BURLINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH SWIMMING POOL SEMINAR 2021

BURLINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH
  SWIMMING POOL SEMINAR
           2021

Introductions
• Marlene Johnson, Health Agent
• Samantha Hardy, Associate Health Inspector
• Susan Lumenello, Director of Public Health
• Sarah Courtemanche, Administrative Assistant

Webex
• All questions will be answered at
the end of the presentation so feel
free to submit your question via
webex during the presentation or
hold until the end.

Coronavirus – COVID19

Symptoms
   - Fever         - Loss of Taste
   - Cough         - Loss of Smell
   - Difficulty Breathing
   - Body Aches/Chills

Transmission

- Caused by respiratory droplets
- Close contact with infected person
- Contaminated surfaces
- Virus gets into respiratory tract
 (eyes/nose)

Transmission

• According to CDC, there is currently no
  evidence that the CO0VID-19 virus can be
  spread to people through the water in
  pools.
• Proper operation & maintenance (including
  disinfection with chlorine) should inactivate
  the virus in the water.

Swimming Pools & Coronavirus
• Keep chlorine levels within minimum standards:
  1.0 ppm – 3.0 ppm
• Close pool if less than 1.0 PPM and
• Keep combine chlorine levels within minimum
  standards:
   0.0 PPM – 0.2 PPM and at 0.4 PPM, start action.
• Close pool if over 0.4 PPM.

Maintaining Chemical Standards
• Increase water testing to 6 times per day if possible.
• Additional testing during peak usage periods.
• Meet the minimum turnover rate (flow meter).
• Close the pool immediately when pool does not meet
  minimum standards and make corrections.
• Log closure in pool log.

MA COVID-19 Requirements
• Current Phase: Phase IV, Step 1

COVID-19 Compliance
Social Distancing
• 6 feet between families – deck areas. Space
  furniture appropriately.

Face Coverings
• April 30th - Face coverings will not be required
  outside as long as there is social distancing.

COVID-19 Compliance
• Set a maximum # of individuals that can be in the
  pool facility and/or pool area at one time. Should
  not exceed 50% of existing facility capacity.
• Consider reservations & time limits.

Occupancy - Calculation
Swimming Pool at 50% Occupancy

Surface area (sq.ft.) ÷ 50 sq. ft. occupancy x 50% =
number of people allowed in the pool at one time

EXAMPLE:
POOL: 600 ÷ 50 sq. ft. = 12 x 50% = 6 people

Occupancy – Calculation
Pool Deck at 50% Occupancy

Pool deck area (sq.ft.) ÷ 15 sq.ft. x 50% = number of
people allowed on the pool deck at one time (yes, you need
to factor in the people using the pools as they will
eventually be coming out).

EXAMPLE:
DECK: 392 ÷ 15 sq.ft. = 26 x 50% = 13 people allowed on
the deck at one time.

Occupancy - Calculation
Locker Rooms & Changing Rooms

Locker or Changing room (sq.ft.) ÷ 50 sq.ft. x 50% = the
number of people allowed in the locker or changing room at
one time.

EXAMPLE:
Locker room: 2400 sq.ft. ÷ 50 sq.ft. = 48 x 50% = 24 people
allowed in the locker room at one time.

Showers may open

Paperwork & Signage
1. COVID-19 Control Plan - Keep on file on site
2. Compliance Attestation - Post
3. Employee Poster - Post

Signage
• Face coverings (inside areas) - Post
• Social Distance - Post

Signage
• Stay home if sick (workers)
• Do not use the pool if sick (residents, guests, members)

General Sanitation
Clean & Disinfect frequently touched surfaces at least daily;
• Handrails
• Door/Gate handles
• Restrooms, showers, hand washing sinks
• Lounge chairs, tabletops (limit use if possible)

Clean shared objects each time they are used;
• Floats, noodles
• Swim lesson assessories

General Sanitation
   Hand Washing      Disinfect Surfaces

General Sanitiation
• Alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
 shall be available to staff.

General Sanitation
• Ensure safe and correct use and storage of
  disinfectants.
• Store securely away from children.

COVID Monitoring
• Assign staff to monitor COVID
compliance.

• Lifeguard are NOT to monitor COVID
compliance if they are on duty. They
are responsible for monitoring pool
safety.

Workers
• Require workers who test positive for COVID-19 to
  disclose to the workplace employer for purposes of
  cleaning/disinfecting and contact tracing.
• Contact the Burlington Board of Health 781-270-1955 to
  report.
• Worker who tests positive will need to isolate.
• Employer will need to inform close contacts and close
  contacts must quarantine.

Close Contact
MA-DPH defines close contact as:
• Being within 6 feet of someone who has tested positive
  for COVID, for a total of 15 minutes during a 24-hour
  period, regardless if one or both were wearing face
  coverings.

Vaccine
All people living & working in
Massachusetts are eligible to
signup for the COVID vaccine:

www.mass.gov/COVID

August 1st - Reopening
• Special Purpose Pools (SPP) -
 hot tubs, whirlpools, spas*
* subject to public health & vaccine data

Legionella in Special Purpose Pools
Controlling Legionella
• Bacteria builds up in building water systems that are not
  used for a long period of time.
• Bacteria transmitted via mist from SPPs if present.
• Ensure proper disinfection and proper chlorine levels.
• Chlorine will kill legionella bacteria

Review the following website for more information:
• www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
 ncov/php/building-water-system.html

DAILY WATER
  TESTING
  REVIEW

Daily Water Testing Review
Test Kit needs to test for:
• pH
• Alkalinity
• Calcium Hardness
• Cyanuric Acid (if using stabilizer)
• Free Chlorine and
• Combined Chlorine

Use the Correct Test Kit

• Chlorine FAS-DPD test kit (titration test kit – count drops)

• Equivalent (check with Board of Health)

• Test kit must be able to read combined chlorine lower
 than 0.5 PPM.

• FAS-DPD Test Kit for FC & CC: 1 drop = 0.2
             0.2 x number of drops

Use the Correct Test Kit
     RIGHT                 WRONG

Example:

• Taylor K2006
• Leslie Pool Supplies

Pool Test Kits

• Purchase new reagents if more than one year old (look at
 expiration dates on bottles).

• Order early – may need to be ordered, may not be
 stocked at local pool supply store.

• Not having correct test kit or reagents on site is a violation
 of 105 CMR 435.30 and may result in closure of the
 swimming pool if not able to correct on site.

Pool Test Kits Continued….

• Replace comparator if stained or cracked.

• Follow “Care of Reagents” found in guide booklet
 in test kit;
  • Keep out of direct sunlight (36°F - 85°F)

  • Tighten bottle caps after use
  • Store them in the test kit case

The Water Test
Collecting the water sample:
• Collect sample 18” (to the elbow), away from inlets.
• Never collect sample from surface of water.
• Insert comparator or clean bottle, bottom side up, then
  turn upright in water.

The Water Test continued…..

Fill to line (meniscus)

The Water Test continued…..
• Bring sample away from pool.
• Hold reagent bottle straight up and down (uniform drops).
• Do not cover comparator with hands or finger, use plastic
  cover provided with test kit when mixing (oils from hand
  may affect test results).
• Count drops until color change.
• Hold comparator against a white surface to determine
  color.
• Record results in logbook.

How Often To Test
At a minimum:

• Free Chlorine 4 times daily*
• Combined Chlorine 4 times daily (w/free chlorine)
• pH 4 times daily

• *once during peak bather load

• DURING PANDEMIC; testing 6 times daily is
 recommended

Minimum Standards

Free Chlorine: 1.0 PPM – 3.0 PPM

Combined Chlorine: 0.0 PPM – 0.2 PPM

pH: 7.2 PPM – 7.8 PPM

How Often to Test
At a minimum:

• Alkalinity once a week
• Calcium Hardiness once a week

• Outdoor Pools: cyanuric acid weekly
      (if adding stabilizer)

Minimum Standards

Alkalinity: 50 PPM – 150 PPM

Calcium Hardness: 200 PPM – 400 PPM

Cyanuric Acid: 30 PPM – 100 PPM

Swimming Pool Log
What gets logged?
• Water test results, including date, time & initials
• Amount and type of chemical(s) added
• Backwashing filter or cartridge filter change
• Bather load (at time of testing)
• **Anything you do to the pool

INSPECTION
         REVIEW
Getting Ready for the Inspection

Outdoor Pools

• Bacteriological Standards Must Be Met.

• Chemical Standards Must Be Met.

Bacteriological Testing
  • Test For:
     • 1) Total Bacteria
     • 2) Coliform
     • 3) Pseudomonas aeraginosa

            Tested by a laboratory

Bacteriological Testing

Total Bacteria:
< 200 1 mL (< 2.0 100 mL)

Coliform:
< 2.0 100 mL
< 1.0 50 mL
0.0 for 5 samples of 10 mL

Bacteriological Testing

Pseudomonas aeraginosa:
0.0 or negative for 5 samples of 10 mL

All Pools
• Log Book
• Depth Markings 4 inches
• 4 inch Markings on Steps
• 4 inch Marking to separate shallow & deep ends
• Rope & Floats (separate shallow & deep ends)

All Pools
• Water Clarity
• Main Drains
• Filtration System Working (24/7)

All Pools
Flow Meter
• Check routinely to ensure meter(s) are working.
• Must be working for pre-operation inspection.

All Pools
Signs:
• “All persons are required to take a cleansing shower bath
  before entering the pool.”
• “No person with a communicable disease is allowed to
  use the pool.”

• No Lifeguard on Duty
  • Children under age 16 should not use swimming
    without an adult in attendance
  • Adults should not swim alone

All Pools

Safety Equipment
• Ring Buoy
• Rescue Hook (outdoor pools)
• Emergency Communication (phone, call box)

All Pools

Emergency Communication
• Make sure phone works (dial tone if applicable).
• Call local police on their business line 1st.
        ◘ 781-270-1914 (Burlington PD)
• Dial 911 or press button that rings 911.
• Ask what address comes up when 911 answers.
• Can they hear you? Can you hear them?

All Pools
First Aid Kits
• Follow current regulations

All Pools
  Enclosures:
  • Fence (outdoor pools) 6’+ chain link or 5’ stockade.
  • Gates (outdoor pools) same as above and self-closing
    and self-latching.
  • Doors (indoor pools) self-closing and self-latching.
  • All Pools; gates and doors: latches placed 4 feet from
    ground.

  Do Not Replace Fencing or Gates w/o BOH approval

Pools with Lifeguards
Equipment Requirements:
• Rescue Tube
• Whistle and amplifying device
• Backboard with straps

Pools with Lifeguards
Requirements:
• Certification (Lifeguard training, 1st Aid, CPR)
• Red or Bright Orange Bathing Suits
• Red or Bright Orange Shirt or Jacket with “GUARD” in 4
  inch lettering on back
• Hat and Sunblock (outdoor pools)

Pools with Lifeguards
               • Recommended that 1 lifeguard be
                provided per 25 bathers.

               • For swimming pools with a bather
                load over 75, it is recommended
                that lifeguards be isolated from pool
                crowds by elevated seats on stands
                high enough to give complete,
                unobstructed views of persons in
                their assigned areas.

QUESTIONS

Thank You For Coming