Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-27-.35 - Disinfectant and Chemical Feeders

(1) Disinfectants used in flume and pool water shall provide a disinfecting residual in the pool water. Chlorine or chlorine compounds are most frequently used for this purpose, but other bactericidal agents or apparatuses are acceptable if registered by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency.

(2) Adequate and appropriate equipment for introducing a disinfectant into the recirculating system shall be provided. This equipment shall be of sufficient capacity to maintain appropriate disinfectant residual levels at all times. The DPD (diethyl-pphenylenediamine) or other suitable free chlorine test method is suggested as a means of testing for the free chlorine residual.

(3) Feeding equipment shall be capable of permanently and precisely feeding the required quantity of disinfecting agent to the pool water. The disinfecting material used shall be subject to field-testing procedures.

(4) Chemical Operational Parameters; National Swimming Pool Institute Standards set forth the suggested operational parameters for proper chemical treatment and maintenance of both flume and pool waters. Because of high aeration rates and potentially high slider loads in the lower pool, tests for water quality and chemical balance shall be made every two hours the facility is operating. Proper water balance shall be obtained each day before the facility is opened to the public.

(5) Recommendations on the Use of Elemental Chlorine and Operational Procedures: Although chlorine solution (hypochlorite) is preferable from a safety standpoint, gaseous chlorine may be approved as the disinfectant.

(6) Hypochlorinators or other adjustable-output rate chemical-feeding equipment shall conform to the joint National Swimming Pool Institute-National Sanitation Foundation Standard #19, relating to "Adjustable Output Rate Chemical Feeding Equipment and Flow Thru Chemical Feeding Equipment for Swimming Pools."

(7) Equipment and Installation: Chlorination equipment shall be located so that an equipment failure or malfunction will have a minimum effect on an emergency evacuation of patrons.

(8) The chlorinator, cylinders of chlorine, hypochlorite and associated equipment shall be housed in a reasonable open building with a leak detection system set at or slightly above ground for the detection of chlorine gas. Cylinders shall be securely fastened to a wall or post. Except for chemicals used to check chlorine leaks, no other chemicals shall be stored in the chlorine enclosure.

(9) Chlorine cylinders must be handled with care. Valve protection caps and valve outlet caps must be in place at all times, except when the cylinder is connected for use. Cylinders must not be dropped and shall be protected from falling objects. Cylinders shall be used on a first-in, first-out basis. Fresh washers shall be used each time a cylinder is connected.

(10) As soon as a container is empty, the valve shall be closed and the lines disconnected. The outlet shall be promptly capped and the valve protection hood attached. The open end of the disconnected line shall be plugged or capped promptly to keep atmospheric moisture out of the system.

(11) Although chlorine suppliers make every effort to furnish chlorine in properly conditioned cylinders, chlorine gas leaks may still occur. Operating personnel shall be informed about leak-control procedures.

(12) Enclosures shall be located at ground or above ground level. If the enclosure must be installed below grade, it shall have airtight ducts from the bottom of the enclosure to atmosphere in an unrestricted area, a motor-driven exhaust fan capable of producing at least one air change per minute and automatic louvers of good design near the top of the enclosure for admitting fresh air. The enclosure shall be inaccessible to casual slide users and, if possible, locked. All keys shall be kept on the premises so that they will be readily available when needed by servicing personnel.

(13) Containers may be stored indoors or outdoors. Full and empty cylinders shall be segregated and tagged.

(14) An automatic chlorine leak detector shall be installed, especially in below-grade installations.

(15) Respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health shall be provided for protection against chlorine.

(16) At least one approved self-contained breathing apparatus shall be provided. Respiratory equipment shall be mounted outside the chlorine enclosure and filter cartridges replaced after each use.

(17) Elemental chlorine feeders shall be activated by a booster pump, with recirculated water. The booster pump shall be electrically or mechanically interlocked to the filter pump to prevent the feeding of chlorine when the recirculation pump is not running.

(18) Connections from the cylinders to the system depend on the type of chlorinator used and shall comply with the chlorinator manufacturer's recommendation.

(19) Electrical switches for the control of artificial lighting and ventilation shall be on the outside of the enclosure, adjacent to the door.

(20) Responsibility for Chlorination and Water Treatment: A specific person on each shift shall be responsible for disinfection and water treatment operations and shall be thoroughly trained in the performance of routine operations, including emergency procedures and leak-control problems. If possible, these people should complete training courses on swimming pool operations, given through local departments of health. A typical reference text available for such training is Swimming Pool Operators Handbook, published by the National Swimming Pool Foundation. This text is available through the National Swimming Pool Institute, 200 K Street, N. W., Washington, D.C. 20006. Another reference is Swimming Pools-Safety and Disease Control Through Proper Design and Operation. This manual is available through the Environmental Health Services Division, Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333. As an alternative, they should be trained by a professional operator. The facility shall not be in operations without such a person in attendance. No one else shall be responsible for chlorination or water treatment operations.

(21) A safety chart shall be posted in or near the chlorine enclosure, and a second chart shall be in the pool office near the telephone. Such charts are available from many suppliers and from the Chlorine Institute, 342 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10017. The telephone number of the chlorine supplier shall be shown on these charts.

(22) Responsibility for Circulation and Filter System Operation. A specific person on each shift shall be made responsible for circulation and filter system operation, checks, maintenance, backwash and cleaning. This person shall be trained by a professional operator or an expert in swimming pool operations and shall carry out all scheduled cleanings and maintenance on the circulation and filter systems.

Notes

Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 120-3-27-.35

O.C.G.A. Sec. 25-15-12.

Original Rule entitled "Disinfectant and Chemical Feeders"adopted. F. Sep. 4, 2013; eff. Sept. 24, 2013.