The Self-Monitoring Plan for Public Swimming Pools You Should Know

We want to keep you informed of all the latest developments and regulations in the swimming pool sector. Therefore, it is vitally important that you are familiar with the Self-Monitoring Plan for public swimming pools, which outlines the new technical and health standards for swimming pools in Spain established with the entry into force of Royal Decree 742/2013 of September 27 .

The Decree is based on the obligation to carry out a Self-Control Protocol for Swimming Pools for those swimming pools for collective use .

But let’s detail, in 8 points, everything that this Decree entails.

• What does it consist of?

Decree 742/2013 states that the owners of the facilities must provide the appropriate means and personnel to guarantee the safety of users from possible physical, chemical or microbiological risks , and carry out the tasks of Self-monitoring of health risks associated with the different activities that may be carried out.

• What type of swimming pools are required to implement the Self-Monitoring Protocol?

Type 1. Swimming pools where water-related activity is the main objective, such as public swimming pools, leisure pools, water parks or spas.

Type 2. Swimming pools that act as a supplementary service to the main objective, such as in the case of hotel pools, tourist accommodations, campsites or therapeutic pools in health centers, among others.

• What should the Self-Monitoring Plan for swimming pools include?

According to article 95/2000 of February 22, the Self-Control system must include at least the following plans:

• A water treatment plan for the pools that must include the cost of the product or products used, the safety data sheets for these products, the method of application, and the controls carried out to ensure the water characteristics indicated in articles 19 and 20 of the decree.

• Planning the microbiological water analyses necessary to determine its sanitary conditions.

• Cleaning and disinfection plan for the facilities.

• Rodent and insect control plan with the necessary safety precautions to avoid risks to pool users.

• In indoor swimming pools, a cleaning and maintenance plan for the ventilation and heating system that involves control of temperature and ambient humidity.

• Can sanctions be imposed?

Failure to comply with the obligations of the Decree may result in various types of sanctions: financial penalties, temporary closure, or even denial of the opening of summer swimming pools.

• How does Reindesa work with this regulation?

According to this Decree, public swimming pools must have a self-monitoring system to guarantee proper management and adherence to good hygiene and sanitation practices . This document is complex, and facility owners often hire external companies to facilitate the management of this documentation. This is not new, as hotels and campsites subcontract pest control to rodent control companies, and the cleaning and disinfection self-monitoring is usually carried out and supervised by the subcontracted cleaning company; occupational risk management is handled by the management company. Since October 2013, Reindesa has offered to perform this task, preparing the mandatory documentation that the facility owner must submit in the event of an inspection .

• What do we do?

• A Reindesa technician is responsible for conducting an evaluation visit of the facilities and a review of the necessary documentation .
• We develop the Self-Monitoring Plan for swimming pools and deliver it along with the corresponding information on: how it works, what lists the client must make and how to make them.
• A Reindesa technician makes a monthly visit to perform preventive maintenance on the facilities.
• Once again, a Reindesa technician will make a semi-annual visit to supervise the management of the documentation and the value of the results.

What Reindesa’s work does not include are microbiological analyses (although we can manage water collection and delivery to the laboratory) or repairs resulting from deficiencies detected by our technician, but you can request it and we will give you a no-obligation, customized quote.

• What guarantees are there that the work will be done well?

Since the regulations came into force, Reindesa has accompanied its clients in different inspections by the Department of Health of the Girona Provincial Council and by the Barcelona Provincial Council, with very favorable results .

• What is the budget that Reindesa offers for the Self-Control plan?

*VAT not included

If you still have any questions about the Self-Monitoring Plan for Public Swimming Pools, don’t hesitate to contact your nearest Reindesa store , either by visiting us or calling us, and we will assist you personally.