A.

Pools used for swimming or bathing shall be in conformity with the requirements of this section; provided, however, these regulations shall not be applicable to any such pool less than twenty-four (24) inches deep or having a surface area of less than two hundred fifty (250) square feet, except when such pools are permanently equipped with a water recirculating system or involve structure materials. For purposes of this chapter, pools are classified as private swimming pools or public and semipublic swimming pools, as defined in Section 17.36.020 of this chapter.

B.

Materials and constructions used in swimming pools shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Massachusetts State Building Code.

C.

Pools used for swimming or bathing and their equipment or accessories which are constructed shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the building bylaws, provided that the requirements of this chapter are included in the installation.

(Prior code § 145-62)

A.

Any constructed pool which is used or intended to be used as a swimming pool in connection with a single- or two-family residence and available only to the family of the household and its private guests shall be classified as a private swimming pool. No private swimming pool shall be structurally enclosed.

B.

Any swimming pool other than a private swimming pool shall be classified as a public or semipublic swimming pool.

(Prior code § 145-63)

A.

Permits. No swimming pool or appurtenances thereto shall be constructed, installed, enlarged or altered until a permit has been obtained from the building department. The approval of all town authorities having jurisdiction over swimming pools shall be obtained before applying to the building inspector for a permit. Copies of these approvals shall be filed as part of the supporting data for the application for this permit.

B.

Plans. Plans shall accurately show dimensions and construction of pool and appurtenances and properly established distances to lot lines of buildings, walks and fences; details of the water supply system, drainage and water disposal systems; and all appurtenances pertaining to the swimming pool. Detail plans of structures, vertical elevations and sections through the pool showing depth shall be included.

(Prior code § 145-64)

Private swimming pools shall be set back a minimum of fifteen (15) feet from a street property line, ten feet from a side property line and ten feet from a rear property line. No wall of a swimming pool to be constructed under this chapter shall be located less than ten feet from any permanent structure. The board of appeals may, by special permit, allow location of a pool within the above required yard setback area to within one-half the required distance if it finds that literal enforcement of the required setback would involve practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship and the granting of relief would not result in a detriment to the public safety, health or welfare.

(Prior code § 145-65)

A.

Structural Design. The pool structure shall be engineered and designed to withstand the expected forces to which it will be subjected.

B.

Wall Slopes. To a depth up to five units from the top, the wall slope shall not be more than two units horizontal in five feet vertical.

C.

Floor Slopes. The slope of the floor on the shallow side of transition point shall not exceed one unit vertical to seven units horizontal. The transition point between shallow and deep water shall not be more than five units deep.

D.

Surface Cleaning. All swimming pools shall be provided with a recirculating skimming device or overflow gutters to remove scum and foreign matter from the surface of the water. Where skimmers are used there shall be at least one skimming device for each one thousand (1,000) square feet of surface area or fraction thereof. Where overflow gutters are used they shall not be less than three inches deep, pitched one-fourth inch per foot to drains, and constructed so they are safe, cleanable and so that matter entering the gutters will not be washed out by a sudden surge of entering water.

E.

Walkways. All public or semipublic swimming pools shall have walkways not less than four feet in width extending entirely around the pool. Where curbs or sidewalks are used around any swimming pool they shall have a nonslip surface for a width of not less than one foot at the edge of the pool and shall be so arranged to prevent return of surface water to the pool.

F.

Steps and Ladders. One or more means of egress shall be provided from the pool. Treads of steps or ladders shall have nonslip surfaces and handrails on both sides, except that handrails may be omitted when there are not more than four steps or when they extend the full width of the side or end of the pool.

(Prior code § 145-66)

A.

Water Supply. All swimming pools shall be provided with a portable water supply, free of cross-connections with the pool or its equipment.

B.

Water Treatment.

1.

Public and semipublic swimming pools shall be designed and installed so that there is a pool water turnover at least once every eight hours. Filters shall not filter water at a rate in excess of three gallons per minute per square foot of surface area. The bacteriological quality of water from flow-through-type pools shall be considered satisfactory if the water contains an MPN (most probable number) of chloroform organism of not over two thousand four hundred (2,400) per one hundred (100) milliliters.

2.

Swimming pool water shall be treated with chlorine as a disinfectant in accordance with the following table:

3.

Other equally effective disinfectants may be used as a substitute for chlorine if they are approved by the local board of health.

4.

All recirculation systems shall be provided with an approved hair and lint strainer installed in the system ahead of the pump. Private swimming pools shall be designed and installed so that there is a pool water turnover at least once every eighteen (18) hours.

5.

Filters shall not filter water at a rate in excess of five gallons per minute per square foot of surface area.

C.

Drainage Systems. The swimming pool and equipment shall be equipped to be completely emptied of water, and discharged water shall be disposed of in an approved drain.

(Prior code § 145-67)

A.

Appurtenant Structures. All appurtenant structures, installations and equipment, such as showers, dressing rooms, equipment houses or other buildings and structures, including plumbing, heating and air conditioning, among others, appurtenant to a swimming pool shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Building Code and/or this chapter.

B.

Accessories. All swimming pool accessories shall be designed, constructed and installed so as not to be a safety hazard. Installations or structures for diving purposes shall be properly anchored to ensure stability and properly designed and located for maximum safety.

(Prior code § 145-68)

A.

Overhead Electrical Conductors. No overhead electrical conductors shall be installed within fifteen (15) feet of any swimming pool. All metal fences, enclosures or railings near or adjacent to a swimming pool to which bathers have access, which may become electrically active as a result of contact with broken overhead conductors or from any other cause, shall be effectively grounded.

B.

Equipment Installations. Pumps, filters and other mechanical and electrical equipment for public and semipublic swimming pools shall be enclosed in such a manner as to be accessible only to authorized persons and not to bathers. Construction and drainage shall be such as to avoid the entrance and accumulation of water in the vicinity of electrical equipment.

C.

Swimming Pool Safety Devices. Every person owning land on which there is situated a swimming pool, fish pond or other body of water which constitutes an obvious hazard and contains twenty-four (24) inches or more of water in depth at any point shall erect and maintain there an adequate enclosure either surrounding the property or pool area, sufficient to make such body of water inaccessible to small children. Such enclosure, including gates therein, must be not less than six feet above the underlying ground; all gates must be self-latching with latches placed not less then five feet above the underlying ground or otherwise made inaccessible from the outside to small children.

D.

Electrical and plumbing requirements must conform to the Massachusetts Electrical and Plumbing Codes.

E.

All pools shall be operated under the minimum standards for swimming pools of the State Sanitary Code, Article VI, General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

F.

No water shall be placed in a pool until the required fence or enclosure is installed.

G.

A certificate of occupancy shall be obtained prior to use of a pool.

(Prior code § 145-69)