Public Health Question

Presented By
Monmouth County Regional Health Commission No. 1

August 22, 2017

Why is the beach/pool/spa or hot tub I am interested in using closed by the health department?

Answer:

Any of the following situations can determine a public bathing facility to be unsafe for swimmers per the New Jersey State Sanitary Code, N.J.A.C. 8:26.

Poorly maintained equipment, structures, areas or enclosures or lack of equipment, structures, areas or enclosures which jeopardize the health or safety of the users and/or operators. Ex: a missing, unsecured, or broken drain cover in a pool or spa.

Lack of required supervisory personnel and/or required lifeguards. Ex: pool lifeguard who is not currently certified in lifeguarding, CPR and first aid.

Failure to meet specific water quality standard(s). Ex: A disinfectant (i.e. Chlorine) level below the minimum required concentration or two consecutive microbiological exceedances in ocean or pool water (i.e. Enterococcus concentration greater than 104 enterococci/100 ml in ocean water, a total coliform greater than 1 colony/ml in a pool, or the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a hot tub or spa).

Any other condition(s) which pose(s) an immediate health or safety hazard. Ex: water so cloudy in a pool that the drain cover in the deep end is not visible, a fecal or vomiting accident in a pool or spa, or contamination of beach water with medical waste or an oil spill.

If a public recreational bathing place meets the criteria for closure, the health department will complete a report and issue a directive to the facility manager or supervisor to close the pool, spa or beach and have it remain closed until the cause has been abated and health department approval has been given to re-open.