Maintaining a public pool (a pool open to guests, students, or the general public) is absolutely critical to promoting a healthy and safe environment. As a public pool owner or administrator, it’s up to you to take the proper steps to minimize health and safety risks at your establishment.

Learn more about caring for your public, commercial, or community pool.

Commercial Pool Safety Checks

If your pool exhibits visible signs of uncleanliness, the deck is disorganized, or the chemicals in the water are imbalanced, it’s time to take your pool safety up a notch!

Use these safety checks to determine if you should utilize our regular maintenance tips or need to take a larger step for your pool’s safety.

Visual check – If there’s a buildup of debris in the water or slime along the pool tile, this may be a sign that the pool filter isn’t working properly or the water isn’t cleaned regularly.
Unorganized pool deck – When pool supplies and equipment aren’t safely stored, they can cause a hazard. This may also be a sign to swimmers that the pool’s management may not be putting the most care into pool safety and upkeep.
Strong chlorine smell – You might think that smelling chlorine is a good sign, but if it’s alarmingly strong, this might be a sign that there are contaminants in the water or the pH level is off. A chemical imbalance in the water can keep the chemicals from disinfecting the water properly. If you suspect the chlorine isn’t working and the pH is off, check the pH to determine if the water is safe for swimming.
Safety precautions – The commercial pool should have handrails near stairs and ladders, along with pool rules, a safety kit, and a preserver. Guests swimming in a pool without safety precautions in place to prevent injury or manage a problem can leave them at risk of getting an injury that can’t be quickly helped. This may also leave the pool management liable for any injuries.

If you’ve gone through each of these quick checks and haven’t noticed anything wrong, that’s great! You probably don’t need to make any major changes to your pool safety steps. Instead, keep up your regular pool maintenance to make sure everything continues to work smoothly.

How to Keep Public Pools Safe

The safety of your organization’s pool begins with you. Check that you’ve safeguarded your public pool with these nine public swimming pool precautions and tips to keep visitors safe!

Store chemicals safely – While chemicals are often necessary to keep your pool water clean and safe for swimming, in the wrong context, if a swimmer comes in contact with these chemicals, they can irritate skin and lead to more health problems. Keep chemicals safely stored and away from swimmers.
Keep a first aid kit nearby – Whether someone scrapes their knee while getting out of the pool or gets lightheaded and nauseous from too much time underwater, having a first aid kit at the ready with antibacterial cream, waterproof bandages, cold compress, and other medical safety supplies will help to protect swimmers in a pinch. For extra safety, hire a lifeguard to keep swimmers protected.
Regularly test pH and chemical levels – We suggest checking pH and chemical levels at least twice daily or hourly if the pool is used to ensure the pool water is safe and clean for swimming. The pH level should be between 7.2-7.8, and chlorine levels should be between 1-3 parts per million.
Clean and scrub pool surfaces regularly – Slime and debris can quickly build up along the tile and edges of your pool. Make sure to regularly clean surfaces to keep the pool water from becoming contaminated or surfaces from becoming unnecessarily slippery. To worry less about regular maintenance and ensure your pool is properly cleaned, utilize pool cleaning services! Public pools can get lots of contaminants throughout a day of use, but a professional commercial pool cleaning will keep your pool cleaning maintenance a breeze.
Frequently inspect equipment – No one wants to close their commercial pool due to a broken pool filter or heater! If you suspect your pool equipment isn’t working properly, contact our pool professionals for pool equipment repair services before broken equipment becomes a big problem for your pool.
Include depth markers – Depth markers help swimmers recognize areas where the pool is safe for jumping in and diving. Markers will also help less experienced swimmers easily spot shallow areas where they can enjoy the water safely.
Have sufficient lighting – Dull pool lighting can be a safety hazard, especially if your pool is open after dark. Use LED lights in your pool to keep it fully lit and keep swimmers safe regardless of the lighting surrounding it. If you don’t have pool lighting or would like to update yours, consider remodeling your pool.
Store pool equipment safely – Pool equipment accidentally set out around a pool can be a tripping hazard and lead to unwanted problems. Make sure equipment is safely stored and away from swimmers or properly marked if it must be by the pool.
Check local safety codes – Your local authorities have safety codes to ensure pools, the pool deck, and even locker rooms are safe. We recommend double-checking that your pool spaces are safe and meet the required safety standards.

To keep your pool’s upkeep nice and easy, be sure to sign up for regular pool maintenance services. Not only will our team keep your pool clean, but they will also help protect the equipment and prevent damage.

Related Blog: Healthy Swimming 101

Follow Our Public Pool Safety Tips for a Fun Pool Season

Keep your public pool’s upkeep easy with commercial services from ASP—America’s Swimming Pool Company. Our team can bring your peace of mind with professional pool maintenance, and if you’re unsure of your pool’s safety, contact our team for a pool inspection. Get in touch with a team of professionals near you by requesting service online or calling (866) 253-0455.