[HISTORY: Adopted by ordinance 6-14-1993; amended 5-9-2016 by Ord. No. 747; 6-12-2018 by Ord. No. 810. Subsequent amendments
noted where applicable.]
It shall be unlawful to construct, maintain, install or enlarge
any swimming pool in the City except in compliance with the provisions
of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing
that contains water over 24 inches (610 mm) deep. This includes in-ground
and on-ground swimming pools, hot tubs and spas.
A swimming pool which is totally contained within a structure
and surrounded on all four sides by the walls of the enclosing structure.
Any swimming pool which is not an indoor pool.
No portion of a swimming pool outside a building shall be located
at a distance less than eight feet from any side or rear property
line, or building line. Pumps, filters and pool water disinfection
equipment installations shall be located at a distance not less than
five feet from any side property line.
It shall be unlawful to proceed with the construction, installation,
enlargement or alteration of any private, residential swimming pool
and appurtenances within the City unless permits therefor shall have
first been obtained from the City Clerk.
A.Â
All drawings and plans for the construction, installation, enlargement
and alteration of any swimming pool, both above ground and below ground,
and appurtenances shell first be presented to the City engineer for
examination and approval as to proper location and construction.
B.Â
All plans and drawings shall be drawn to a scale of not less than
one-eighth of an inch to the foot, on paper or cloth, in ink, or by
some process that will not fade or obliterate. All distances and dimensions
shall be accurately figured and drawings made explicit and complete,
showing the lot line, and including information pertaining to the
pool, walk, and fence construction, water supply system, drainage
and water disposal systems, and all appurtenances pertaining to the
swimming pool. Detail plans and vertical elevations shall also be
provided in accordance with the building code.
C.Â
All swimming pools, appurtenances, water supply and drainage systems
shall be constructed in conformity with the building plans and the
provisions of Chapter.
D.Â
If the pool is to be a public one two sets of plans and specifications
prepared by a registered engineer or architect shall be submitted
to the City engineer for approval and then referred to the Mayor and
Board of Aldermen for final approval before a building permit will
be issued. Such plans shall show the provisions for off-street parking.
All swimming pools shall be of the recirculation type in which
circulation of the water is maintained through the pool by pumps;
the water drawn from the pool being clarified and disinfected before
being returned to the pool.
A.Â
Swimming pool walls and floors shall be constructed of any impervious
material which will provide a tight tank with white or light colored
finish and easily cleaned surfaces. The floor or bottom surface of
the pool shall have a non-slip finish as smooth as possible. The side
and end walls of a pool shall present a smooth finish and shall be
vertical to a depth of at least six feet or shall have slope or curvature
meeting one of the following conditions:
1.Â
The pool wall may be vertical for 30 inches from the water level,
below which the wall may be curved to the bottom with a radius at
any point equal to the difference between the depth at that point,
and 30 inches.
2.Â
To a depth of six feet, except as in (1) above, the wall's slope
shall not be less than one foot horizontal in six feet vertical.
Swimming pool walls and floors shall be designed to withstand
the water pressure from within and to resist the pressure of the earth
when the pool is empty, to a pressure of 1,500 pounds per square foot.
The slope of the bottom of any part of a pool in which the water is
less than five feet in depth shall not be more than one foot in each
10 feet. The maximum slope where water is five feet or more in depth
shall not exceed one foot in two feet.
Unobstructed walk areas not less than 36 inches wide shall be
provided to extend entirely around the pool. The walk area shall be
constructed of impervious material, and the surfaces shall be of such
as to be smooth and easily cleaned and of non-slip construction. The
slope of the walks shall have a pitch of at least one-fourth inch
to the foot, designed so as to prevent back drainage from entering
the pool.
A Barrier is required for any structure intended for swimming
or recreational bathing that contains water over 24 inches deep. This
includes in-ground, above ground and all on-ground pools, hot tubs
and spas. Barrier around the pool are required with a minimum height
of 48 inches measured from finish grade. All fence openings or points
of entry into pool area enclosure shall be equipped with self-closing
and self-latching gates.
Two or more means of egress in the form of steps or ladders
shall be provided for all in ground swimming pools. At least one such
means of egress shall be located on a side of the pool at both deep
end and shallow end of the pool. Treads of steps and ladders shall
be constructed of non-slip material and at least three inches wide
for their full length. Steps and ladders shall have handrails on both
sides. The above ground swimming pool need have only one means of
egress adhering to the above standards.
A.Â
In every swimming pool, at least two skimming devices shall be provided
for each 800 square feet of surface area or fraction thereof. Skimmers
shall be located at least 20 feet apart. Handholds shall be provided
and consist of a bull-nosed coping not over 2Â 1/2 inches thick
for the outer two inches or an equivalent approved handhold. The handhold
must be no more than nine inches above the normal water line. Skimming
devices shall be built into the pool wall, shall adequately remove
floated oils and waste and shall meet the following general specifications:
1.Â
Each skimmer shall be designed for a flow-through rate of at least
30 gallons per minute and a total capacity of all skimmers on any
pool shall be at least 50% of the required filter flow of the recirculation
system.
2.Â
They shall be automatically adjustable to variations in water level
over a range of at least three inches.
3.Â
An easily removable and cleanable basket or screen through which
all overflow water must pass shall be provided to trap large solids.
4.Â
The skimmer shall be provided with a device to prevent airlock in
the suction line. If an equalizer pipe is used, it shall provide an
adequate amount of make-up water for pump suction should the water
of the pool drop below the weir level. This pipe shall be at least
two inches in diameter and shall be located at least one foot below
the lowest overflow level of the skimmer.
5.Â
An equalizer line shall be provided with a valve that will remain
tightly closed under normal operating conditions, but will automatically
open at a differential of no more than four inches between the pool
level and the level of the overflow tank.
6.Â
The overflow weir shall be of sufficient length to maintain a rate
of flow of at least 20 gallons per minute per linear foot of weir
lip.
No source of water other than that secured from the City waterworks
distribution system shall be used in swimming pools.
A.Â
Swimming pool water recirculation system inlet shall be located so
as to produce so far as possible uniform circulation of water throughout
the pool without the existence of dead spots and to carry pool bottom
deposits to the outlets, and shall discharge at a minimum depth of
10 inches below the pool over flow level. A minimum of one recirculation
system inlet shall be provided for every 615 feet square feet of surface
area of the pool.
B.Â
Pools shall be equipped with suitable facilities for adding make-up
water as needed. There shall be no physical connection between the
water supply line and the pool system. If the make-up water supply
line discharges to a surge or balancing tank, the point of discharge
shall be at least six inches above the rim of the tank. If a hose
connection from a sill cock or other plumbing fixture is to be used
for supplying make-up water, then an approved vacuum breaker shall
be installed between the sill cock or control valve at the fixture
and the hose connection. The vacuum breaker shall be installed at
a height not less than seven feet six inches above the floor, platform
or ground upon which a person would stand when operating the sill
cock or control valve. Maximum size of the fillpipe to be two inches.
C.Â
The system supplying recirculated water and make-up water to the
pool shall be constructed in conformance with the ordinances regulating
plumbing.
A.Â
In swimming pools, 30 feet width or less, water circulation system
outlets shall be located so as to provide at least one outlet at the
deepest point in the pool. If the pool width is more than 30 feet,
multiple outlets shall be provided and spaced not more than 30 feet
apart, nor closer than four feet to any wall. All pool drain outlets
shall be equipped this gratings having an area of openings not less
than four times the cross-sectional area of the outlet pipe. The gratings
shall be of such design so they cannot be readily removable by bathers
and will not injure bathers' fingers. One outlet shall be provided
for each 800 square feet of surface area.
B.Â
Pools shall be equipped with facilities for completely emptying the
pool and the discharge of the pool water to the storm sewer shall
be at a rate not exceeding 200 gallons per minute. No direct connection
shall be made to the sanitary sewer.
C.Â
Water drained from the pool shall not be discharged to the storm
sewer system during periods of rain or storms. At no time shall the
rate of drain water discharge exceed a flow of 200 gallons per minute.
A.Â
The swimming pools' recirculation systems shall consist of plumbing
equipment, hair and lint catcher, filters, together with the necessary
pipe connections to the pool inlets and out lets, facilities and pipe
connections necessary for back washing filters and facilities and
equipment for disinfecting the pool water.
B.Â
Every swimming pool shall have a recirculating system with an hourly
capacity equal to the pool volume divided by eight.
C.Â
The recirculation system pump shall have sufficient capacity to discharge
the volume of water required for an eight hour turnover of the pool
against the maximum head in the recirculating system.
D.Â
The pump used for back washing filters shall have sufficient capacity
to provide a filter backwash rate of at least 12 gallons per minute
per square foot of filter area.
E.Â
A hair and lint catcher or strainer shall be installed on the suction
side of the circulation pump to prevent hair, lint and other extraneous
matter from reaching the pump and filters. Hair and lint catchers
shall be so designed that they can be easily dismantled for the cleaning
and inspection and shall be so located as to be easily accessible
for cleaning. The design features shall be as follows: Water passes
through the strainer from the outside; the strainer is made of noncorrosive
material the width or diameter of strainer is not more than 1/8 inch;
the area of the strainer openings shall be at least five times the
cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe to the strainer.
F.Â
Recirculating systems shall contain rapid pressure filters. Sufficient
filter area shall be provided to filter the entire contents of the
pool in 18 hours at the rate of not more than three gallons per square
foot of filter area per minute. The filter back washing facilities
shall be sufficient to backwash at a rate of 12 gallons per minute
per square foot of filter area. All backwash water and effluents shall
be discharged to the sewer through an indirect connection. Pressure
filters shall be equipped with readily accessible air relief valve,
loss of head or pressure gauges on the inlet and outlet pipes, and
an access head or hold large enough to permit inspection, maintenance
and repair work. Sight glasses that can be easily removed for cleaning
shall be provided in the effluent line from the filter units.
G.Â
Equipment shall be provided for the disinfection of all pool water.
Any disinfection method using materials other than chlorine compounds
shall be subject to the approval of the building commissioner. Disinfection
equipment installed for the use of chlorine compounds shall have sufficient
capacity to maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.5 parts
per million. The disinfectant shall be introduced into the recirculation
system ahead of the filters.
H.Â
Gaseous chlorination systems shall not be made use of as a disinfection
method for pool water.
