§ 6-526. Permanent pools.

(a)

Required distance from certain neighboring points. The location and enclosure of any permanent pool shall be such that no hazard exists for pool users of the public. The minimum distance from the nearest part of the pool water to the following points shall be as follows:

(1)

The minimum distance is six feet horizontally from a vertical line from any overhead electrical or telephone wire to the edge of the water. Diving boards, slides, towers, platforms and similar structures must be ten feet horizontally from a vertical line from any overhead wires.

(2)

The minimum distance is three feet horizontally to any sewer for a permanent pool. There shall be ten feet horizontally to a septic tank and tile field or other similar treatment facility, provided the water level in the pool is one foot or more above the ground surface elevation of the treatment facility.

(b)

Finish and cove. Pool floor and walls shall have a cleanable, light-colored and impermeable surface. The pool floor and the deck shall be skid resistant. Where the water depth is less than five feet, the maximum cover radius shall be eight inches.

(c)

Ladders or steps required. Every permanent pool shall have at least one acceptable ladder or set of steps permitting exit from the pool water.

(d)

Walkway or deck. A walkway or deck of concrete or other approved impervious material shall be constructed around the perimeter of each permanent pool and shall be at least three feet wide, if at grade, or at least 20 inches wide if part of a self-fencing structure.

(e)

Diving board requirements. There shall be at least eight feet of clearance between the end of any diving board or platform and each side wall of any permanent pool. The end of the diving board or platform shall project over the water one foot from the deep end wall. Diving structures shall be securely anchored and shall have at least 13 feet unobstructed headroom for at least eight feet horizontally over the water surface from all parts of the diving surface. No diving board or platform shall be installed except in accordance with the following limits:

(1)

The minimum water depth at the deepest point in the pool shall be eight feet.

(2)

The minimum distance from the diving well to the deepest point in the pool shall be ten feet.

(3)

The minimum distance from the deepest point in the pool to the point where the water is five feet deep shall be ten feet.

(f)

Depth markings. For all permanent pools with a maximum depth exceeding five feet, there shall be at least one depth marking on each side of the deck or wall of the pool above the water line indicating the greatest depth in feet.

(g)

Floatline. When the maximum water depth in any permanent pool exceeds five feet, recessed floatline anchors shall be provided in the walls at the place where the water depth is five feet. A suitable floatline shall be installed when the pool is in use.

(h)

Slopes. The slope of the bottom of any part of a permanent pool in which the water is less than five feet in depth shall not be more than one foot vertically in each eight feet horizontally. The top three feet of all side and end walls shall be vertical or shall have an outward batter not to exceed six feet vertically to one foot horizontally.

(i)

Piping. Piping of permanent pools shall be sized to permit the rated flows for filtering and filter backwash without exceeding the maximum head at which the pump will provide such flows. The water velocity in the pool piping shall not exceed ten feet per second in pressure piping and five feet per second in suction piping at design flows. The water velocity in plastic piping shall not exceed five feet per second.

(j)

Main drains. One or more outlets shall be placed at the deepest point in every permanent pool for circulating the pool water and for draining the pool. The effective area of the drain grating shall be at least four times the area of the outlet pipe.

(k)

Inlets. There shall be a minimum of one filtered water inlet for each 60 feet of the perimeter of each permanent pool. Each of the minimum required water inlets shall be at least ten inches below the highest overflow line and at least ten feet from any other inlet or from any skimmer, unless otherwise approved by the building inspector. Inlets shall be located to impart a circulatory motion to the pool water.

(l)

Valves. A full flow type valve shall be installed on the discharge side of the pump to permit the regulation of flow.

(m)

Skimmers. All skimmers in permanent pools shall be recessed or flush with the walls of the pool. Unless a continuous overflow weir gutter is installed around the pool, one or more surface skimmers shall be provided. There shall be one skimmer for each 800 square feet of water surface or any fraction thereof, which shall operate continuously while the pool water is being circulated and which shall automatically adjust for vertical variations in the water level to three inches or more.

(n)

Pumps. The pump in each permanent pool shall have sufficient capacity at a maximum anticipated hydraulic head to circulate the pool volume each 12 hours and to supply the required backwash rate to any one filter. Unless hydraulic analysis demonstrates otherwise, each pump shall supply the required filtration at a total head of at least 50 feet for any sand filter system and 60 feet for a diatomite filter system. The motor horsepower rating shall be determined for maximum total head conditions at a 12-hour pool volume turnover time. A pump connected to a pressure filter shall be equipped on its inlet side with a noncorrosive hair and lint strainer. The ratio of the open strainer area to the open area of the suction piping shall be at least four to one.

(o)

General requirements for filter systems.

(1)

All filters in permanent pools shall be approved by the building inspector and shall be equal in performance to the sand and diatomite filters described in this division. Filters approved by the National Sanitation Foundation, NSF, shall be acceptable.

(2)

Each filtering system shall be provided with a sight glass or visible discharge. The influent shall be applied to the filter media surface in a manner that prevents direct turbulent discharge against the media.

(3)

All pressure filters shall be equipped with an air release at the high point in the system. If an automatic device is installed for this purpose, there shall be a manual valve for testing its effectiveness.

(4)

The shell containing the filter media or elements shall be constructed so as to provide satisfactory strength and freedom from corrosion, and shall be installed in a manner to prevent settling or upset.

(5)

A pressure gauge of appropriate range shall be installed on the piping between the filter and the pool.

(p)

High rate sand filters. All high rate sand filters shall be approved by and carry the seal of approval of the national sanitation foundation. High rate sand filters shall be sized so that the filtration rate does not exceed 20 gallons per minute per square foot.

(q)

Standard sand filters.

(1)

The total effective filter area in square feet shall be at least equal to the volume of the pool in gallons divided by 2,160. Each pressure sand filter shall be provided with backwash water at a minimum rate of 12 gallons per minute per square foot of effective surface area.

(2)

Filter sand shall be uniformly graded silica material, with effective particle diameters between 0.45 and 0.55 millimeters and with a uniformity coefficient less than 1.75. The sand shall be free of clay, organic matter and water-soluble material and no less than 20 inches in depth, with a 12-inch or greater freeboard.

(3)

Graded gravel or crushed anthracite shall be used to support the filter media and shall be free of organic and water-soluble material. It shall be graded by size and separately leveled in layers. The total depth of the graded gravel shall not be less than 16 inches.

(r)

Diatomite filters. Pressure diatomite filters shall be sized so that the filtration rate does not exceed two gallons per minute per square foot of effective filter area. A precoat funnel or other feeding device shall be provided at all such pressure filters. Vacuum diatomite filters shall be sized so that the filtration rate does not exceed 1½ gallons per minute per square foot.

(Code 1977, §§ 21-59—21-76; Ord. No. 29, 11-6-1978)