Safe Water Program
Safe Water Program
Opening or reopening a recreational water facility
If you plan on opening a pool, spa or other type of recreational water facility, you must notify the Halton Region Public Health by completing the online notification form.
About the Recreational Water Program
Public Health Inspectors inspect public pools, including hot water, cold plunge, floatation pools, spas, wading pools, spray/splash pads, floatation tanks, and receiving basins to reduce the possibility of injuries and waterborne illness related to recreational water facilities. Compliance inspections of recreational water facilities are carried out in accordance with the Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565/90.
The Ontario Public Pools Regulation 565/90 (external link) applies to the following public recreational water facilities:
- Class A and Class B public pools, including cold plunge, floatation, and hot water pools
- Public spas
- Class C facilities (public wading pools, public splash pads/spray pads, floatation tanks, and water slide receiving basins).
Renting a home swimming pool to the public
Are you a homeowner interested in renting your backyard pool/spa (hot tub)?
Swimming pools and spas can expose bathers to potential health and safety risks, such as communicable diseases, injury or even death if appropriate measures are not in place. For more information, please see the Government of Ontario Safe Water webpage (external link).
Residential pools and spas that are being made available to the public for use with or without charging an access fee are subject to caution notice displayed in a conspicuous place as set out in Ontario Regulation 565: Public Pools (external link) under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, 1990 (external link).
Local Municipal zoning by-laws may not permit the commercial use of a backyard pool. Please contact your Local Municipality to learn if you can rent your residential pool to the public.
Municipal zoning by-law contact information
- City of Burlington (external link)
- Town of Halton Hills (external link)
- Town of Milton (external link)
- Town of Oakville (external link)
If you receive permission from your Local Municipality to rent your backyard pool or spa to the public, you must post a caution notice in a conspicuous place within the pool/spa enclosure as prescribed by Section 4.1 of Ontario Regulation 565: Public Pools (external link).
For more information, contact your Local Municipality, email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 to speak to a public health inspector.
Safe water information and resources
| Total Alkalinity | 60 – 180 ppm | |
|---|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 - 7.8 | |
| Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems) |
Indoor pools and Unstabilized outdoor pools | 0.5 – 10 ppm |
| Stabilized outdoor pools | 1 – 10 ppm | |
|
Hot water pools Cold plunge pools Floatation pools |
5 – 10 ppm | |
| Bromine residual (for bromine systems) |
Non-wave action pools Cold plunge pools Floatation pools |
2 – 8 ppm |
| Wave action pools | 3 – 10 ppm | |
| Hot water pools | 5 – 10 ppm | |
| Cyanuric acid Note: Not to be used for indoor pools or pools totally or partially covered by roof. |
Not greater than 60 mg/L | |
| Oxidation Reduction Potential (ORP) | 600 mV – 900 mV | |
Resources
| Total alkalinity | 60 – 180 ppm |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 - 7.8 |
| Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems) |
5 - 10 ppm |
| Bromine residual (for bromine systems) |
5 - 10 ppm |
| Oxidation Reduction Potential (for systems using an automatic sensing device) |
600 mV – 900 mV |
Resources
Wading pool, spray/splash pad and receiving basin water chemistry requirements
| Total alkalinity | 60 – 180 ppm |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 - 7.8 |
| Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems) |
5 - 10 ppm |
| Bromine residual (for bromine systems) |
5 - 10 ppm |
| Cyanuric acid | Not greater than 60 mg/L |
| Oxidation Reduction Potential (for systems using an automatic sensing device) |
600 mV – 900 mV |
Floatation tank water chemistry requirements
| Total alkalinity | 80 – 120 ppm |
|---|---|
| pH | 7.2 - 7.8 |
| Chlorine residual (for chlorinated systems) |
1.5 - 5 ppm |
| Bromine residual (for bromine systems) |
2.5 - 5 ppm |