How to Manage Your Pool Safely

For public and semi-public pools (condos, apartments, HOAs, hotels, fitness clubs, etc.)

Managing a pool is about more than keeping the water clear—it’s about preventing illness and injury, protecting equipment, and keeping your pool open. Use this page as a practical checklist for day-to-day operations and long-term maintenance.

1) Your Core Responsibilities

As the pool operator/manager, you’re responsible for:

• Maintaining safe disinfectant and pH levels
• Keeping filtration and circulation working properly
• Completing and keeping daily operational records
• Maintaining required safety equipment and signage
• Responding correctly to fecal/vomit incidents
• Ensuring the pool is supervised appropriately (when required)
• Scheduling maintenance and repairs as needed

If you hire a pool service company, you still remain responsible for the pool being operated safely.

2) Daily Water Quality Checks

Test and document water chemistry once before opening and every 4 hours until close (more often during busy periods, heat waves, or when problems occur).

Minimum daily checks:

• Disinfectant level (chlorine or bromine)
• pH
• Water clarity
• Temperature (if heated)
• General safety walk-through (deck, drains, gates, signage)

Tip: Cloudy water, strong “chlorine smell,” or eye irritation often indicates poor water balance or combined chloramines, not “too much chlorine.”

3) Water Clarity and Visibility

Clear water is a safety requirement.

Your water should be clear enough that you can see the pool bottom easily and identify a person in distress. If you cannot clearly see the bottom, close the pool until clarity is restored.

4) Recordkeeping

Keep a pool log on-site (paper or digital). Records should include:

• Date/time of tests
• Test results (disinfectant, pH, etc.)
• Chemicals added and amounts
• Backwashing/maintenance performed
• Any incidents (rescues, injuries, fecal/vomit events)
• Closures and corrective actions taken
• Installation of main drain and equalizer line covers

Logs protect residents and help demonstrate compliance during inspections.

5) Facility Safety Checks

Do a quick inspection of the pool area daily.

Deck and barriers

• Gates latch and self-close 
• Fence is intact; no gaps
• Deck is free of trip hazards and slippery buildup
• “No glass” policy is enforced (recommended)

Emergency equipment

• Life ring with rope and/or reaching pole available and accessible
• Emergency phone or clear instructions for calling 911
• First aid kit stocked 

Signage

• Rules posted (no diving where prohibited, no running, etc.)
• “No lifeguard on duty” signage, if applicable
• Emergency contact instructions posted
• Capacity/bather load signage 

6) Filtration, Circulation, and Routine Maintenance

Your filtration system is what keeps disinfectant effective and prevents algae and cloudy water.

Routine items to stay on top of:

• Pump and filter operation (no unusual noises/leaks)
• Skimmer and strainer baskets cleaned
• Filter pressure monitored; backwash/clean as needed
• Chemical feeders are working correctly (if used)
• Main drain and suction fittings intact and secured, and non-expired

Important: Never operate the pool if you suspect a suction/entrapment hazard or a broken drain cover.

7) Chemical Storage and Handling

Pool chemicals can be dangerous if mishandled.

Safe handling basics:

• Store chemicals dry, locked, and ventilated
• Keep chlorine products separate from acids
• Never mix chemicals together
• Always add chemicals to water (not water to chemicals)
• Use proper PPE (gloves/eye protection) when handling chemicals
• Keep Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available for staff/contractors

If you’re unsure about safe chemical storage, contact your pool service provider or a qualified operator.

8) Responding to Diarrhea, Feces, or Vomit in the Pool

Accidents happen—and response matters.

If there is a fecal or vomit incident:

1. Clear swimmers and close the pool
2. Remove the material safely (use tools—not bare hands)
3. Follow appropriate disinfection and circulation procedures
4. Document the incident and reopening steps in the pool log

If you need guidance on the correct response steps, contact the Manchester Health Department (or follow CDC guidance for recreational water incidents).

9) When to Close the Pool

Close the pool immediately if any of the following occur:

• Disinfectant or pH cannot be maintained in a safe range
• Water is cloudy, and the bottom/main drain is not clearly visible
• A fecal/vomit incident has occurred and has not been properly addressed
• Broken or missing safety equipment (as required)
• Broken drain cover, suction hazard, or unsafe circulation system issue
• Significant contamination, power outage affecting circulation, or chemical spill

A short closure to correct an issue is always safer than staying open.

10) Staffing, Training, and Vendors

For condos/HOAs, pools often rely on a combination of board oversight, maintenance staff, and pool contractors.

Recommended:

• Ensure at least one responsible party has pool operator training (such as a Certified Pool Operator or equivalent)
• Confirm your vendor scope includes water testing frequency, documentation, and emergency response expectations
• Keep vendor contact info available on-site
• Have a clear plan for weekend and after-hours problems (cloudy water, pump failure, etc.).

Need Help or Have a Question?

If you operate a public or semi-public pool in Manchester and have questions about safe operation, inspections, or responding to an incident, contact the Manchester Health Department - Environmental Health Branch for guidance.