Annual Pool and Spa Conference

Learn from the best! The instructors are from Washington State Department of Health's Water Recreation Program and will be providing their insight in order to provide a safe and healthy swimming environment for the public.

This online conference is appropriate for any pool operator/owner or inspector. The information covered will include information on how pools work, common mistakes, and how to meet the requirements of pool operation.

Date: April 18, 2023

Time: 9am - 12 noon

Location: Zoom

Additional information and registration link.

Tips to Keep Your Pool Safe and Avoid Health Department Closure/Re-inspection Fees

Monitor the pool/spa throughout the day for water chemistry and water clarity. Record water chemistry and pool/spa closures in your maintenance log. Always self-close the pool and spa when the following conditions exist:

· Water clarity is poor, pool is cloudy and main drains or bottom of the pool is not clearly visible

· Main drains and suction outlet covers are broken, missing, or unsecure

· Filters, recirculation pumps, disinfection equipment, gutters or skimmers a not operating

· Doors and gates are not self-closing/self-latching in non-lifeguarded pools

· Manual shut off switch for the spa is missing or non-functioning

· Spa temperature is above 104°F

· If water quality exceeds the acceptable ranges

Post a sign at the pool/spa of the closure. Do not re-open the pool/spa until correction and repairs are completed.

Pool and Spa Contact Information Required

Does your pool or spa facility have someone available on-site during business hours? If not, the owner or manager of the complex must provide your pool inspector with a way to access the pool or spa and pump room. Options include providing us with a key, key code or contact person on site. Call 425-339- 5250 by June 1 and provide the name of the facility, address and the updated contact information.

Report all drownings, near drownings, serious injuries, and illness to the Health Department

Our goal together is to provide safe and healthy water recreational facilities for your users and guests. However, when drownings, near drownings, serious injuries, or illnesses occur at your facility, it must be reported to the Health Department within 48 hours of becoming aware of the incident. If a person seeks medical attention or goes to the emergency room, the injury is serious enough to report. A copy of the injury report form should be located in your Operations Manual. Report forms can also be downloaded from our webpage at https://www.snohd.org/181/Pools-Spas.

Pre-Opening Inspections

The Snohomish County Health Department Code calls for seasonal pools and spas to be inspected a minimum of two times each operating season. This year the Snohomish County Health Department is once again offering that one of those two inspections may be a pre-opening inspection. The advantage of this to an operator is that there is no concern about a pool or spa closure as a result of the inspection. You will receive an inspection report which may list some corrections or repairs that are required prior to opening for the season. There would then be at least one more routine inspection during the summer. The public health benefit of this arrangement is that more facilities will be in compliance with the pool and spa regulations beginning the first day of operations.

All pre-opening inspections will occur during the month of May. A facility should have everything in place to open at the time of the pre-opening inspection. Water chemistry should be adjusted to be within operating parameters and spas should be heated to normal operating temperatures.

If you are interested in scheduling a pre-opening inspection, please submit your request by email at SHD-EHQ@snoco.org or you can call 425.339.5250. A pool inspector will call you back to schedule an inspection.

Making changes around the pool?

Although sliding doors and French doors are stylish, keep them away from the pool. They will not meet code entry requirements.

When remodeling a recreation building that shares a wall with the pool, doors and windows must meet pool code requirements. Windows cannot open more than four inches and doors must self-close and self-latch. If your doors do not have a card reader, code, or if residents don't have a key, latches must be at least 60 inches high.

Always contact Snohomish County Health Department before making changes to see if plan review is required and avoid costly modifications or potential closure of your pool.

Please Note: New Email Address

Snohomish Health District is now the Snohomish County Health Department. The Water Rec program services remain the same, and we will continue to be here to serve you.

Due to our integration with Snohomish County, our email address has changed to SHD-EHQ@snoco.org

Eventually, our old email address, ehquestions@snohd.org will be phased out and will no longer receive messages.

Our phone number will remain the same: 425.339.5250.

Please continue to report cases of illness or injury at your facilities, as well as reaching out with any health and safety questions you may have.