PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS, SPAS & SPECIAL USE POOLS

Staff Services: Karsen Highley, EHST
P: 740-652-2800
Email: karsen.highley@fairfieldcountyohio.gov

The Fairfield County Health Department inspects public swimming pools, spas, and special use pools to prevent injury, minimize the potential for disease transmission, and provide a safe and healthy aquatic recreational environment.

Ohio Administrative Code 3701-31 regulates the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of public pools, spas, and special use pools.

Virginia Graeme Baker Act is federal legislation that took effect on December 19, 2008. This act requires that all public swimming pools, spas and special use pools have anti-entrapment and anti-evisceration mechanisms in place by December 19, 2008. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is the federal agency tasked with enforcing this legislation. Ohio’s public swimming pools, spas and special use pools must comply with this federal legislation.

RESOURCES

CLEANING UP BODY FLUID at POOL

FECAL INCIDENT RESPONSE
Recommendations

BEACH/POOL RESOURCES

USEFUL LINKS

HEALTHY SWIMMING

The Fairfield County Health Department (FDH) wants to be sure that all our residents enjoy swimming fun and stay healthy by understanding how recreational water diseases are caused and how to prevent them from making people sick. These diseases are caused by germs that can contaminate water in pools, lakes and oceans. The most common illness is diarrhea caused by germs like Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella and E.coli. A person with diarrhea can contaminate a swimming pool. If swimmers swallow the contaminated water, they may become ill.

Public pools, spas and special use pools are required to maintain certain levels of disinfectants in the water, such as chlorine or bromine that destroy disease causing bacteria, viruses and parasites. Some parasites, like “Cryptosporidium”, can live in a pool for days. "Remember it is everyone’s responsibility to help insure a safe swimming experience, so if you are ill please don't swim,” says Fairfield County Health Department Environmental Director.

To keep your water experience as safe as possible, please follow the following health tips:

Do not swim when you have diarrhea.
This is really important especially for children in diapers.
Do not swallow pool water; keep your mouth closed while in the water
Do practice good hygiene; take a shower before swimming.
Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or changing a diaper.

For more information about recreational water illnesses, please log on to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.healthyswimming.org

DEPARTMENT HOURS

Monday-Friday 8:00am to 4:00pm
Closed for lunch 11:30am-12:00pm
Closed Saturday & Sunday

VITAL STATISTICS
Birth & Death Records
Phone: 740-652-2836

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Phone: 740-652-2813

W.I.C. SERVICES
will continue but will be limited
Phone: 740-652-2800
option #7 for appointments.

FOR ALL OTHER QUESTIONS
Phone: 740-652-2800
Phone: 614-322-5245
TTY Services

R. Joseph Ebel RS, MS, MBA
Health Commissioner

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Fairfield County Health Department
1550 Sheridan Drive, Suite 100
Lancaster, Ohio 43130
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