Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
    • File Search Request
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Consumption and Treatment Services
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Pools Spas and Splashpads

Home...Recreational FacilitiesRecreational WaterPools, Spas and Splashpads
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email
kids splashing in a swimming pool

Public pool, spa and splashpad inspections

Public health inspector testing pool chemicalsSouthwestern Public Health (SWPH) routinely inspects public pools, spas and splashpads to test the water quality and ensure proper safety precautions are in place. 

Public health inspections are mandated by the Health Protection and Promotion Act and are carried out to ensure compliance with the Ontario Public Pools Regulation (R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 565).

Water-related illnesses can be passed through contaminated recreational water and poor safety precautions can cause serious injury. It is important that public health inspectors work closely with operators of public pools, spas and splashpads to prevent waterborne infections and injury.

Visit Health Inspect

Opening and re-opening a public pool, spa or splashpad

All public pool, spa and splashpad operators in Oxford County, Elgin County and the City of St. Thomas must notify SWPH at least 14 days prior to opening, of their intention to open or re-open a public pool, spa or splashpad. If you plan to open or re-open a public pool, spa or splashpad that has been constructed, altered, or closed for more than four weeks, please notify SWPH in the following way:

  • Complete an Online Application to Open/Re-Open a Public Pool, Spa or Splashpad
  • Download the Application to Re-Open a Public Pool, Spa or Splashpad and submit to SWPH by fax, email or mail.

Public Pool and Spa Training

The Public Pools Regulation 565 requires every owner of a public pool or public spa to have a Designated Operator.
Every operator must be trained in public pool and public spa operation and maintenance, filtration systems, water chemistry and all relevant safety and emergency procedures. Below is a list of training options that are available in our area:

  • Middlesex London Health Unit offers free public pool and spa training sessions for pool and spa operators throughout the year
  • The Lowry School of Pool and Spa Chemistry offers Certified Pool Operator Courses
  • The Lifesaving Society offers a Pool Operators Course

Dealing with pool chemistry and contamination

Occasionally, problems arise when the water chemistry is out of balance or if the pool or deck area becomes contaminated. Below are some resources to help you troubleshoot these events if they occur in your pool:

  • pH & Chlorine fact sheet
  • Cleaning of body fluids on contact surfaces
  • Fecal/vomit incident response recommendations

Waterborne infections

What is a waterborne infection?

Some types of water borne infections include:

  • Cryptosporidium: a germ that causes diarrhea
  • Folliculitis or Dermatitis or ‘Hot Tub Rash’: an infection of the skin
  • Giardia: a germ that causes diarrhea
  • Swimmer’s Ear: an infection of the outer ear canal
  • Swimmer’s Itch: a skin rash caused by certain parasites that infect some birds and mammals
What are the symptoms of a waterborne infection?
Symptoms of recreational water illnesses can include gastrointestinal and respiratory infections, as well as infections of the skin, ears, eyes, and wounds. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are most at risk of getting sick.
How can I reduce the risk of getting a waterborne infection?

Waterborne infections are spread by swallowing, breathing or having contact with disease-causing microorganisms like E. coli in swimming pools, spas, splashpads, lakes or rivers. To minimize the risk of getting a waterborne illness:

  • Shower yourself and your children with soap for one minute before swimming
  • Do not poop or pee in the water
  • Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea
  • Do not swallow the water
  • Take young children to the bathroom every 30-60 minutes
  • Change diapers in the bathroom, not around swimming areas
  • Wash hands thoroughly after using the toilet or changing diapers

 

Learn more about healthy swimming in recreational water.

Subscribe to page updates
Partners & Professionals
  • Recreational Facilities
    Toggle Section Recreational Facilities Menu
    • Recreational Camps
    • Recreational Water
      Toggle Section Recreational Water Menu
      • Beaches
      • Pools, Spas and Splashpads
  • View Full Partners & Professionals Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Child Care Centres
      Toggle Section Child Care Centres Menu
      • Child Safety
      • Cleaning and Disinfection
      • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
      • Healthy Eating for Children
        Toggle Section Healthy Eating for Children Menu
        • Reducing Weight Bias
      • Immunizations
      • Outbreak Management
      • Preventing Infection in Child Care Settings
      • Reporting Illness
      • Weather Alerts
        Toggle Section Weather Alerts Menu
        • Extreme Cold
        • Extreme Heat
    • Congregate Living Settings
      Toggle Section Congregate Living Settings Menu
      • IPAC Webinars and Newsletters
      • Southwest Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Hub
    • Educators
      Toggle Section Educators Menu
      • Common Childhood Infections
      • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
      • Curriculum Support
        Toggle Section Curriculum Support Menu
        • School Toolkits
      • Food in Schools
        Toggle Section Food in Schools Menu
        • Let's Get Cookin'
      • Getting Ready for Kindergarten
      • Grants for Schools
      • Immunizations in Schools
        Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
        • Grade 7 Immunization Program
      • Meet the Healthy Schools Team
      • Oral Health in Schools
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • School-Based Vision Screening
      • School Health
      • Substance Use Curriculum for Educators
    • Food Service Operators
      Toggle Section Food Service Operators Menu
      • Food Handler Certification
      • Food Premises Inspections
      • Farmers' Market and Special Event Forms
    • Health Care Providers
      Toggle Section Health Care Providers Menu
      • Advisories, Alerts and Information
      • Alcohol and Substance Use
      • Community Resources for Clients
      • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
      • Immunization Guide
      • Influenza Information for Health Care Providers
      • Infection Prevention and Control
      • Infectious Diseases and Reporting
      • Making a Healthy Babies Healthy Children referral
      • Nutrition and Eating Well
      • Report an Animal Bite
      • Sexual Health and STI Treatment
      • Tobacco Cessation
      • Vaccine Ordering and Fridge Inspections
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
      Toggle Section Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes Menu
      • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
      • Infection Prevention and Control in LTCHs
      • Outbreak Resources for LTCHs
        Toggle Section Outbreak Resources for LTCHs Menu
        • Influenza Information for LTCHs
      • Outbreak Status Reports
      • Tuberculosis in LTCHs
      • Vaccine Ordering and Fridge Inspections
      • Signage Downloads
      • LTCH Workshop Video Series
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Southwest IPAC Hub

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.