City Of Alexandria Health Department
Over the last five years, the number of pools and spas that the Alexandria Health Department has had to temporarily close due to imminent public health threats has been reduced by 97%!
The City of Alexandria Health Division, has made Alexandria’s public swimming pools much safer. Over the last five years, the number of pools and spas that the Alexandria Health Department has had to temporarily close due to imminent public health threats has been reduced by 97%!
In 2008, 68 pools and spas were temporarily closed because of imminent health threats; in 2013, there were only two. Imminent public health threats include issues such as no chlorine in the pool, no certified lifeguard on duty, or an entrapment hazard such as a missing or broke main drain cover.
City of Alexandria Health Department regulates and inspects approximately 140 aquatic facilities in the city. About 125 of these facilities are outdoor pools or spas that operate only during the summer season. Unannounced evaluations of these facilities are conducted approximately every two weeks. The remaining aquatic facilities operate year-round and are evaluated monthly.
During the pool’s hours of operation, at least one person shall hold a licensed pool operator card. This photo identification card is proof that the operator has passed the approved exam within the last three years. Operators must present this card to the Health Department during routine inspections, and the card can only be obtained by individuals sixteen (16) years of age or older.
The Health Department does not require pool operators to attend formal training prior to taking the exam, however, training is strongly recommended.
The Health Department field staff conduct different types of inspections, including: routine, complaint, follow-up, and pre-openings. With the exception of the pre-openings, all evaluations are unannounced.
Routine evaluations for aquatic facilities occur every two to four weeks, and complaint and follow-up evaluations occur on an as-needed basis. Pre-opening evaluations occur by appointment only, and only when an aquatic facility prepares to open for the for the first time, after construction or renovation, or before a seasonal pool re-opens for the spring season.
Pool management companies that operate an aquatic facility on behalf of its owner must be licensed by the Environmental Health Division. Pool owners, including facilities that are owner-operated, are not required to be licensed.
At the end of each August, seasonal facility owners are mailed an end of season letter notating all deficiencies observed at their facility. These deficiencies must be resolved before the facility attempts to open for the following pool season. A copy of this letter is also mailed to the pool management company who was responsible for the pool during that season.
The owner of Premier Aquatics Jeff Gromada is member of City of Alexandria Aquatic Health Advisor Committee.
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