For Recreational Water Facility Operators

Under the Recreational Water Protocol, 2019, we are required to inspect public recreational water facilities such as pools, spas, wading pools, splash pads, spray pads, and water slide receiving basins.

Routine inspections help prevent or reduce water-related illnesses, injuries, and death. We also inspect new and seasonal recreational water facilities upon opening.

Our inspections are to ensure compliance with the Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565. This regulation sets out the legal requirements for public recreational water facilities. Operators are required to be familiar with the regulation and ensure their facilities meet the legal requirements.

Requirements for recreational water facility operators

Recreational water facility operators have the following responsibilities:

Notification of opening or re-opening a public recreational water facility
Operator training
Record keeping

Notification of opening or re-opening a public recreational water facility

Owners and operators of newly constructed or altered public recreational water facilities are required to provide written notification to Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) at least 14 days before opening the facility for public use.

For more information on reopening a public recreational water facility, call 1-800-830-5978 to speak with a Public Health Inspector.

Operator training

Pool and spa operators are required to be trained in public pool and spa operation, maintenance, safety and emergency procedures, filtration systems, and water chemistry. At times of inspection, we will ask the operators to confirm their training. NWHU is in the process of developing an online course.

Training courses are currently available through:

Record keeping

According to Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565 every operator of a public pool or spa must keep and sign daily records that set out, in relation to each operating day:

the estimated number of bather uses during the operating day;
the reading of the make-up water meter for pools and, if applicable, for spas, as of the end of the day;
any emergencies, rescues or breakdowns of equipment that have occurred;
the time of day the emergency stop button test, where applicable, was performed;
the results of the tests required in the regulation
in the case of a public spa, whether the public spa was drained, inspected and refilled in accordance with the regulation
the results of the tests required and the times they were performed; and
the type and amount of chemicals added manually to the pool or spa.

Operators are also required to keep records of the results of safety-related equipment inspections. The frequency of these inspections is set out by the public health inspector.