Water Supply and Pools

Phone: 585 753-5057
Fax: 585 753-5098

Program Goals

To minimize potential health hazards at public swimming pools, spas, and bathing beaches by enforcement of Part 6, Subpart 6-1 and 6-2 of the New York State Sanitary Code.

Program Highlights

• Issue annual permits for operation.
• Conduct annual inspections of public bathing facilities and issue reports.
• Respond to complaints and conduct investigations.
• Issue Approvals of Completed Works under the provisions of Part 6 of the New York State Sanitary Code.
• Perform enforcement actions.

Online Information

• State Sanitary Code Subpart 6-1 Swimming Pools
• State Sanitary Code Subpart 6-2 Bathing Beaches
• NYS Department of Health—Taking Steps to Prevent Drowning
• CDC—Healthy Swimming

Documents, Applications, Permits and Certifications

• NYS Acceptable Lifeguard Certifications (34k PDF)
• NYS Acceptable CPR Certifications for Lifeguards (28k PDF)
• NYS Acceptable CPR Certifications for Lifeguards for Level III and Level IV Facilities (27k PDF)
• NYS Certifications for Childrens' Camps and Aquatics (Complete Document) (732k PDF)
• Permit Application—Pools and Spas (7k PDF)
• Plan Approval Application (6k PDF)
• Swimming Pool Plan Review Checklist (41k PDF)
• DOH-1309 Engineering Report for Swimming Pool Plans (906k PDF)
• DOH-2434 Swimming Pool Plan Review Checklist (864k PDF)
• Swimming Pool Decontamination Guidelines (85k PDF)

Swimming at Ontario Beach

Why is the Beach Sometimes Closed?

Poor water quality in the late 1960s closed the beach to swimmers. A conditional permit to operate the bathing beach was granted in 1976 after extensive monitoring and development of an Operating Model. The Operating Model currently depends upon five parameters to determine if the beach will be safe for swimming: water clarity, excessive debris, local rainfall, fecal coliform bacteria levels, and Genesee River flow.

Genesee River Flow: The Genesee River is laden with particulate matter and polluted stormwater runoff. The proximity of the River to the Beach and the volume of the River, relates closely to water quality at the Beach. Typically, the easterly lake current pushes the river water east, away from the beach.

Local rainfall: Local rainfall causes closures because it washes contaminants directly to the Beach or into local streams which impact the Beach.

Excessive Debris: Organic debris in the form of decaying plant matter causes closures because it is a substrate for bacteria and sustains the bacteria by shielding ultraviolet light. Excessive algae also impair the physical water quality.

Water Clarity: Particulate matter results in poor water clarity and provides substrate for bacterial growth. It also reduces ultraviolet ray penetration that would kill bacteria.

Bacteria: Studies have shown a definite relationship between the amount of indicator bacteria in coastal and Great Lakes waters and the incidence of swimming-associated illnesses. Indicator bacteria include total and fecal coliform, enterococcus and E. coli. They are called indicator bacteria because although they may not be directly harmful to humans, they are relatively easy to test for and are typically found in the presence of harmful viruses and bacteria.

1.1Paul, Elizabeth. Testing the Waters. Vol. VIII. Has Your Vacation Beach Cleaned Up Its Act? Natural Resources Defense Council. July 1998.

Related Documents

• Summary of Last Season's Beach Status (14k PDF)—2006 Statistics
• Lake Ontario Algae Cause and Solution Workshop Proceedings (9.9mb PDF)—May 2002

New Regulations for Spray Grounds

As a result of a large outbreak of gastrointestinal illness associated with contaminated spray ground water during the summer of 2005, the New York State Department of Health has released a new Regulation for Recreational Aquatic Spray Grounds.

Questions About the Regulation?
Call the Health Department at 585 753-5067.

Download a copy of the NYS Sanitary Code SubPart 6-3 Recreational Aquatic Spray Grounds (127k PDF).

The Regulation only applies to facilities that recirculate the water supplying the spray ground.

Key provisions of the new Regulation:

1. Recreational aquatic spray grounds are defined and spray ground owners are required to obtain an annual permit to operate from the local health department (LHD) having jurisdiction in the county that the spray ground is located.
2. Design standards for new and existing spray grounds are established. The standards include requirements for disinfection (chemical and ultraviolet) and filtration equipment, as well as requirements for spray pad, spray pad treatment tank, decking and spray pad enclosure construction and design.
3. Existing spray ground operators must provide a report to the local health department (LHD) which evaluates compliance with the design criteria contained in the regulation and needed improvements. The report must be prepared by a New York State licensed professional engineer and submitted to the LHD at least 90 days prior to operation.
4. Operation and maintenance standards are established including daily start-up procedures, minimum disinfection levels, filtration rates, water quality standards and general safety provisions. The spray ground operator must maintain daily operation records.
5. On-site water supplies, toilet facilities, and sanitary wastewater treatment systems must comply with sanitary and operation standards.
6. Spray grounds must be supervised when open for use and must be maintained by a qualified swimming pool water treatment operator.
7. Spray ground operators must develop, update and implement a written safety plan consisting of procedures for patron supervision, injury prevention, reacting to emergencies, injuries and other incidents providing first aid and assistance.

The Water Supply and Pools Section of the Monroe County Department of Public Health is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Regulation.