Safe Water Program

About the Recreational Water Program

Public Health Inspectors inspect recreational water facilities to ensure your safety. 

There are two categories for public recreational water facilities:

• Regulated – public pools and spas
• Non-regulated – public wading pools, splash/spray pads and water slide receiving basins

Water chemistry requirements and resources

• General Public Information
• Public Pool Operators
• Public Spa Operators

General Public Information

Resources

• Lifesaving Society - Private Pool Safety Standard (PDF file)
• Halton's Pool & Spa Operator's Manual (PDF file)
• Halton’s Safe & Healthy Swimming Pamphlet (PDF file)
• Canadian Red Cross-Ontario (external link)
• CDC - Healthy Swimming/Recreational Water (external link)
• Lifesaving Society (external link)

Public Pool Operators

Total alkalinity	Not less than 80 mg/L
pH	7.2 - 7.8
Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems)	Not less than 0.5 mg/L
Not less than 1 mg/L where cyanurate stabilization is used
Bromine residual (for bromine systems)	Non-wave action pools	Not less than 2 mg/L
Wave action pools	Not less than 3 mg/L

 

Resources

• Pool Owner & Operator Information Package (PDF file)
• Admission Standards Factsheet
• Ontario Regulation 565 Public Pools

Public Spa Operators

Total alkalinity	Not less than 80 mg/L
pH	7.2 - 7.8
Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems)	5 - 10 mg/L
Bromine residual (for bromine systems)	5 - 10 mg/L
Cyanuric acid	Not greater than 150 mg/L
Oxidation Reduction Potential (for systems using an automatic sensing device)	Not less than 700mV

Resources

• Notification of Intent to Open a Public Spa (PDF file)
• Ontario Regulation 428/05 Public Spas