Kids swimming in public pool.

Recreational Water

Home Health and Wellness Public Health Inspections and InvestigationsRecreational Water

Public recreational water includes public pools, public spas, public wading pools, splash pads/spray pads, and public beaches.

Operators

Recreational water facilities and COVID-19

Please see our Community Reopening Toolkit for information intended to provide guidance to residents and businesses to prepare for safe reopening of our community.

Complete our notification of intent to open a public pool, spa or Class C facility online form

Revised Regulation: Public Pools (Ontario Regulation 565/90)

A revised Public Pool Regulation that applies to the operation of public pools, spas and Class “C” facilities (wading pools, splash pads, receiving basins) came into force July 1, 2018. There are several changes to the Regulation including operator training, pool chemistry, lifeguard qualifications, safety requirements and maintenance.

View the revised Ontario Regulation 565/90

Legislative overview

Public Pool Regulation 565

Ontario Public Health Standards:

Published by the Ministry of Health
Standards published under the authority of the Health Protection & Promotion Act (HPPA)
Standards identify the minimum expectations for public health programs and services
Health Departments are accountable for implementing the Standards including Protocols and Guidelines
Under the Standards, Effective Public Health Practice, Requirement 9:

"The Board of Health shall publicly disclose results of all inspections or information in accordance with the Recreational Water Protocol, 2018."

Recreational Water Protocol, 2018

"The Board of Health shall publicly disclose a summary report on each routine and complaint based inspection of all pools, spas and splash pads."

Summary report must be posted on the Board of Health’s website within two weeks
Reports must be posted for two years

Inspection report must contain:

Type of premise
Name and address of premise
Date of inspection
Type of inspection
Inspection status (e.g. results)
Follow up actions must be documented

Summary of changes applicable to pools

Prior to opening

Section 5(1) & 5(3):

The owner or owner’s agent shall notify the Medical Officer of Health or public health inspector in writing at least 14 days prior to commencing operation after construction, alteration or a closure of more than four weeks.

Current requirement: with the exception of the 14 days notice, the requirements remain the same.

Inspection results

Section 5(4):

Pool operator shall ensure the results of any inspections conducted by a PHI are posted as per the inspector’s request.

Operator training

Section 6(2):

Every operator shall be trained in public pool operation and maintenance, filtration systems, water chemistry and all relevant safety and emergency procedures.

Current requirement: only a designated operator is required.

Class B pool operating as Class A:

Section 6(4):

Class B pools can be operated as a Class A pool if the MOH/PHI is notified in advance of the intent to operate as a Class A pool, all safety and supervision requirements comply with those of a Class A pool and the pool is able to increase the rate of water turnover to that of a Class A pool.

Water chemistry - a range specified for each parameter

Total alkalinity (80-120 ppm)
FAC (0.5-10 ppm)
Bromine (2-4 ppm)
Wave action pool - Bromine (3-10 ppm)
Pool equipped with automatic sensing device - ORP (600-900 mV)

Current requirement:

Total alkalinity (not less than 80 mg/l)
FAC (not less than 0.5 mg/l - unstabilized pool)
FAC (not less than 1 mg/l - stabilized pool)
Bromine (not less than 2 mg/l)
Wave action pool - Bromine (not less than 3 mg/l)
Pool equipped with automatic sensing device is excluded in current regulation.

Stabilized pools

Outdoor pools:

FAC (1 -10 ppm)
Cyanuric acid not greater than 60 mg/l

Indoor pools and pools totally/partially covered by a roof:

No cyanuric acid stabilization shall be used

30 minutes prior to opening

Total alkalinity must be tested 30 minutes prior to opening in addition to pH, FAC, total chlorine or bromine residuals.

Current requirement: only chlorine, bromine and pH have to be checked 30 minutes prior.

Pools with automatic sensing device

Initial manual testing of total alkalinity, pH, FAC, TC or bromine residuals and water clarity a minimum of 30 minutes prior to opening.

Same parameters must be further checked with the automatic sensing device at least every four hours until the daily use period has ended.

Current requirement: "… the operator shall at least once every day determine, by means of manual test methods, the pH value and the free available and the total chlorine residuals or the bromine residual to ensure that the automatic sensing devices continue to maintain proper control of the pH value and the disinfectant residual."

Make-up water

Minimum of 15 L/bather

Current requirement: 20+ L/bather

Records

Kept available for viewing by MOH/PHI at any time.
Record type and amount of chemicals added manually to the pool (e.g. stabilizer, chlorine used for shock treatment).
Daily records to be kept for the "estimated" number of bather uses

Current requirement: total number of bathers admitted to the pool each day.

Lifeguard qualifications

Certificate issued by Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross or equivalent training from another organization.

Current requirement: National Lifeguard Service’s Lifeguard Certificate.

Assistant lifeguard qualifications

Certificate issued by Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross or equivalent training from another organization.

Current requirement: Royal Life Saving Society Canada’s Bronze Cross or Award of Distinction.

Admission standard

Class A pool: "A process must be in place to ensure a guardian or designated person supervises children under 10 years of age. The process must include a swimming competency test and a method of communicating the requirements of the process."

First aid kit

No longer prescriptive for numbers of each item in the kit.
Additional inclusions to the kit include a pair of scissors, non-permeable gloves and resuscitation pocket masks.

Summary of changes applicable to spas

Prior to opening

Section 5(1) & 5(3):

Current requirement: with the exception of the 14 days notice, the requirements remain the same.

Inspection results

Section 5(4):

Public spa operator shall ensure the results of any inspections conducted by a PHI are posted as per the inspector’s request.

Water chemistry - a range specified for each parameter

Section 7(8)(a):

Total alkalinity range of 80-120 ppm

Current requirement: not less than 80 mg/l.

Section 7(8)(f):

Spa equipped with automatic sensing device – ORP range 600 – 900 mV

Current requirement: Reg. 428/05, Sec. 6(1)(d) - ORP not less than 700 mV.

Stabilizer

Section 7(10)(2):

For all spas, no cyanurate stabilization shall be used.

Current requirement: Reg. 428, Sec. 6(1)(e) - Cyanuric acid concentration not greater than 150 mg/l.

Spas with automatic sensing device

Section 7(12):

After the initial manual testing of total alkalinity, pH, FAC, TC or bromine residuals, water clarity and spa temperature a minimum of 30 minutes prior to opening, the same parameters must be further checked with the automatic sensing device at least every four hours until the daily use period has ended.

Current requirement: at least once more during the daily use period, if the public spa is equipped with an automatic sensing device (Sec. 20(2)(b)).

Spas without automatic sensing device

Sec 7(12):

After the initial manual testing of total alkalinity, pH, FAC, TC or bromine residuals, water clarity and spa temperature a minimum of 30 minutes prior to opening, the same parameters must be further manually checked and recorded at least every two hours until the daily use period has ended.

Current requirement: at time intervals not exceeding one hour until the daily use period has ended (Sec. 20(2)(a)).

Spa volume >4000 litres

Section 7(14):

Every operator of a public spa with a volume that exceeds 4000 L shall add make up water to the spa during each operating day in an amount that is a minimum of 15 L/bather use to a maximum of 20% of the total spa volume.

Current requirement: Reg. 428/05, Sec 7(1) - 30+ L/bather use to a maximum of 20% (Sec. 7(1)).

First aid kit

No longer prescriptive for numbers of each item in the kit.
Additional inclusions to the kit include a pair of scissors, non-permeable gloves and resuscitation pocket masks.

Summary of changes applicable to splash pads, spray pads, wading pools and receiving basins

Class C Facilities

Public wading pools
Public spray pad or splash pad
Water slide receiving basins

Public Pool Regulation 565 - Class C facilities

Regulation 565, Class C Facilities replaces: "Operating Procedures for Non-Regulated Recreational Water Facilities Guidance Document." (April 2010)

Prior to opening

Section 26.1(1):

General requirements

Public wading pools

Section 26.1(1):

Designated operator
Maintain equipment in safe and sanitary condition and in proper working order
Clean make-up water
Prevent back siphonage
Water free of visible matter

Section 26.2: (with necessary modification)

Render inaccessible when not in use
Chemical feeder required
Test water 30 minutes prior to opening

Section 26.3:

First aid kit
A device for emergency communications
Emergency equipment appropriate for use
Supervision at all times
When operated in conjunction with a public pool, required supervision at wading pool is in addition to any required supervision for a public pool.

Public spray pad or splash pad

Section 26.3:

First aid kit
A device for emergency communications
Emergency equipment appropriate for use
Supervision at all times
When operated in conjunction with a public pool, required supervision at wading pool is in addition to any required supervision for a public pool.

All Class C facilities

Section 26.5:

Record results of inspections of safety-related equipment present in the facility at a frequency determined by a PHI.

How to stay safe

Public health inspectors visit public pools many times a year to check that they are safe for you and your family to use.

Public pool safety

Public pools are used by many people at the same time. This can increase the chances of getting an infection or an injury.

Things that you can do to make sure you are safe

You should be able to see through the water.
Can you see the black disk or main drain at the bottom of the pool? If you cannot see the black disk or main drain clearly, do not use the pool and tell the operator.
Find out where the safety equipment and the emergency telephone are located.
Shower before getting in the pool.
If your children are not toilet trained, they should be wearing diapers. Tell older children to use the washroom before getting in the pool.
Encourage safe swimming.
Use a lifejacket for children under six years old. Children who cannot swim should also wear a lifejacket whenever they are in or around a pool. Remember, to stay close to your children even if they are wearing a lifejacket. Keep your children within arm's length at all times.
Never leave children by themselves. Drowning can happen silently and within seconds.
Send children to swimming lessons and teach them to swim with a friend.
Be a good role model and follow safety rules posted at the pool. This includes no food or drinks, no glass containers, and no rough or loud play.
Do not play or swim near drains. The drains may trap your body, body parts, hair, jewelry or other objects. This can result in serious injury or death. People with long hair should be careful of these hazards.
Ask a lifeguard if you have any questions or concerns. Report any safety hazards such as glass, items with sharp edges, etc.
Listen to the lifeguard.

Pool fouling

Pool fouling is when pool water is contaminated with blood, vomit or feces. There may be germs in the water that can make you sick. In most cases the pool has to be closed to clean the pool water. A staff member will tell swimmers to leave the pool until the cleanup is finished.

Admission standards

Every public pool in Ontario has signs posted letting bathers know how many swimmers each parent or guardian can watch at one time. These signs are called admission standards. If you are unsure of how many children you can watch while using a public pool, please talk to a lifeguard or call the Health Department.
Children under six years old must always have a parent or guardian watching them. The parent or guardian can only watch two children who are less than six years old at a time.
A parent or guardian must watch all children less than 10 years old who cannot swim. The guardian must be at least twelve years old and cannot watch more than four children at a time.
Children between six and nine years old can swim alone if they pass a swim test.
Parents or guardians have to be in the pool with the children.

Public spa safety

How clear is the water? You should be able to see the main drain clearly. If you cannot see the main drain, do not use the spa and notify the operator
Find out where the safety equipment and emergency telephone are located.
Shower before getting in the spa.
If you notice anything wrong with the spa like broken glass or a loose drain cover do not use the spa and notify the operator.
Be a good role model and follow safety rules.
Do not play or swim near drains. The drains may trap your body, body parts, hair, jewelry or other objects. This can result in serious injury or death. People with long hair should be careful of these hazards.
Do not allow your children to use the spa unless you are with them.

Splash pads and wading pool safety

Splash pads

Splash pads are small water parks for younger children and their guardians. Children should be watched at all times.

Splash pad safety

Children must be watched at all times.
No running.
No glass containers.
No food on the splash pad.
No skateboards, roller blades or bikes on the splash pad .
Leave splash pad and surrounding areas clean; deposit garbage in garbage cans.
No pets on the splash pad.
Do not use splash pads during times of bad weather.

Wading pools

Wading pools are shallow pools for younger children and their guardians. Children should be watched at all times.

Wading pool safety

The wading pool water should be clear. You should be able to see the bottom.
If you cannot see the bottom, do not use the pool.
Check for safety hazards in and around the wading pool (e.g. glass, sharp edges).
Do not use the wading pool if the drain cover is broken or missing.
When possible, follow the six "PLEAs" for healthy swimming.
Do not allow your children to sit or play near the drain cover.
Watch your children at all times and stay within arm's reach. Drowning can happen quickly and without any warning.