Swimming Pools

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health conducts a swimming pool program under the authority of Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3749. All pools are required to meet the minimum requirements of the Ohio Public Swimming Pool, Spa, and Special Use Pool Rules. The Board of Health licenses and regularly inspects over 640 pools and spas, making it the largest swimming pool program in the State of  Ohio.

A license is required for any pool or spa serving four families or more, which includes apartments, hotels, condominiums, homeowner associations, health clubs, as well as municipal facilities. The Board of Health sends out license applications for all previously licensed pools and spas during the first week of April.   Effective April 3, 2006 the fees for these facilities is as follows:

Although the rules only require annual inspections of pools and spas, the Cuyahoga County Board of Health conducts routine inspections of pools and spas a minimum of two times per year.  More inspections may be conducted as necessary.

The swimming pool program is concerned with the overall safety and health of bathers as it relates to the operation of the facility. This includes assurance of water quality, maintenance of filtration and circulation equipment, the presence of necessary safety equipment and warning signs, life guarding requirements, record-keeping, and overall facility operation. Some requirements relative to the design of a pool or spa will be dependent upon the date of construction. An attached rules synopsis may be helpful in exploring specific items in the rules.  All operators are required to keep records of water quality testing results and accidents on a uniform Weekly Operation Report.

Swimming Pool Plan Approval

Anyone initiating certain renovations to an existing pool or spa or the construction of a new pool or spa is required to submit plans or a notification report to the Ohio Department of Health for approval.

The requirements fall into two categories. The first involves one of the following changes:

1. Replacement of a disinfectant feeding device with one of different method of delivery, capacity, or reagent.
2. Replacement of a filter with that of a different media or capacity.
3. Replacement of a pump with a different horsepower or flow rate.
   

Either of these changes is referred to as an "Equipment Replacement". Approval must be obtained by submitting an Equipment Replacement Form with a fee of $40 to the Ohio Department of Health.

Another activity that requires state approval is a substantial alteration to the pool environment. Any of the following changes would qualify as a substantial alteration and require that plans be submitted to the Ohio Department of Health:

1. Construction that changes the depth, shape, or other basic design of the pool in a manner that affects pool patron safety or recirculation, system design, changes or replaces a deck, changes the basic design of a diving board, or adds a special feature such as a slide.
2. Complete replacement of the recirculation system.
3. Changes to a diving board.
4. Replacement of all return piping or skimmer piping.
5. Replacement of more than 50% of a gutter system or the total number of inlets and outlets.
   

For further detailed information on these requirements, you may contact the Ohio Department of Health directly at 614-644-5597.

Two specific issues may be of concern to both the public and pool operators. The first deals with the potential of disease transmission in the pool and spa environment. The Board of Health has specifically addressed this issue in a section titled " Swimming Pool Disease Management".

The other issue concerns the potential entrapment/disembowelment hazard associated with main drain suction. This was addressed in recent changes to the Swimming Pool Rules in 1999. More information on this topic can be found in a fact sheet titled " Main Drain Suction Hazards".

The Cuyahoga County Board of Health makes every effort to assure that patrons of aquatic environments enjoy a safe, healthy experience.  Our efforts include working with pool operators to help them gain an understanding of various aspects of the pool facility from water quality to safety.  We consider ourselves to be a resource to pool operators and invite questions or concerns they may have.  Another great resource in this area is the Centers for Communicable Disease and Prevention.  The “healthy swimming” pages of their website include downloadable brochures and posters, as well as a wealth of information regarding swimming health issues.

For further information about this program, contact the program manager:
Barry Grisez, R.S.  216.201.2001 x 1232
bgrisez@ccbh.net