STATE OF ILLINOIS DWIGHT H. GREEN. Governor MINIMUM SANITARY REQUIREMENTS FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND BATHING PLACES WITH Additional Information and Suggestions on Design and Construction Adopted July 15, 1935 Revised May 1, 1938 - Revised May 1, 1945 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ROLAND R. CROSS, M. D., Director (Printed by authority of the State of Illinois) STATE OF ILLINOIS DWIGHT H. GREEN, Governor MINIMUM SANITARY REQUIREMENTS FOR SWIMMING POOLS AND BATHING PLACES WITH Additional Information and Suggested Satisfactory Compliance for the Design, Construction, and Equipment, Including Items of Safety - (Adopted July 15, 1935 - Revised May 1, 1938 Revised May 1, 1945) DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ROLAND R. CROSS, M. D„ Director Prepared by DIVISION OF SANITARY ENGINEERING WILLIAM J. DOWNER, Chief Sanitary Engineer FOREWORD The successful modern swimming pool involves a multitude of problems not always appreciated by the general public. Such a pool includes not only engineering and architectural problems but also health, recreational, and social problems. A swimming pool, to be successful from a public-health, financial, and recrea- tional standpoint, requires careful planning in regard to its loca- tion, size, layout, construction, equipment, and operation. It is the aim of this bulletin to acquaint those involved in swimming pool design, construction, and operation with the par- ticular details with which this Department is primarily concerned. This bulletin not only includes the Department’s minimum sani- tary requirements but also sets forth opinions as to good practice in meeting those requirements necessary for a successful swimming pool. Each pool project has its particular problems, and it is the intention in presenting this material that it serve not merely as “minimum standards’’ but as a guide in successfully meeting the problems of the particular pool project. Through investigations, study, and contact with pools through- out the State, the Department is in a position to observe many types of swimming pool facilities, and thus to act as a clearing house for improvements which will result in more successful pool installations. Considerable of this bulletin’s material is based on such investigations and studies. If those persons contemplating new or improved pools will make contact with the Department prior to the preparation of the final plans, it is believed that much benefit will result. It has been the policy of the Department of Public Health to revise its swimming pool bulletin from time to time in order that latest developments in swimming pool construction, design, and operation may be brought to the attention of interested indi- viduals in Illinois. Previous bulletins were issued under dates of July 15, 1935, and May 1, 1938. A satisfactory and successful swimming pool results in bene- fits to the owners and patrons and reflects credit on all those connected with its design, construction, and operation. It is hoped that this bulletin will aid in promoting the installation, and effici- ent and economical operation, of swimming pools, and it is to this end that this material is offered. AUTHORITY FOR CONTROL OF SWIMMING POOLS AND BATHING PLACES Authority for control of swimming pools and bathing places is vested in the Department of Public Health by the provisions of Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Section 55 of the Civil Administrative Code as amended in 1931, which states: “The Department of Public Health shall have power to have the supervision of the interests of the health and lives of the people of the State * * * shall have power to examine public swimming pools and bathing places and prepare and enforce rules and regulations covering their construction and operation and use to the end that they will be constructed and maintained in a sanitary manner”; also in ac- cordance with “An Act for the control of swimming pools” (Ap- proved July 8, 1931, in force October 1, 1931) : “Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, repre- sented in the General Assembly: “1. DEFINITION: Swimming pool as used in this Act shall mean an artificial pool of water and auxiliary structures includ- ing dressing and locker rooms, toilets, showers and other areas and enclosures that are intended for the use of persons using the pool but shall not include pools and auxiliary structures and equip- ment at private residences intended only for the use of the owner and friends. “2. SANITARY REQUIREMENTS: The State Department of Public Health shall prepare, adopt and have printed minimum sanitary requirements for the design, construction, equipment and operation of swimming pools. “3. PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS — APPROVAL : No swimming pool shall be constructed after October 1, 1931 unless and until plans, specifications and any additional information rela- tive to such pool as may be requested by the State Department of Public Health shall have been submitted to said department and after review by said department found to comply with the mini- mum sanitary requirements provided in Section 2 of this Act and a permit for the construction of the pool issued by said depart- ment. “4. OPERATION: After October 1, 1931 swimming pools shall have equipment and shall be operated so as to comply with the minimum sanitary requirements provided in Section 2 of this Act. Swimming pools constructed prior to October 1, 1931, which do not fully comply with the minimum sanitary requirements as regards design and construction may be continued in use for such period as the State Department of Public Health may authorize, provided the equipment and operation of such swimming pool comply with the minimum sanitary requirements. “5. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH TO DETER- MINE SANITARY CONDITION : The owners and/or operators of swimming pools shall submit such operation and analytical records as may be requested by the State Department of Public Health to determine the sanitary condition of the swimming pool. “6. PROSECUTIONS: Whenever any duly authorized rep- resentative of the State Department of Public Health shall find that a swimming pool is being constructed, equipped or operated in violation of any of the provisions of this Act, the said depart- ment may grant such time as in its opinion may reasonably be necessary for changing the construction or providing equipment for operating the swimming pool to meet the provisions of this Act. If and when the duly authorized representative of the State Department of Public Health upon inspection and investigation of swimming pool considers that the conditions are such as to war- rant prompt closing of such swimming pool until the provisions of this Act are complied with, he shall notify the owner and/or operator of said swimming pool to prohibit any person from using said swimming pool and upon such notification to the sheriff and State’s attorney of the county in which such pool is located, it shall be the duty of said State’s attorney and sheriff to see that the notice of said representative of the State Department of Pub- lic Health shall be enforced. If and when the owner or operator of said pool, has in the opinion of the State Department of Public Health, met the provisions of this Act the said department may in writing authorize the use again of said swimming pool. “7. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ACT—PENALTY: Any owner and/or operator of a swimming pool failing to comply with any provisions of this Act shall be guilty of maintaining a public nusiance and it shall be the duty of the State’s attorney of the county in which such swimming pool is located and/or the Attor- ney General in the name of the people of the State of Illinois to act as provided by law for the abatement of public nuisance.” INTRODUCTION The following comments, suggestions, and recommendations are offered to: (1) Acquaint consulting engineers and architects with items given consideration by the State Department of Public Health in the review of plans and specifications which are submitted in ac- cordance with Section 3 of the Act previously quoted in this bulle- tin. (2) Serve as a guide in the interpretation of the items con- sidered in the sanitary condition of existing swimming pools under Sections 4 and 5 of the Act previously quoted in this bulletin. (3) Set forth for reference purposes miscellaneous sugges- tions on swimming pool features and appurtenances not necessar- ily affecting sanitary conditions. It is hoped that this bulletin will facilitate the preparation and submission of swimming pool plans and specifications as well as guide in improving, when necessary, existing installations. PROJECTS NOT REQUIRING A PERMIT FOR CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION No permit from the State Department of Public Health is re- quired for the construction or operation of pools and auxiliary structures at private residences intended only for the use of owner and friends. GENERAL COMMENTS (a) Design Data. A summary of the basis of design, includ- ing information relative to bathing load, recirculation equipment, pool capacity, dressing rooms, disinfection, equipment, etc., should be submitted with plans. (b) Plans. Detailed construction plans and specifications are required and must be approved before a permit for construc- tion can be issued. (e) Structural Details. The review of plans by the State De- partment of Public Health does not cover structural designs. (d) New Processes, Methods, and Equipment. The policy of the Department of Public Health is to place no obstruction in the path of progress in swimming pool design, equipment, and ma- terials. However, any new development must have been tested to the satisfaction of the Department before a permit for a pool, including the development, can be issued. An experimental in- stallation may be permitted, but should the development fail to pro- duce results satisfactory to the Department it must be replaced with accepted design, equipment, or materials.