NHDES Public Pool and Spa Program announces rule changes

Concord, NH - The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) Public Pool and Spa Program announced today changes to the program’s rules that are being rolled out to pool or spa owners and operators. The NHDES Public Pool and Spa Program is charged with creating regulations to keep the swimming public safe. There are nearly 1,400 public pools and spas in the state, located at hotels, motels, water parks, campgrounds, youth camps, municipal parks, condominium and apartment complexes, health facilities and the like. The goal of the rule changes is to ensure that all new and existing facilities are properly designed, constructed, operated and maintained, while providing support to facility owners, operators and the public who visit those facilities. 

Some of the changes to the rules include the following: 

• A new registration form that must be completed by all public bathing facilities. Registration is absolutely free, and the form is now available on our PBF Registration Form webpage. NHDES is requesting that all year-round facilities complete the registration by January 1, 2022 and all seasonal facilities complete it prior to operation next summer.   
• An updated permit application for new or renovated pools. Each year, the Department discovers newly constructed or renovated pools that did not have prior approvals from the program. This can cause major problems if those facilities were not built to the programs requirements. Learn more about permit approval.   
• A requirement that each facility be operated under the supervision of an individual that holds a current certification from an approved training program dedicated specifically to the operation of public bathing facilities. For year-round facilities this becomes effective January 1, 2022 and for seasonal facilities, prior to opening in the spring or summer of 2022. 
• A new fee-based annual compliance self-certification is being implemented to include annual compliance documentation that focuses on the practical aspects of public pool and spa operation. 

Standards of public pool and spa design and operation have been established in rule by NHDES, to make sure that proposed construction provides for safe and efficient operation, that water quality is regularly monitored and maintained, and that maintenance is regularly performed and documented by the operator, all providing a clean, healthy and safe environment for the public.

To learn more about the program please visit the NHDES Public Bathing Facility Program webpage.