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1. What are the bacterial standards for a swimming pool or spa?

The Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 2, Regulation 3 requires that not more than 15% of the water samples collected from a pool shall:
- Contain more than 200 bacteria per milliliter as determined by the standard (35 degrees Celsius) agar plate count
- Show a confirmed positive test for coliform organisms in any of the five - ten milliliter portions of a sample or more than one coliform organism per 50 milliliters when the membrane filter test is used.

2. What are the chemical standards for a swimming pool or spa?

The Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 2, Regulation 4 requires disinfection residuals and alkalinity to be maintained as follows:
- Whenever chlorine, or a chlorine compound, is employed for disinfection the amount of free chlorine residual in the water shall not be less than 1 parts per million or more than 5 parts per million for public and semi-public swimming pools, and shall not be less than 3 parts per million or more than 5 parts per million for a spa, at a pH of 7.2 to 7.8.
- Whenever bromine is employed for disinfection the bromine residual in the water shall not be less than 2 parts per million or more than 4 parts per million for public and semi-public swimming pools, and shall not be less than 3 parts per million or more than 5 parts per million for a spa.
- Total alkalinity for pools and spas shall be maintained between 60 and 180 parts per million.
- The pH of the water should be maintained between 7 and 8.

3. What are the physical standards for a swimming pool or spa?

The Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 2, Regulation 5 requires:
- The surface of the pool or spa’s water shall be kept free of scum and floating debris. The bottom and sides of the pool or spa shall be maintained free of sediment, dirt, slime and algae. Water shall be maintained free of turbidity and shall be sufficiently clear so that the main drain outlet is clearly visible to an adult standing on the pool or spa’s deck, or that a Secchi Disk, when placed at the bottom of the pool or spa at the deepest point, is clearly visible to an adult standing on the deck.
- The temperature of heated water coming into a bathing place shall not exceed 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

4. What are the minimum testing and record keeping requirements for a swimming pool or spa?

The minimum testing and record keeping requirements are detailed in the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 2, Regulation 6 which states; "All pools shall be equipped with approved test equipment to determine pH, disinfectant residual, total alkalinity and temperature. The chemical disinfection level, pH, total alkalinity, and temperature of the water shall be tested at least once daily and an operating log that includes the results of these tests shall be maintained for 12 months and made available to the Department, any other regulatory authorities, or a member of the public upon request."

5. What are the bacterial and physical standards for a bathing lake?

The Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 12 Regulation 2 requires; "Operators of a public or semipublic natural bathing place, a semi-artificial bathing place, or an artificial lake shall ensure that the public or semipublic natural bathing place, semi-artificial bathing place, or artificial lake meets the narrative and numeric water quality standards in 18 A.A.C. 11, Article 1 when the public or semipublic natural bathing place, semi-artificial bathing place, or artificial lake is open for water contact recreation. Operators shall collect one sample per one acre in the bathing area and one sample per ten acres of overall lake surfaces. Samples shall be collected and examined in accordance with the procedures outlined in the latest edition of "Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater". The owner shall collect and submit weekly water samples for bacteriological examination on a routine basis while the bathing area is in active use."

6. What are the minimum testing and record keeping requirements for a bathing lake?

The minimum testing and record keeping requirements are detailed in the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 12, Regulation 1 which states; "The operator(s) shall perform tests or have tests performed by a certified laboratory to show the degree of compliance with these regulations and shall record the results of the tests in the daily operation record. Such records shall be maintained on the premises and made available to the Department upon request. They shall include as a minimum:
- pH - once daily
- Bacteriological results - weekly
- Turbidity, as measured by Secchi disk - once daily
- Temperature - once daily"

7. What are the signage requirements for a pool or spa?

Signage requirements are detailed in the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 1, Regulation 4. Signs shall be clearly lettered and prominently displayed to the general public. Maricopa County Environmental Health Code

8. What are the usage restrictions for a pool or spa?

A number of usage restrictions exist for pools or spas. Some typical usage restrictions include:
- Observe all safety regulations.
- No drinks, candy, tobacco, popcorn, gum, alcohol, or food of any kind shall be permitted in the pool or within ten (10) feet of a public bathing place or within four feet of a semipublic bathing place. Food or drink is allowed in the pool enclosure, but not in the pool or in walkways, provided that only plastic or paper serving utensils, cups and dishes are used.
- No glass is allowed within the pool enclosure.
- Shower and use the toilet before entering the pool.
- Keep gate(s) closed – do not prop open.
- Persons with sore or inflamed eyes, colds, nasal or ear discharges, boils or other acute or obvious skin or body infections, or cuts shall be excluded from the pool.
- Incontinent, wear tight fitting rubber or plastic pants or a swim diaper
- Animals are not allowed in the pool enclosure unless they are service animals.

Additional usage restrictions are detailed in the Maricopa County Environmental Health Code Chapter VI, Section 1.
Maricopa County Environmental Health Code

9. How many people can be in the pool?

The number of people allowed in the pool is based on the maximum allowed bathing load and should be specified on the pool’s sign.

10. What conditions may result in a pool or spa being closed?

A pool or spa may be closed if any of the following conditions exist:
- Violation of the bacteriological, chemical, physical standards listed in Maricopa County Environmental Health Code (MCEHC) Chapter VI, Section 2, Regulations 3, 4 and 5.
- Excessive turbidity, accumulation of scum, algae, grease, or debris in the water or on the pool surface where the water is not sufficiently clear so that the main drain outlet is clearly visible to an adult standing on the pool deck.
- Fecal contamination of the pool or spa
- Use of an unapproved water source.
- Absence of an approved disinfectant.
- Mechanical disinfectant feeder is missing, inoperative, or malfunctioning.
- Leaking gas chlorinator.
- Filtration system is inoperative.
- Broken or missing main drain covers or other suction outlet covers.
- When required, lifeguards are not present or the required number of lifeguards is not present.
- Gates are not self-closing and self-latching or there is a breach of the pool enclosure.
- Absence of all safety equipment.
- Electrical wires over the pool.
- Broken glass in the pool area.
- Any other operational condition which may cause injury or present a danger to the public health.

Please reference MCEHC Chapter VI, Section 1 and MCEHC Chapter VI, Section 2 for additional details.
Maricopa County Environmental Health Code

11. Who should I contact concerning a compliance inspection or an operational issue?

If you have any questions concerning compliance inspections or operational issues for public and semi-public pools, wading pools or special use pools, spas and artificial bathing lakes please contact the Environmental Services Department compliance inspector listed on the compliance inspection report or contact the Swimming Pool Program.