TABLE 1
Comparison of the Model Aquatic Health Code ( MAHC ) and City of Houston Safety Codes and Violation Points
Safety Code
few other counties and states have adopted the MAHC ( Hlavsa et al ., 2016 ). The City of Houston , Texas , has not adopted the MAHC and instead uses a Code of Ordinances to regulate the safety of city swimming pools ( City of Houston , 2023 ).
The primary aim of our study was to develop a grading system for swimming pool safety for Houston by applying the MAHC to city swimming pool inspection data . We hypothesized that by using a safety grading system for public aquatic facilities , it would be possible to disseminate swimming pool safety information to guide injury-prevention measures and inform pool operators and the public about problematic pools .
Methods
MAHC Violation Points
City of Houston Violation Points
Pool and spa Enclosure in good repair |
10 |
10 |
Self-closing / self-latching gates |
10 |
10 |
Protected overhead electrical wires |
10 |
10 |
Grab rails , ladders secured ; shell , deck in good repair |
5 |
5 |
Float / safety line clearly present |
5 |
5 |
Depth and no diving markers ; stair stripes ; in good repair and visible |
5 |
5 |
Skimmers : weirs and baskets installed ; clean and operating ; |
5 |
5 |
covers in good repair |
|
|
Recirculation inlets functional |
5 |
5 |
Main drain grate secured in place and in good repair |
10 |
10 |
Water is clear , main drain visible |
10 |
10 |
Starting blocks removed , covered , or access blocked |
5 |
5 |
Pool deck free from obstructions ; emergency exit marked |
5 |
5 |
Emergency phone or other communication device available and |
5 |
5 |
well-marked |
|
|
First aid kit available |
5 |
5 |
Appropriate safety equipment present and in good repair |
10 |
10 |
Adequate supervision of the facility |
10 |
* |
Signs : bathing load , rules , chemicals , and spa legible and in good |
5 |
5 |
repair |
|
|
Spa temperature ≤104 º F ( 40 º C ) |
10 |
10 |
Water chemicals Approved NSF / ANSI Standard 50 DPD test kit |
5 |
5 |
Proper disinfectant level |
10 |
10 |
pH between 7.2 and 7.8 |
10 |
10 |
Combined chlorine < 0.4 ppm |
5 |
* |
Cyanuric acid ≤100 ppm |
5 |
* |
|
|
continued on page 10 |
Study Design and Setting We conducted a cross-sectional study of swimming pool safety inspection data for
3,107 public swimming pools , including spas and wading pools , in Houston during 2016 . We defined a public swimming pool as one that is intended to be used collectively by people for swimming or bathing . This classification included a swimming pool owned or operated as part of a multifamily dwelling project , nonprofit recreational facility , hotel , educational facility , or fitness center ( Houston Health Department , 2023a ).
In 2021 , Houston had a population of 2.29 million ( U . S . Census Bureau , 2021 ). The Houston Health Department regulates public pools and spas through enforcement of Chapter 43 of the City of Houston Code of Ordinances ( City of Houston , 2023 ). The code was adopted from the Texas Administrative Code ( Public Swimming Pools and Spas , 2023 ), Texas Health and Safety Code ( Pool Yard Enclosures , 1994 ), and International Code Council , Inc . ( 2018 ). The ordinance ensures that aquatic facilities provide a clean , healthy , and safe environment for the public by protecting against waterborne illness and preventing drowning . The pool safety inspection consists of safety and administrative elements ( Houston Health Department , 2019 ). All public pools , including multifamily and community swimming pools , require an annual inspection . More frequent inspections occur when safety violations are discovered at the time of inspection or in response to a complaint .
The city also lists critical violations that can result in immediate closure of the swimming pool ( Houston Health Department , 2019 ). If uncorrected , these violations can be life-threatening . Private single-family residential swimming pools are not subject to annual safety inspections by the city but can be inspected when requested by the owner . These pools were excluded from our study . Our study did not involve human subjects . Patients or the public were not involved in the design , conduct , reporting , or dissemination plans of our research .
Inspection Data Inspection data of all registered commercial swimming pools within the city limits of Houston were obtained from the Houston Health Department ( HHD ). Data included name and address of the property where the pool was sited , housing type ( e . g ., apartment , spa , city pool , club , condominium , commu-
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