Health, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Environmental Services

Rule R392-303

Public Geothermal Pools and Bathing Places

Change in Proposed Rule

DAR File No.: 33076
Filed: 02/22/2010 12:31:52 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

Two modifications were made in response to public comment regarding sampling and flow through in disinfected pools.

Summary of the rule or change:

A requirement for the maximum turnover time is added for geothermal pools that use recirculation to prevent buildup of contaminants. Existing providers already meet this requirement. This is added to make it clear that the flow-through time is acceptable. Although the existing rule gives authority to sample at least once a month, in order to avoid the possibility of confusion, a change is proposed to clarify that local health departments have the authority to sample a geothermal pool for investigative purposes, or unacceptable sample results. (DAR NOTE: This change in proposed rule has been filed to make additional changes to a proposed amendment that was published in the November 15, 2009, issue of the Utah State Bulletin, on page 46. Underlining in the rule below indicates text that has been added since the publication of the proposed rule mentioned above; strike-out indicates text that has been deleted. You must view the change in proposed rule and the proposed amendment together to understand all of the changes that will be enforceable should the agency make this rule effective.)

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 26-15-2

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There will be no impact on the state budget as the local health departments are responsible for enforcement.

local governments:

Any additional sampling would be at the discretion of local health departments. Therefore, this rule does not require additional costs.

small businesses:

Private pools affected already are in compliance so no additional costs are predicted.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

Private pools affected already are in compliance so no additional costs are predicted.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

As all regulated pools are in compliance with these proposed changes, no costs are predicted.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This filing proposes to further modify a proposed rule and permit additional public comment. Adopting this rule, as amended, will avoid potential costs by mitigating current regulatory requirements. The amount of the avoided costs were this rule change not adopted are difficult to quantify.

David N. Sundwall, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Health
Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Environmental Services
288 N 1460 W
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3231

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Ronald Marsden at the above address, by phone at 801-538-6191, by FAX at 801-538-6564, or by Internet E-mail at rmarsden@utah.gov

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

04/14/2010

This rule may become effective on:

04/21/2010

Authorized by:

David Sundwall, Executive Director

R392. Health, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services, Environmental Services.

R392-303. Public Geothermal Pools and Bathing Places.

 

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R392-303-16. Circulation Systems.

(1) Geothermal pools that transport source, pool, or discharge water through pipes shall meet the requirements of R392-302-16 for piping, pipe labeling, velocity in pipes, adequate space in equipment areas, valves, and air induction systems. Geothermal pools shall meet the requirements of R392-302-16 for normal water level and vacuum cleaning systems.

(2) The owner or operator of a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place shall maintain flow-through 24 hours a day during the operating season, except for periods of maintenance. If the pool is drained and cleaned each day prior to use, flow-through is only required during the period that the geothermal pool is in use.

(3) A geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place with a volume greater than 3,000 gallons, 11,355 liters, shall have a flow-through rate greater than or equal to one-fourth the pool volume every hour. A geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place with a volume less than or equal to 3,000 gallons, 11,355 liters, shall have a flow-through rate greater than or equal to the pool volume every 30 minutes.

(a) If the results of any three of the last five E. Coli or fecal coliform samples taken from the pool exceed 63 per 50 milliliters, the owner or operator shall either increase the rate of flow-through, reduce bather load as provided in R392-303-9(2), or both increase the flow rate and reduce the bather load. The owner or operator shall adjust the bather load or the flow-through rate to a level that consistently produces E. Coli or fecal coliform levels less than 63 per 50 milliliters. If any E. Coli or fecal coliform sample exceeds 63 per 50 milliliters, the owner shall keep the pool closed until sample results for the pool are less than 63 per 50 milliliters as required in R392-303-19(3).

(b) The Local Health Officer may approve a reduced flow rate if the owner or operator of the geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place can demonstrate that the required bacteriological level can be maintained at the reduced flow rate.

(c) If the operator of a geothermal bathing place is unable to control the flow-through rate, the operator may meet the bacteriologic water quality standards in section R392-303-19 by controlling bather load.

(d) If the operator of a geothermal pool maintains the disinfectant levels, chloramine levels, and pH levels within the values allowed in Table 6 of R392-302 and operates a recirculation system in the pool in compliance with the requirements of R392-302-16, the pool is exempt from the flow-through rate requirements of R392-303-16(3) except the operator shall maintain a flow-through with a maximum turnover time of 48 hours, and shall meet the bacteriologic requirements of R392-302-27(10)(a).

(4) A geothermal pool that has pumped flow shall meet the inlet requirements of R392-302-17. Geothermal bathing places and geothermal pools that have gravity flow inlets, shall either meet the requirements of R392-302-17 or the owner or operator of the pool shall demonstrate to the local health department that the inlet system provides uniform distribution of fresh water throughout the pool. A demonstration of uniform distribution includes computer simulation or a dye test witnessed by a representative of the local health department.

(5) A geothermal pool shall have a drain that allows complete emptying of the pool. Geothermal pool and geothermal bathing place submerged drain grates and covers shall meet the requirements of R392-302-18. Geothermal pool and geothermal bathing place submerged drains shall meet the anti-entrapment requirements of R392-302-18.

(6) A geothermal pool shall have overflow gutters or skimming devices that meet the applicable requirements of R392-302-19.

(7) Geothermal pools and geothermal bathing places shall have a method to determine accurate rate-of-flow in gallons per minute. If the rate-of-flow method is a rate-of flow indicator manufactured by a third party, it shall be properly installed and located according to the manufacturer's recommendations. If a field-fabricated rate-of-flow indicator such as a calibrated weir or flume is used, it shall be designed and calibrated under the direction of a licensed professional engineer. The rate-of-flow indicator must be located in a place and positioned where it can be easily read by the operator as required in R392-303-21(2). The Local Health Officer may exempt a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place from the requirement for a rate-of-flow indicator if the rate of flow is not adjustable or if there is no practical way to measure flow.

(8) Each geothermal pool and geothermal bathing place shall have a temperature measuring device. The operator shall measure the temperature of the pool at the warmest point. The device shall be accurate to within one degree Fahrenheit (0.6 degrees Celsius). The operator shall calibrate the thermometer in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications as necessary to ensure its accuracy.

 

R392-303-19. Pool Water Quality.

(1) The water in a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place must have sufficient clarity at all times so that a black disc 6 inches, 15.24 centimeters, in diameter, is readily visible if placed on a white field at the deepest point of the pool (or at 12 feet, 3.66 meters, deep for pools over 12 feet, 3.66 meters, deep). The owner or operator shall close the pool or bathing place immediately if this requirement is not met. A soaking tub or similar fixture with a volume of 70 gallons or less is exempt from the clarity requirements of this subsection.

(2) The local health department or pool sampler contracted by the local health department shall collect routine bacteriological samples of the pool water at least once per month and at least two weeks apart. The local health department or their contractor may collect additional samples for investigative purposes or as a follow-up of unsatisfactory samples. The Local Health Officer shall choose or approve the dates and times that the samples are collected based on when a representative level of bacteria would likely be found. The local health department or person sampling the pool shall submit the bacteriological samples to a laboratory approved by under R444-14 to perform E. coli or fecal coliform testing.

(a) The local health department or its contracted pool sampler, as required by local health department, shall have the laboratory analyze the sample for either E. coli or fecal coliform.

(b) If the pool sampler submits the sample as required by local health department, the sampler shall require the laboratory to report sample results within five working days to the local health department and operator.

(3) If the E. coli or fecal coliform levels are found to be greater than the maximum level of 63 per 50 milliliters, the owner or operator shall close the pool until sample results show the level is below 63.

(4) If E. coli or fecal coliform levels are greater than one per 50 milliliters, the pool operator shall post the level found as required in R392-303-22.

(5) The owner or operator of a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place should maintain the pool water temperature at a maximum of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius. A geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place that exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius, at the minimum required turnover rate shall have, and employ when necessary, a method of temperature reduction in the pool or bathing place that maintains the minimum flow-through rate required under R392-303-16(3). An approved method of temperature reduction may include methods such as the introduction of cool water from a source that has been analyzed and approved according to R392-303-5(2) or approved for drinking water by the Utah Division of Drinking Water, or such as the direct cooling of the geothermal source water by a heat exchanger, or the diversion of the geothermal source water to allow it to cool prior to entering the pool or impoundment. The temperature reduction method shall be capable of reducing the temperature of the pool within 2 hours of activation from the maximum anticipated temperature to below 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius. If the temperature of the source water or cooling rate of the pool is difficult to control, a temperature drift of up to four degrees Fahrenheit, 2.2 degrees Celsius, is allowed if the owner or operator has activated the temperature reduction measure. The owner or operator of a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place shall not permit bathers to use the pool if the temperature is above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, 42.2 degrees Celsius, except the owner may allow a bather to use a soaking tub or similar fixture with a volume of 70 gallons or less and a water temperature less than or equal to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, 43.3 degrees Celsius.

 

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KEY: geothermal pools, geothermal natural bathing places, hot springs, geothermal spas

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [2009]2010

Authorizing, Implemented, or Interpreted Law: 26-15-2