which are over one meter high shall be protected with suitable railings to prevent falling.
(7) Bathhouse and toilet facilities. Every public swimming pool shall be provided with conveniently located dressing, shower, locker and toilet rooms, and if such pool is intended for simultaneous use by both sexes, separate facilities shall be provided for each sex. For the purpose of this section, it may be assumed that the users shall consist of an equal number of males and females. Sanitary fixtures based upon the maximum expected users shall be provided as follows:
A. One shower for each forty bathers;
B. One lavatory for each sixty bathers;
C. One toilet for each forty women;
D. One toilet for each sixty men; and
E. One urinal for each sixty men
(8) Safety of bathers. All reasonable precautions shall be taken to protect the users of public and family swimming pools from injury or accident. Convenient means of ingress and egress shall be provided, and the depth of the water and any irregularities of the bottom shall be clearly indicated. Safety appliances, such as lifebuoys, life hooks, bamboo poles, ropes and equipment, including first-aid kits, shall be provided and be readily accessible.
(9) Operation; maintenance; chlorination. Chlorination plants shall be operated in such a manner that the amount or excess of residual chlorine in all parts of the pool at all times when the pool is in use shall not be less than four tenths parts per million or more than one part per million. The chlorinator and tanks shall be installed in a special closet with a vent to the exterior of the building and with a fan, unless considered unnecessary by the Building Commissioner.
(10) Quality of water. The bacterial quality of water in the pool shall be maintained so that no two successive samples nor more than fifteen percent of any number of successive samples shall contain more than 200 bacteria per cubic centimeter nor show positive confirmed results for coliaerogenes.
(11) Operation personnel. Each public swimming pool shall be operated under the close supervision of a well trained and responsible operator, capable of making field tests, such as residual chlorine or other bactericide, and thoroughly familiar with the operation of all mechanical appurtenances of the pool. Any such operator shall, upon request, demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Building Commissioner, his or her ability to perform his or her required duties.
(12) Lifeguards. A sufficient number of attendants shall be on duty when the swimming pool is in use. They shall be capable swimmers, competent in life-saving methods and resuscitation.
(13) Shielding lights. Lights used to illuminate any pool shall be so arranged and shaded as to reflect light away from adjoining premises and public streets.
(14) Noise. No person shall make or continue, or cause to be made or continued, at any swimming pool, any loud, raucous, unnecessary or unusual noise, or any noise which annoys, disturbs, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health, peace or safety of others. No person shall use or permit the use or operation of any radio, television, musical instrument, phonograph or other machine or device for producing or reproducing sounds in such manner as to disturb the peace, quiet and comfort of the neighboring inhabitants.
(15) Inspection. The Building Commissioner shall inspect or cause to be inspected all pools within the City at such times as he or she may deem necessary to carry out the intent of this chapter. The Building Commissioner or his or her duly authorized representative is hereby authorized to enter upon any premises, private or public, to take such samples of water from such pools at such times as he or she may deem necessary and to require the owner, proprietor or operator to comply with this chapter.
In the event of noncompliance, after due notice, with any of the provisions of this chapter, the Building Commissioner may abate the same or cause a suspension of the use of such pool until such time as the same is, in his or her opinion, no longer a menace or a hazard to health, safety or morals.
(Ord. 1970-102. Passed 5-6-70.)