[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Bethlehem 12-5-1964 by Ord. No. 6-1964 (Ch. 23, Part 1, of
the 1988 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful to construct, maintain, operate and/or use any private swimming pool within the Township limits except in compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter, and of Chapter 275, Zoning.
For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms
as used herein shall have the meanings given as follows:
All pools which are used, or intended to be used, as swimming
pools in connection with residences, and available only to the family
of the householder and his private guests; it shall not include any
swimming pool that is open to the public, or that is publicly owned,
or that is owned and/or operated by any organization, partnership,
corporation or group, whether or not formed solely for such ownership
and operation or that is otherwise regulated by any statutes or by
rules and regulations other than those of Bethlehem Township.
Any swimming pool other than a private swimming pool.
Any receptacle or artificially constructed private pool for
water, having a walled depth of two feet or more at any point within
its perimeter, intended or adapted for the purposes of immersion or
partial immersion of human beings therein, and including all appurtenant
equipment.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 8-1988]
A.
Before any construction, including structural alterations or partial or complete relocation, is begun on any swimming pool, a permit shall be applied for and obtained from the Building Official, as provided for in Chapter 275, Zoning, as amended, to the date of such application or issuance of a permit. Each application for a permit to construct, erect or place a private swimming pool upon a lot occupied by a private dwelling shall be accompanied by the following data, in triplicate:
(1)
Plot plan, drawn to a scale of one inch equals 10
feet, showing all existing structures including location of proposed
pool. Accurate distances or measurements shall be shown. Scaling of
dimensions is not permitted.
(2)
Specifications, showing or describing details of construction.
(3)
Cross-sections showing pool dimensions, including
depths and volume in gallons.
(4)
Type and size of filter system; filtration and backwash
capacities.
(5)
Pool piping layout showing all pipe and fitting sizes
and indicating types of material to be used.
(6)
Rated capacity of pool pump in gallons per minute,
head dimension and size and type of motor; pressure or head for filtration
or backwashing purposes.
(7)
Electric wiring layout. Before any permit shall be
issued such plans and specifications shall be approved as aforesaid
by both the Building Official, and also by the Health Officer, and
before any completed swimming pool is put into use it shall be subject
to final inspection and approval by both the Building Official and
the Health Officer.
B.
Each application for a permit shall be accompanied
by a permit fee which shall be established from time to time by resolution.
A.
No portion of the water surface area of any swimming pool shall be located within the minimum required front yards as the same are established for the various classes of residence districts in Chapter 275, Zoning, nor within six feet of any side or rear property line when a swimming pool is located to the rear of the front face of the dwelling.
C.
No exposed electric wires shall be located within
five feet of the water's edge, nor shall any exposed permanently installed
electric wires within a horizontal distance of 25 feet of the water's
edge be located less than 10 feet above ground level, nor shall wires
of any kind cross or be located over or above the water surface except
as approved by the Building Official. Underwater lighting shall be
accomplished by methods approved for such purposes. The entire electrical
installation shall comply with and be maintained in accordance with
the requirements of the National Electrical Code.
D.
There shall be no cross-connections of a public water
supply with any other source of water supply for the swimming pool.
The line from a public water supply, if available, to the pool shall
be protected against a back flow of polluted water by means of an
air gap and shall discharge at least six inches above the maximum
high water level of the makeup tank or the pool.
E.
The drain line from the swimming pool may be connected
to an available municipal sewerage system only in compliance with
the following provisions:
F.
The swimming pool shall be constructed in such a manner
that all scum, splash and deck water shall not be permitted to be
returned to the pool except through the filter system.
G.
The pool shall be kept free at all times of floating
material, sediment and debris by means of an automatic surface skimmer,
scum gutter or some other method approved by the Health Officer.
H.
The recirculating system shall have a capacity sufficient
to accomplish the filtering and recirculating of the entire volume
content of the pool during an eighteen-hour period. The maximum rate
of application of pool water on the filters shall be five gallons
per minute per square foot of filter area.
I.
Provision shall be made for positive germicidal or
bacterial control by the use of chlorine, bromine or such other disinfecting
agents or devices as may be approved by the Health Department. Such
disinfecting agents shall be applied to the pool water at a uniform
rate. The application thereof shall be so adjustable as to keep the
germicidal or bacterial protection of the water in the pool equal
to a standard of from 0.5 to 1.0 parts per million of chlorine residual.
Testing devices capable of accurately measuring such residual shall
be provided by the pool owner.
J.
All swimming pools to be constructed or which have
already been constructed shall be enclosed by fence which shall be
at least four feet in height and shall be of such type or construction
that is not readily climbed or scaled by small children. Gates shall
be of a self-closing and latching type with the latch on the inside
or pool side of the gate. Provided, however, that if the entire premises
of a residence is enclosed, then this provision may be waived by the
Building Official following inspection and approval of such enclosure.
Provided further, that the Building Official may approve in lieu of
a fence: a natural barrier, hedge, pool cover, or other protective
device approved by the Board of Appeals so long as the degree of protection
afforded by the alternate protective device or devices is not less
than the protection afforded by a fence enclosure. Provided further,
that the owners of swimming pools already constructed shall be required
to comply with these fencing provisions within 60 days after the final
passage of this chapter.
All existing swimming pools which at the present
time have no filtration systems shall be required to make installation
thereof as provided herein and to have same approved by the Health
Officer within 60 days after final passage of this chapter.
The Building Official and Health Officer shall
have the right at any reasonable time to inspect any swimming pool
for the purposes of determining that all of the provisions of this
chapter are fulfilled and complied with.
A.
This chapter is in no way intended to amend or alter
any existing Township or county ordinance or state statute, the provisions
of which are not covered by this chapter.
B.
In any case where a provision of this chapter is found to be in conflict with a provision of Chapter 275, Zoning, or Chapter 110, Construction Codes, Uniform, existing on or after the effective date of this chapter, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people shall prevail.
[Amended 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 8-1988]
Any person who shall violate any provision of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine
of not more than $300 and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed
90 days; and shall discontinue the use of the swimming pool until
necessary corrections have been made and approved by the Building
Official and the Health Officer.
