Sanitation of Public Bathing Places

PURPOSE: This rule provides public bathing places standards which will assure sanitary conditions and water quality that is satisfactory for bathing purposes. (1) The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and the enforcement of this rule: (A) Public bathing places shall include any place open to the public for swimming or recreative bathing whether or not a fee is charged for use and shall be classified as natural lakes, artificial lake impoundments, ponds, rivers, streams; outdoor pools which are partly artificial and partly natural in character; and pools outdoor or indoor which are entirely of artificial construction; (B) Owner shall mean the state, county, city, town, village, corporation, firm, company, institution, person(s) owning, controlling or operating any public bathing place; and (C) Department of Health shall mean the Missouri Department of Health. (2) Preliminary Report Required. Before detailed plans and specifications for new construction or improvements are prepared, the owner or his/her authorized agent shall submit to the Department of Health a preliminary report concerning the construction or improvements to be made, together with the preliminary plans and reports as have been made, whereupon the Department of Health will outline the requirements as regards further investigations, analytical data, information required and general design of proposed works, conformity with which will meet approval. (3) Submission of Plans for New Public Bathing Facilities. Every owner or his/her authorized agent, before installing or entering into a contract for installing public bathing facilities, shall submit in duplicate to and receive the written approval of the Department of Health for complete plans and specifications fully describing the bathing places and thereafter the plans and specifications shall be substantially adhered to unless deviations are submitted to and receive the written approval of the Department of Health. (4) Submission of Plans for Alteration to Public Bathing Places. Every owner or his/her authorized agent, before making or entering into contract for making alterations or changes in or additions to any existing public bathing place shall submit to and receive the written approval of the Department of Health for complete plans and specifications fully describing such alterations, changes or additions; and thereafter, plans and specifications must be substantially adhered to unless deviations are submitted to and receive the written approval of the Department of Health. (5) Procedure for Submission of Plans. All reports, plans and specifications shall be submitted at least thirty (30) days prior to the date upon which action by the Department of Health is desired. The documents submitted for formal approval shall include: engineering report; general layout; detailed plans; specifications; summary of design data; and revisions to approved plans. (A) The preliminary plans must be submitted with the engineer’s report for review prior to the preparation of detailed plans and specifications. No approval for construction can be issued until final, complete, detailed plans and specifications have been submitted to the Department of Health and found to be satisfactory. The Department of Health will issue the general requirements concerning submission of plans, necessary data and design criteria which will meet the approval of the Department of Health. (6) Final Approval. Every owner before accepting or placing in operation new public bathing-place facilities, or additions to, or changes or alterations in any existing facility shall receive written final approval of the Department of Health stating that the completed work substantially adheres to the approved plans and specifications. (7) Operation of Public Bathing Facilities. No public bathing place shall be provided or rendered available to the public for swimming or recreational purposes where water quality and other sanitation conditions which may affect the health of users are unsatisfactory and are not approved by the Department of Health. All public bathing facilities shall be maintained in an efficient operating condition in order to insure satisfactory functioning of the facilities. Every owner will be required to AND SENIOR SERVICES Public Health operate the bathing facilities so as obtain the highest possible degree of efficiency at all times. A competent person, familiar with the principles and operation of the various bathing place equipment and facilities shall be in charge of each facility. Chemicals used in connection with sanitation shall be on hand at all times in sufficient quantity of high grade material to insure against ineffective operation due to delays in securing these materials. The owner shall make suitable analyses and maintain records of operation as required by the Department of Health and shall submit copies of these records upon request to the Department of Health. (8) Water. The water in the public bathing place and that supplied to it shall at all times have a sanitary quality satisfactory to the Department of Health. The Department of Health will establish the standards of quality as are deemed necessary. (9) If, after investigation, the Department of Health finds that any public bathing place is in any way a menace to health on account of defective design, inadequacy, incompetent supervision or inefficient operation, or if the water quality is unsatisfactory for bathing purposes, alterations and additions in the design or the construction of the equipment, or such changes in the operation of the facilities as are necessary to produce satisfactory results, shall be made in accordance with recommendations of, and within the time limits set by the Department of Health. Failure to properly maintain a public bathing place in a sanitary condition shall be sufficient reason to close it as a public health menace. AUTHORITY: section 192.020, RSMo 1986.* This rule previously filed as 13 CSR 5082.010. Original rule filed Dec. 21, 1955, effective Dec. 31, 1955. Original authority: 192.020, RSMo 1939, amended 1945, 1951.