Recreational Water Quality
Pools and Hot Tubs
Health authorities regularly inspect and approve public and commercial pools and hot tubs in B.C. to ensure these facilities are safely constructed and operated according to the Pool Regulation under the Public Health Act.
The Ministry of Health has developed the following guidelines to help pool operators and regulators interpret the regulation:
The standards established in the guideline documents represent generally accepted minimum standards of safe practices. They were developed with input from various stakeholders, including the health authorities, B.C. Recreation and Parks Association, Lifesaving Society, Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, Architects Institute of British Columbia, WorkSafe BC and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.
Where there is a discrepancy between the Pool Regulation and these guidelines, the Pool Regulation shall prevail.
Pool operators must create a comprehensive, written, pool safety plan for their facility, detailing the actions to be taken to ensure the health and safety of pool patrons. The Pool Safety Plan Guide for Pool Operators has been developed, in conjunction with the health authorities and stakeholders, to assist operators:
Pool Safety Plan Guide for Pool Operators(PDF 2.2M)
Bathing Beaches
Health authorities may sample the water quality of recreational beaches or create reports on recreational water quality concerns to help inform them of any public health risks. Health authorities, at their discretion, may decide to close beaches, issue public advisories or post warning signs based on these sampling results, until the water samples indicate that it is safe to resume swimming in these waters.
The Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality are often referenced to help determine if any health risk is present based on water samples. These guidelines address potential health hazards such as infections transmitted by disease-causing micro-organisms, and aesthetics and nuisance conditions.
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