Frequently Asked Questions

nFORM is the State of New Hampshire’s web portal application. Members of the regulated community are able to use this application to interact with the agency in a variety of ways. Users can apply for permits and licenses, seek grants and loans, meet electronic reporting obligations, request inspections, make complaints, etc.

NEW USERS: If you have not previously registered, follow these steps to register and login.

1. Navigate to the online form webpage.
2. Click the "Register" button, located in the upper, right-hand corner of the screen on the menu bar.
3. Complete all fields in the "Create User Profile" screen and select "Register." Important: DO NOT close this webpage.
4. Check your email for a confirmation code.
5. Select the link in the email OR copy and paste the confirmation code into the online form webpage. Be sure you did not paste any spaces.

RETURNING USERS: Follow these steps to login.

1. Navigate to the online form webpage.
2. Login by selecting the "Sign In" button at the upper, right-hand corner of the screen on the menu bar.
3. Enter your User ID (email address) and the password you entered when you registered your profile.

1. Some of the fields in PBF Registration or Self-Certification forms will auto-populate from your account information.
2. You can save the form and finish it at another time.
3. You can share access to the form with others to work on.
4. The program coordinator can request edits to your form and/or you can edit the form.
5. There will be a record of all the forms you submit using this system.
6. You will receive automatic email notifications about the status of the form.

NHDES requires that you be a registered user with nForm to submit this form. This allows you, as a user, to have continued electronic access to this form after submittal. NHDES believes long-term access by the applicant is important for the continuity of operations.

1. Login to your NH Online Form account.
2. Click the “Form Finder” button on the left-hand side of the webpage.
3. Type “PBF” in the Form Search Bar.
4. Click the form link of interest, which will take to you to the form webpage.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the form webpage and click “Begin Form Entry.”

1. This one-time registration is required by law to operate a public pool/spa.
2. The mandatory registration collects up-to-date establishment and contact information as well as basic physical specifications and circulation system details for each facility.
3. An accurate understanding of each facility will help program staff better support the owners and operators.
4. Protection of public health and safety.

1. Annual self-certification is required by law to operate a public pool/spa.
2. Fees support the NHDES Public Pools and Spas Program, including reviews of applications for the construction of public bathing places, completion of on-site safety and compliance inspections, and statewide public bathing place information management.
3. Support to public bathing place owners in design and operation of facilities.
4. Protection of public health and safety.

1. Sign into your nFORM Account
2. Select "My Submissions" from the menu bar along the top of the page.

This will list out all the forms you have started, including those you submitted. The "Status" column will tell you if a form is still in draft (not submitted yet) or if  it has been submitted or has been processed. You will always have the action to view a form using the chevron, arrow). If the form is not yet submitted (draft) you can edit your form using the pencil button. You also have additional options by selecting the 3 circles to delete or rename the form.

The majority of PBF owners do have to pay the fee. However, there are four municipalities that have their own PBF inspection and licensing programs. Those are Bedford, Manchester, Merrimack and Nashua. Those municipalities already impose an annual fee for operating PBF’s. It is written in statute that the state cannot impose a fee to a business for an local equivalent service. PBF’s in those four municipalities are exempt from paying the fee but they are required to complete and submit both the registration and the annual self-certification forms.  

Fees support the NHDES pool/spa program including reviews of applications for the construction of public bathing places, completion of on-site safety and compliance inspections, and statewide public bathing place information management.

The registration and the annual self-certification forms both include a “Comments and Additional Information” section that allows for attaching files that you feel will best complete your submission. The attachment control can accept .jpegs, .jpg, .pdf, .xls and xlsx .tif, and .tiff, file types. For example, scale drawing of the PBF showing dimensions, skimmer, return and drain locations, pdfs of test records, picture of the flow meter, etc.

Please be aware that attaching files in excess of 10MB is not recommended.

No!

Forms may be submitted with either an electronic signature or via a wet signature, and payments for Self-Certification Declarations can be and are encouraged to be made online.

Note: Only users with nForm accounts can share forms or have forms shared with them. 
Forms are shared from the “Submission Overview Summary” page:

1. Sign into your nFORM Account.
2. Select "My Submissions" from the menu bar along the top of the page.
3. Find the form you would like to share.
4. Select the Chevron arrow  to view the “Submission Overview.”
5. Scroll to the bottom of the “Submission Overview” page and select the button at the bottom right called "Share with" or "Manage Shared Access."
6. Enter the email address assigned to the nForm account you would like to share and select the check box allowing the user to ‘Manage Access.’
7. Select Add (the application will verify that an account exists for the email you entered).
8. Select “Confirm” to allow the user access.

1. Yes. PBFs at condominium complexes, homeowner associations, apartment complexes and the like are included in the RSA definition of a Public Bathing Facility and are further defined in the administrative rule below.
2. Env-Wq 1102.11 “Common interest bathing place” means a public bathing place that is part of the common facilities of a common interest ownership residential community such as a residential condominium complex, manufactured housing cooperative, or homeowners association, and that is operated by such community for the residents thereof and their guests.

A CPO may be:

1. The owner or duly authorized designee. 
2. An employee of the establishment where the PBF is located.
3. A contracted vendor.

The CPO does not have to do it all. They can train and direct other staff in pool testing, maintenance water treatment, etc. The CPO shall be responsible for training on-site personnel in the basic operation of the PBF, including but not limited to, water testing and record keeping, water clarity, handling sanitizers, pool rules, hours of operation and pool closure procedures. The CPO must personally visit the PBF at least once per week to ensure that it is being operated in a safe and sanitary manner, and must be available by telephone to on-site personnel whenever not personally present.

Env-Wq 1107.02: PBF Supervision

(a) The owner shall allow public use of a PBF only when a pool operator is available to respond to equipment malfunctions and other emergencies within 20 minutes of being notified by patrons or the owner of the malfunction or emergency.

(b) The pool operator designated by the owner pursuant to (a), above, shall:

1. Maintain the quality of the water at the facility.
2. Have access to and be knowledgeable of the PBF circulation and disinfection systems.
3. As of January 1, 2022, either:
   1. Be a CPO.
   2. Be trained and supervised by a CPO.

Below is a list of course options that you can learn more about on the PHTA CPO Certification web page which includes virtual options.

Course Options

The curriculum of CPO® Certification courses is taught by certified instructors and will cover information from the Pool & Spa Operator™ Handbook and local codes. Course completion can occur through the following:

1. Classroom Course: This is a 14-16-hour, two-day program taught by a certified instructor.
2. Blended Format: This hybrid option allows you to take the online CPO Fusion course and a one-day, in-person class of instruction (which can also be taken as a stand-alone refresher course). Total of 14-16 hours.
3. Recertification Options: Must hold an active CPO Certification
   1. Candidates can register for the second day of the CPO course with an instructor, followed by the exam—in-person or virtual. Please check your local jurisdiction for approval regarding the virtual delivery option.
   2. Candidates can register for the CPO Fusion Course (8-hour course) with an instructor, followed by the exam—in-person or virtual. Please check your local jurisdiction for approval regarding the virtual delivery option.
4. Expired? Candidates have two options:
   1. Classroom Course: This is a 14-16-hour, two-day program taught by a certified instructor.
   2. Blended Format: This hybrid option allows you to take the online CPO Fusion course and a one-day, in-person class of instruction (which can also be taken as a stand-alone refresher course). Total of 14-16 hours.

Five years.