Swimming Pools
In December 2007, President Bush signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. The law went into effect December 19, 2008 and requires safety improvements for public pools and spas, specifically in the area of entrapment prevention. Year round public pools had to be in compliance by December 19, 2007 and seasonal pools had to be in compliance by opening time for the 2009 season.
For More information on the law or it's requirement click here to download the State of Connecticut's Department of Public Health Recreation Program's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document. And don't forget to check PoolSafety.gov's site for further information on how to comply and what to look for when purchasing Drain covers to comply.
All public and semi-public swimming pools within the district are inspected for compliance with the Connecticut Public Health Code including the new Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, for the prevention of Recreational Safety & Water Illness. With most pools within the district being seasonal, the pools are inspected each year before opening and must be in compliance with the health code prior to being issued their license and allowed to open. Pools open year around are inspected on a more frequents basis. The inspection process involves checking compliance of the water chemistry as well as ensuring proper safety equipment & procedures.
Homeowners
If you're a homeowner, the following links will provide information to help you maintain and operate your residential pool or spa safely. Please click on the links below:
Safety
Bathing Beaches
Bathing beaches are also a great way of remaining cool in the summer as well as offering great opportunity for recreation. However, bathing beaches can also be a source of Recreational Water Illness and therefore are also regulated to prevent the spread of illness. The North Central District Health Department monitors its local bathing beaches by routinely collecting samples of the water at the beaches and submitting those samples to the state laboratory for water analysis. Sampling is performed during the summer months that the bathing beaches are open and continue till the bathing beaches are closed for the season. The samples submitted to the state laboratory are tested for bacteria and other pollutants. If bacteria or other pollutants are present in the sample, the bathing beach is closed until the bacteria or pollutants are no longer present. Beach closing signs are posted by the local health department at our municipal locations if warranted.
