Public Swimming Pools & Spas

What is the definition of a ‘public swimming pool or spa pool’?

Under the Public Health Act 2010, a public swimming pool or spa pool is defined as:

• ‘a swimming pool or spa pool to which the public is admitted, whether free of charge, on payment of a fee or otherwise, including:
• a pool to which the public is admitted as an entitlement of membership of a club, or
• a pool provided at a workplace for the use of employees, or
• a pool provided at a hotel, motel or guest house or at holiday units, or similar facility, for the use of guests, or
• a pool provided at a school or hospital, or

From 1 April 2018, a public swimming pool or spa pool will also include:

• a pool situated at private residential premises, but only if that pool is used for commercial purposes, or
• any other pool or spa pool declared by the regulations to be a public swimming pool or spa pool.'

The Act defines a spa pool as including any structure (other than a swimming pool) that:

• holds more than 680 litres of water, and
• is used or intended to be used for human bathing, and
• has facilities for injecting jets of water or air into the water.

A swimming pool under the Act includes any structure that is used or intended to be used for human bathing, swimming or diving, and includes a water slide, water-play park or other recreational aquatic structure (including any interactive water feature or fountain that is intended to be bathed in for recreational purposes). This includes recreational aquatic structures, such as interactive water features or fountains, or water play parks.

Council's role

Broken Hill City Council keeps a register of all public swimming pools and public spa pools and Council's Environmental Health Officer inspects all public pools and spas to ensure they are safe for the public to use.

Registration

If you own or operate a public swimming pool or spa pool and are not previously registered with Council, please complete an Application for Registration - Swimming Pools & Spas.

Public health risks

Due to public pools being open to the wider community they are likely to be contaminated with a greater diversity of disease causing organisms compared to a private pool. Disease causing organisms can live and grow in pool water unless the water is adequately disinfected.

Water, chemical and other requirements

All public pools and spas are required to comply with the Public Health Act 2010 and Public Health Regulation 2012. Operators of public pools or spa pools should monitor:

• The chemical and physical attributes of the water
• The bathing loads throughout operational times, as additional testing of treatment may be required.

Chlorinated public pools should comply with the below parameters: