The Long Awaited Public Recreational Bathing Rule Revision LOEL MUETTER MA, HO PROGRAM SUPERVISOR, NJDHSS PUBLIC HEALTH, SANITATION AND SAFETY PROGRAM LOEL.MUETTER@DOH.STATE.NJ.US (609) 826-494 WWW.NJ.GOV/HEALTH/PHSS/
History 2009 Readopted N.J.A.C 8:26 with amendments Fall of 2009, The Department convened a group of interested parties BEACH (Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000), and Baker Acts (Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, December 9, 2007)
History Amend every subchapter of N.J.A.C. 8:26 Improve syntax and grammar Redefine terms Technical and substantive changes Recodifications
Definitions Aquatic activity area is an area containing aquatic play equipment Aquatic play equipment is water related play equipment or devices intended for use in aquatic activities areas Aquatic recreation facility is a recreation facility that contains the water-based facilities covered by N.J.A.C. 8:26. With the exception of spray parks, these facilities are licensed and regulated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
Definitions Bathing beach, includes areas where signs have been posted telling the public to swim at their own risk Department sanctioned analytical methods DSAM; NJDEP utilizes this term to define the required methodologies for laboratory certification Design professional licensed architect or PE Health club has been added
Definitions Non-bathing beach natural or artificial beach area used for primary contact recreation such as surfing and waterskiing Primary contact recreation water-related recreational activities that involve significant ingestion risks
Public recreational bathing place facility Definitions Spray park water is sprayed on participants, the water is recirculated, and the water may or may not have depth
Changes The health authority approval to locate and/or construct contingent upon local code officials Plans/blueprints and other documents to be submitted to the health authority at the same time as the local code officials All documents sealed and certified by a design professional Health authority has 30 days to review and approve or disapprove, then 90 max
Changes Seasonal facilities complete operational checklist and submit 2 days prior to opening Year-round facilities complete and submit operational checklist 30 days prior to the expiration of its operating approval Inspect a year-round facility at least twice Approval based on review of operational checklist
Changes TPO s onsite weekly (documented) Requirements for construction are deleted and replaced by a general statement to comply with the NJUCC, N.J.A.C. 5:23, for construction, design, signage and safety Public Swimming Pools (ANSI/APSP- 2003) Public Spas (ANSI/APSP-2 999) Suction Entrapment Avoidance (ANSI/APSP-7 2006)
Wading pools: prohibit single main drains in new construction, unless the drain is a gravity flow drain Changes Prohibit cliff jumping at heights greater than 5 feet
Changes Gas chlorination prohibited No specially exempt facilities with a functional diving board, water slide etc. Lifeguard; AED
Changes LG pools <2000 sq ft < 60 bathers 2 LG pools >2000 sq ft Zone of protection plan Platforms for pools >2000 sq ft and 5
Changes Bathing beach <00 feet - lifeguard or; 2 lifeguards for every 300 feet of designated bathing area (ocean still per 300 ) A bathroom must be provided! Existing condos exempt if residences <00 feet of the swimming pool
Changes New turnover rates for pools; at least once every six hours Wading pools at least once every hour. Pumps must be operated 24/7 Chemical controller systems use requirements
Chemical Controller systems Preventive maintenance plan (accuracy of the controller and sensors) Chart of specific ORP per residual equivalent Twice daily check readouts with the manual test and are documented (used in place of the two-hour testing) Data collected by the chemical controller system can be downloaded, stored and printed upon the request of LHA
Operational requirements for swimming pools and wading pools Surfaces smooth and easily cleaned Color, pattern, or finish does not obscure the presence of objects or surfaces Diving stands, boards, slides and floats meet New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Direction of water flow and pump rotation clearly indicated on pumps and on all visible piping
Operational requirements for swimming pools and wading pools Filters cleaned and maintained according to the manufacturer s instructions Pool closed if suction outlet covers are missing, broken, or improperly secured
Operational requirements for swimming pools and wading pools Pool inspected daily to ensure that the suction outlet and drain covers are firmly attached and in sound condition Depth markings
Changes Meet NJDEP Sanctioned Analytical Methods (DSAMs) Approved by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) This allows for the most current approved analytical methods Maintained at less than 50 F (0 C) while being transported
Changes ANSI and ANSI2 for chlorine/disinfectant levels Level increased from a maximum of 4 ppm to 0 ppm
Changes Replace fecal coliform as the indicator organism with Escherichia coli (e. coli) densities for fresh water bathing beaches Bring the rule into compliance with USEPA Contact method specified by the LHA hour after exceeding sample result
Changes Post a sign at each beach entrance and both ends of the beach stating: The storm has caused rip currents to develop Do not go in the water while this dangerous condition exists and
Changes No swimming pictogram included on the sign Sign made of metal, plastic, laminated paper, or heavy paper stock
Changes Inspections now rated by LHA Satisfactory Conditionally Satisfactory Unsatisfactory
Criteria for closure of a PRB Underwater hazards that have not been identified
Criteria for closure of a PRB Permanent signs at all beach entrances and both ends of the beach rainfall closures Warning! Rainfall causes the water quality at the beach to exceed microbiological water quality standards. Water contact may cause illness. No swimming or bathing is allowed for hours after the rain has stopped to enable the rainfall-caused water pollution to dissipate.
Recordkeeping Records must now be kept for a minimum of three years replacing the standard of one year LHA calculate the geometric mean (geomean) of water sample results at the end of each season and report the results electronically to the Department Central tendency of a set of numbers Geometric Mean = n-th root of (X)(X2)...(Xn) X, X2, each data point, n total # of data points
Geomean Geomean is used to normalize the range of bacteria results No one value dominates the weighting of the values collected over the season Therefore, one extreme result over the season will not adversely affect your overall seasonal average Can be easily calculated in an excel spreadsheet
Geomean For example :
Geomean See how the geomean calculation normalizes the one extreme result on July 6. The Excel formula for this calculation is: =geomean(b2:b0) (b2:b0) refers to the column and row numbers
CB-2 Fatal/Serious Accident Report (CB-2) LHA submit the CB-2 to the Department within five days of being notified by the facility of the incident
APPENDIX B First Aid Supplies at Public Recreational Bathing Facilities Quantities Required Description of Required Items Adhesive compress strips (band aid type) <2,000 Ft² of Bathing and Swimming Water Area 2,000 to 5,000 Ft² of Bathing and Swimming Water Area >5,000 Ft² of Bathing and Swimming Water Area 25 50 00 0 5 25 0 5 25 0 5 25 Sterile gauze roller bandage (" wide) 4 8 5 Sterile gauze roller bandage (3" wide) 4 8 5 Sterile eye dressing pads (box) Triangle bandages Waterproof tape ("x 5 yards) Bandage scissors Tweezers Blanket Instant cold pack Disposable protective face shield Disposable protective gown Disposable Gloves (box) Pocket resuscitation mask Liquid hand soap or hand sanitizer First Aid Treatment Policies and Procedures 2 5 2 2 4 5 4 4 6 5 6 6 Sterile gauze dressings (sponge 2"x 2") Sterile gauze dressings (sponge 2"x 3") Sterile gauze dressings (sponge 4"x 4")
APPENDIX C pools, wading pools, and aquatic recreation facilities Chemical water quality standards Minimum Ideal Maximum Indoor Outdoor 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.2 Free chlorine residual ppm.0 2.0-4.0 Combined chlorine (ppm) None None Bromine (ppm) 2.0 4.0-6.0 0.0 0.0 ph 7.2 7.4-7.6 7.8 7.8
APPENDIX D hot tubs and spas Chemical water quality standards Minimum Ideal Maximum Free chlorine residual 2.0 3.0-5.0 Combined chlorine (ppm) None None 0.0 0.2 Bromine (ppm) 2.0 4.0-6.0 0.0 ph 7.2 7.4-7.6 7.8