Council’s Environmental Health Officer inspects local public pools and spas. Public recreational water facilities, such as public pools and spas, pose potential health risks if not properly maintained.

Disease-causing organisms live and multiply in pool water that has not been properly treated and give rise to eye, ear, skin and intestinal infection. Inadequate chemical balance of pool water can also cause skin rashes and conjunctivitis.

Environmental health assessments aim to ensure that public pools and spas are maintained in accordance with the requirements of the SA Public Health Act 2011 and Regulations.

A pool is considered to be open to the public if it is:

• Available for use by members of the public on payment of an admission or membership fee
• Available for use by people who live in, work in, or attend the premises where the pool is situated
• Available for use by people staying at:
• A hotel, motel or guesthouse
• A camping or caravan ground
• Any other similar place where accommodation is provided on a temporary basis.

This excludes situations where the pool is used in connection with a single private residence and is only available for the use of residents or their guests and includes schools, and flats or units, with a shared swimming pool.

When inspecting public swimming pools, Environmental Health Officers look at a number of requirements including the following:

• The pool must be fitted with automatic equipment that continuously analyses and controls the pH levels and the level of disinfectant in the water
• The levels of disinfectant (e.g. Chlorine), pH and alkalinity must meet the required standards
• The pool must be regularly tested by the operator and a log book of the results must be kept
• All equipment (e.g. filters) must be maintained in a clean and efficient condition
• The pool must be kept clean, the structure must be sound, and the surroundings (e.g. presence of leaves and algae, broken tiles, rusty ladders, etc.) must be safe.