Chapter 4: Recreational Water Environments and Swimming Pools
  • Chapter 4 Preparation: Recreational Water and Pool Inspection

    • Chapter 4 Preparation: Recreational Water and Pool Inspection

    Now that you have read about the process of inspecting pools and recreational water facilities, use the following pictures to practice. Look for details in each picture that highlight issues that an inspector looks for. Some pictures show how things should look others show issues that need to be addressed, click the box under the picture to see what issues a professional inspector found.

    Swimming Pools

    Changing Facilities

    Lockers that are raised off of the ground. The floor is covered in tile.

    Lockers are located at least six inches off the ground, The ground should be slip resistant and not be of wood or carpeted.

    Two shower stalls with tile floors. Each has a place to hang towels up on the outside and a curtain and drain.

    There needs to be sufficient showers in the changing area for swimmers. Showers remove dirt and oils and other substances that might be on the body that could contaminate the pool water or lessen its quality.

    Two sinks with a mirror, two soap dispensers, two paper towel dispensers, and a trash can.

    Changing rooms should have warm water for washing hands, soap and paper towels or other mechanisms to dry the hands.

    A picture of a mens room door opening up to the side of a pool. The side of the pool reads from left to right 4, 3, 2. Pool rules are posted on the wall next to the men's room.

    Changing rooms should open up to the shallow end of the pool, not the deep end. There should not be a direct line of sight into the changing areas.

    A picture of a women's room door opening up to the side of a pool. The side of the pool reads from left to right 2, 3, 4. There are swimmer's platforms on the edge of the pool parallel to the women's room door.

    Changing rooms should open up to the shallow end of the pool, not the deep end. There should not be a direct line of sight into the changing areas.


    Pool Area

    The deck is sloped away from the pool, and there is no standing water. There is a shepherds crook and pole mounted on the wall but near enough for rescue. There are ladders on each side of the pool.

    Deck is sloped away from the pool, and there is no standing water. There is a shepherds crook and pole mounted on the wall but near enough for rescue. There are ladders on each side of the pool to help swimmers get out of the deep end of the pool.

    The water appears clean and clear. There are backboards and lifesaving floats available. There is a no diving sign for the shallow end. The depth is clearly marked and visible.

    The water appears clean and clear. There are backboards available in case of injuries from diving. There is also a lifesaving float to throw out in the pool in case of emergency. There is a no diving sign for the shallow end, and the depth is marked and easily visible.

    A crack in the pool wall running from the deck all the way to the bottom of the pool.
    What did the inspector find?

    This picture shows a crack in the pool wall allowing water to seep out or contamination to enter the pool.


    Water Recreational Areas

    An outdoor water source that appears still and bright green. It has some scum floating near the edge.

    This image shows cyanobacterial blooms. These can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water, and can make the water appear different colors, including green, blue, red, or brown.

    An outdoor water source that has swirls of bright green and some scum floating on top.

    This image shows cyanobacterial blooms. These can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water, and can make the water appear different colors, including green, blue, red, or brown.

    An outdoor water source that has swirls of bright green. There are trees and a hill in the background.

    This image shows cyanobacterial blooms. These can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water, and can make the water appear different colors, including green, blue, red, or brown.

    An outdoor water source that appears light brown and murky.

    This image shows cyanobacterial blooms. These can look like foam, scum, mats, or paint on the surface of the water, and can make the water appear different colors, including green, blue, red, or brown.


    An outdoor water source that has many dead fish floating on the top.

    This picture shows fish that have been killed by a harmful algal bloom. These blooms sometimes produce toxins. In fish, marine mammals, and other aquatic marine life, exposure to algal toxins can cause widespread illness or death.

    A beach with small waves coming in. The water appears dark reddish brown.
    What are the issues highlighted in this picture?

    This image shows a Karenia brevis red tide along a coast. Brevetoxin is an algal toxin that is often produced during these blooms.

    This shows water on a coastline. The water appears greyish green with reddish brown streaks scattered in it.

    This image shows a Karenia brevis red tide along the ocean coast. K. brevis red tide in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most common types of harmful algal blooms in the United States.

    Water with some green algae spots and light brown blobs floating on top.

    This image shows a Phormidium bloom in a lake. Phormidium is a type of cyanobacteria that can harm people, animals, and the environment when it blooms.

    Water that appears a bright cyan or teal color with swirls of foam and scum near the edge.

    This image shows an Aphanizomenon bloom in a reservoir. Aphanizomenon is a common cyanobacteria detected in harmful cyanobacterial blooms.

    Water that appears green with small swirls of foam on the top.

    This image shows an Aphanizomenon bloom in a reservoir. Aphanizomenon is a common cyanobacteria detected in harmful cyanobacterial blooms.

    The edge of a water source, showing some bright cyan and green blooms in the dirt.

    This picture shows a Dolichospermum bloom in a reservoir. Dolichospermum is a type of cyanobacteria that can harm people, animals, and the environment when it blooms.

    Water that appears slightly cyan colored with foam accumulating at the edge.

    This image shows an Aphanizomenon bloom in a reservoir. Aphanizomenon is a common cyanobacteria detected in fresh bodies of water

    Water that appears slightly cyan colored with foam accumulating at the edge.

    This image shows an Aphanizomenon and Dolichospermum bloom in a reservoir. Aphanizomenon and Dolichospermum are types of cyanobacteria that can harm people, animals, and the environment when they bloom.

    Water that has big streaks of light cyan and tan colors.

    This pictures shows blue-green cyanobacteria that look like spilled paint in a lake.

    Bright green, muddy water which looks like pea soup.

    This picture shows a cyanobacterial bloom that looks like pea soup in a fresh body of water.

    Water that has bright green swirls in it.

    This image shows a bright green cyanobacterial bloom in a creek.


    Bright green blobs floating on the top of water.

    This image shows a cyanobacterial bloom that looks like green blobs in a reservoir.



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