Our pool closed twice in the last month for filtration issues. The pool was so cloudy, you could barely see your way through the lane. It still is cloudy, hence, management has put up some very stringent shower rules, which, of course, are not enforced by the guards. Needless to say, people still get in without showering, do not wear caps even with long hair, etc. Does anyone know if there is a law that showers must be taken prior to entering pools? Seems to me that if management is going to go through the motions of posting rules, and threatening membership cancellation, they should enforce it. If I really thought about what people who don't shower bring into the pool, I would never swim. :D
Renie,
The short answer is yes. The NJ State Sanitary Code Chapter iX Public Recreational Bathing (aka N.J.A.C 8:26 - Google it for a pdf copy) and NJ Uniform Construction Code N.J.A.C. 5:23 require showers and describe the requirements for sanitary facilities at pools including showers. Additionally, the specific subchapter of the sanitary code, NJAC 8:26-5.4, "Bather rules for swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs and spas," states in section (a): "Rules governing admission, bathing, and conduct of patrons shall be conspicuously posted and shall include at a minimum the following provisions verbatim" and sub-paragraph 8. clearly states: "All persons shall shower before entering the water." Under the sanitation code the pool license can be suspended by the health department for not meeting microbiological water quality standards contained in these regulations and for not operating in compliance (see Subchapter 8 of 8:26).
"Cloudy" water may not indicate a microbiological issue exists, although it is not a sign of good pool operation and in my experience generally indicates water quality is deteriorating. Cloudiness can sometimes result from dissolved gases (like air) in the water that aren't a problem. Your pool operators may not be sufficiently skilled to know what the problem is and fix it. Cloudiness also results from increasing suspended and colloidal solids in the water column that cause "turbidity" and that is supposed to be removed by the filter's operation. The colloidal/suspended particles harbor microbes on their surface and although the disinfectant should kill the microbes, they can "grow and hide" in the particles and be ingested. Pools and drinking water must be treated and kept at very low levels of turbidity to minimize this potential and to allow the disinfectant to work 100%.
Renie,
The short answer is yes. The NJ State Sanitary Code Chapter iX Public Recreational Bathing (aka N.J.A.C 8:26 - Google it for a pdf copy) and NJ Uniform Construction Code N.J.A.C. 5:23 require showers and describe the requirements for sanitary facilities at pools including showers. Additionally, the specific subchapter of the sanitary code, NJAC 8:26-5.4, "Bather rules for swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs and spas," states in section (a): "Rules governing admission, bathing, and conduct of patrons shall be conspicuously posted and shall include at a minimum the following provisions verbatim" and sub-paragraph 8. clearly states: "All persons shall shower before entering the water." Under the sanitation code the pool license can be suspended by the health department for not meeting microbiological water quality standards contained in these regulations and for not operating in compliance (see Subchapter 8 of 8:26).
"Cloudy" water may not indicate a microbiological issue exists, although it is not a sign of good pool operation and in my experience generally indicates water quality is deteriorating. Cloudiness can sometimes result from dissolved gases (like air) in the water that aren't a problem. Your pool operators may not be sufficiently skilled to know what the problem is and fix it. Cloudiness also results from increasing suspended and colloidal solids in the water column that cause "turbidity" and that is supposed to be removed by the filter's operation. The colloidal/suspended particles harbor microbes on their surface and although the disinfectant should kill the microbes, they can "grow and hide" in the particles and be ingested. Pools and drinking water must be treated and kept at very low levels of turbidity to minimize this potential and to allow the disinfectant to work 100%.
