R392-303-19. Pool Water Quality

  (1) The water in a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place must have sufficient clarity at all times so that a black disc 6 inches, 15.24 centimeters, in diameter, is readily visible if placed on a white field at the deepest point of the pool (or at 12 feet, 3.66 meters, deep for pools over 12 feet, 3.66 meters, deep). The owner or operator shall close the pool or bathing place immediately if this requirement is not met. A soaking tub is exempt from the clarity requirements of this subsection.

  (2) The local health department or pool sampler contracted by the local health department shall collect routine bacteriological samples of the pool water at least once per month and at least two weeks apart. The local health department or their contractor may collect additional samples for investigative purposes or as a follow-up of unsatisfactory samples. The Local Health Officer shall choose or approve the dates and times that the samples are collected based on when a representative level of bacteria would likely be found. The local health department or person sampling the pool shall submit the bacteriological samples to a laboratory approved by under R444-14 to perform E. coli or fecal coliform testing.

  (a) The local health department or its contracted pool sampler, as required by local health department, shall have the laboratory analyze the sample for either E. coli or fecal coliform.

  (b) If the pool sampler submits the sample as required by local health department, the sampler shall require the laboratory to report sample results within five working days to the local health department and operator.

  (3) If the E. coli or fecal coliform levels are found to be greater than the maximum level of 63 per 50 milliliters, the owner or operator shall close the pool until sample results show the level is below 63. As an alternative to closing the pool until sample results show acceptable bacteriological levels, the operator may temporarily close the pool and commence feeding a disinfectant to the pool water, meeting the requirements of R392-303-18 and the disinfectant concentration and pH requirements of R392-302-27, and then reopen the pool at least 45 minutes after the required disinfectant level has been achieved. The feeding of disinfectant to the pool must continue until samples of pool water and the source water pass the bacteriological standards required for disinfected pools in R392-302-27 (5) (d) (ii).

  (4) If E. coli or fecal coliform levels are greater than one per 50 milliliters, the pool operator shall post the level found as required in R392-303-22.

  (5) The owner or operator of a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place should maintain the pool water temperature at a maximum of 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius. A geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place that exceeds 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius, at the minimum required turnover rate shall have, and employ when necessary, a method of temperature reduction in the pool or bathing place that maintains the minimum flow-through rate required under R392-303-16(3). An approved method of temperature reduction may include methods such as the introduction of cool water from a source that has been analyzed and approved according to R392-303-5(2) or approved for drinking water by the Utah Division of Drinking Water, or such as the direct cooling of the geothermal source water by a heat exchanger, or the diversion of the geothermal source water to allow it to cool prior to entering the pool or impoundment. The temperature reduction method shall be capable of reducing the temperature of the pool within 2 hours of activation from the maximum anticipated temperature to below 104 degrees Fahrenheit, 40 degrees Celsius. If the temperature of the source water or cooling rate of the pool is difficult to control, a temperature drift of up to four degrees Fahrenheit, 2.2 degrees Celsius, is allowed if the owner or operator has activated the temperature reduction measure. The owner or operator of a geothermal pool or geothermal bathing place shall not permit bathers to use the pool if the temperature is above 108 degrees Fahrenheit, 42.2 degrees Celsius, except the owner may allow a bather to use a soaking tub or similar fixture with a volume of 70 gallons or less and a water temperature less than or equal to 110 degrees Fahrenheit, 43.3 degrees Celsius.