Title
Consider adopting Ordinance No. 3690 retitling and amending in its entirety Article VIII "Swimming Pools" of Chapter 34 "Environment" relating to regulations of Public Pools, Semi-public Pools, Spa, and Public Interactive Water Features (PIWF); and take appropriate action
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Farmers Branch requires all public and semi-public pools, spas, and public interactive water features to have a permit to operate. The permitting and inspection related to pool operations is a function of the City's Environmental Health division. Some examples of public and semi-public pools and spas are Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch Aquatic Center, Frog Pond pool, multifamily developments, and hotels. The City of Farmers Branch Environmental Health does not permit nor inspect residential pools. The City periodically adopts state regulations regarding the pool, spa, and public interactive water feature. Adopting the updated rules allows the City to stay current with the updated pool regulations and continue to provide permit holders with clear guidance and a regulatory framework consistent with other municipalities across the State.
Pool regulations at the state level are under the purview of the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). DSHS periodically reviews and amends the Swimming Pools, Spa, and PIWF Regulations. The regulations intend to provide construction, sanitation, and operational requirements for the public and semi-public pools, spas, and public interactive water features (PIWF) in accordance with the good public health engineering practices intended to protect the health and safety of users.
DISCUSSION:
Ordinance 3690 adopts the recently updated DSHS Swimming Pools, Spa, and PIWF regulations. The existing facilities are not subject to any engineering or construction requirements unless they go through extensive remodel or ownership change. However, other requirements, such as water quality and user safety, apply to all facil...
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