Swimming pool safety & water sampling
Every year, on average, 10-12 people drown in
swimming pools in the United Kingdom. Any drowning is a
tragedy, more so since most could be prevented by better
precautions by pool operators, greater care on the part of bathers
or a combination of both.
Allerdale Borough Council sample swimming
pools, spas and paddling pool water, which members of the public
have access to, in the area for microbiological testing once a
year. The samples are taken to Carlisle Public Health Laboratory
for analysis.
It is recommended in guidance that the
Proprietor arrange for such samples to be taken, once a
month.
If unsatisfactory results are received by this
department then the results are discussed with the Proprietor and
appropriate remedial action is taken.
In addition, pool plant operators will be
taking regular checks of the chemical content of the water.
Good record keeping is very
important to the pool operator. The reason for good record
keeping, particularly for pool water records, can be driven by a
number of factors:
- The possibility of litigation, e.g cloudy water
stated as a contributory factor to a serious accident;
- The client/contractor relationship that may have
served to increase accountability; or
- It could simply be a good manager wishing to
carry out his or her job better, recognising that customers expect
a quality, healthy, enjoyable swimming experience.
Further Guidance
The following publications offer further
guidance on health and safety in swimming pools:
Allerdale Borough Council
