The state of Florida has long been considered a vacation and retirement  destination for the rest of the United States and the entire globe. With more  than 8,000 miles of shoreline and 1,300 miles of beaches, Florida’s natural water vistas are rivaled only by an abundance of swimming pools.  Carvin Digiovanni, the senior director of standard and technical services for  the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) based in Alexandria, Virginia noted a total of  1,080,955 iin-ground pools in Florida, according to 2011 statistics. Those figures have  likely increased over the last year; add in 617,917 hot tubs or spas and you  have a very impressive amount of recreational water requiring maintenance and  monitoring.  

 A Must-Have Amenity

 At least one swimming pool is considered a must-have amenity for all condominium  properties in Florida, and particularly properties located in the southern  quadrant of the state where the climate is tropical to sub-tropical all year  long. Pools create an atmosphere and an ambiance for any property. They are  often a backdrop for social and recreational events and meetings. Beach lovers  frequently favor pools for a refreshing swim—minus sand and harsh salt water—followed by a relaxing soak in the spa. Pool exercise classes, or water  aerobics, are another great source of recreation, and hot tubs and spas offer  therapeutic relief for a host of ailments, as well as an enjoyable relaxation  experience. When family and guests come to visit, an on-site pool offers a  convenient recreational outlet for all ages. Even a non-swimmer can enjoy a  barbecue or cocktail party when the setting includes a lush pool landscape  decorated for the event.  

 The majority of Florida’s condo pools are in-ground; above-ground pools are comparatively rare. They are  a possible alternative to a traditional pool for residential homes, but not an  optimal choice for condominium properties or public facilities, partly because  they're not nearly as durable as in-ground models, and because they may also  prove difficult to modify for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities  Act (ADA).  

 Indoor pools are more prevalent than the above-ground variety, and are seen most  often within facilities with health clubs and gyms, and/or limited outdoor  property. Indoor pools should pose no more of a challenge to modify for ADA  requirements than outdoor pools. New construction will not be awarded a  certificate of occupancy without meeting all ADA requirements, and any  non-compliant facilities may face direct legal action by the state, and civil  lawsuits from individuals.  

 Accessibility & Safety Issues

 New ADA guidelines for swimming pools were issued in March of 2011. Requirements  apply to existing and new pools, wading pools, and spas (in-ground and  portable) and deal with accessibility for all people to include ramps and  lifts.  

 Within the last several years, another major law was passed to ensure the health  and safety of anyone utilizing a public or commercial swimming pool or spa. The  Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA), also known as the the  Pool & Spa Safety Act, was introduced by Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-23,  and signed into law by President George Bush in December 2007. Designed to  prevent injuries and fatalities caused by swimmers and soakers being trapped by  the suction of underwater drains, the law became effective on December 19,  2008. The law was named after the seven-year-old granddaughter of former  Secretary of State James Baker III, who died in June of 2002 when the suction  from a spa drain trapped her underwater. Under the law, all public pools and  spas must have ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 compliant drain covers installed and a  second anti-entrapment system installed, when there is a single main drain  other than an unblockable drain.  

 Maintenance, Training & Education

 While a condo resident may never realize the amount of due diligence required to  keep pool waters safe, properly balanced, and crystal clear at all times,  managers and boards should know better. Laurie Batter, of BatterUp!  Productions, handles public relations for the National Swimming Pool Foundation  (NSPF).  

 She stresses having a Certified Pool Operator (CPO) as the first step in quality  swimming pool maintenance. The NSPF, (www.nspf.org) a leading non-profit trainer, offers the Certified Pool/Spa Operators  certification course and the Pool Operator primer courses. Courses are also  available through another non-profit, the National Recreation and Park  Association (www.nrpa.org). “Preventing drowning, illness and injury are the most important goals when  maintaining a pool,” says Batter, “but maintaining a pool also requires a little knowledge of chemistry,  microbiology, public health, engineering and math.”  

 A trained CPO is required by local, state and federal laws to test pool and spa  water three times daily, and to record the readings in a log that remains  readily available for inspections by the Florida Department of Health and Human  Services. When the Department of Health and Human Safety inspects a pool for  compliance, they begin with the gate and security equipment, and frequently end  with the record books and logs. The code for safety and general operations is  twenty seven pages long, and CPOs must renew their licenses every three years.  

 Michael Cooper owns Cooper Tampa Bay Pool Services Inc. in the greater Tampa Bay  area. His company provides complete cleaning and pool maintenance for  condominium complexes of all sizes, with a variety of pools and spas. “Many of the sites we service have a two-three page checklist with over 50 items  to inspect on each page.”  

 A CPO on-site at each location checks the pool water for chlorine levels and pH  readings and marks the logs between Cooper’s weekly or bi-weekly checkups. “The CPO must have passed a state certified test to obtain the needed license,  and the license of the person actually performing the task must be displayed. On-site maintenance staff may be expected to remove debris from the water,  vacuum the pool floor, and brush the pool walls and steps. Ladders and  handrails should be inspected as well,” states Cooper.  

 Cooper favors daily in-depth maintenance for the pools he services. “On any given day you could have over a hundred people swim. “That adds to the difficulty of maintaining chemical balance, and also makes the  filters clog quicker. If it rains, pools fill up too high, and 20 kids doing  cannonballs cause a lot of water loss, either way the water does not properly circulate; if it is sunny, the chlorine breaks down  quicker. Good maintenance requires daily checks to stay ahead of the weather  and volume of usage.”  

 Nancy Intini is the park director for Oakstead, a large residential development  in Pasco County, north of Tampa, and part of the area Cooper services.  Oakstead, however does not employ an outside pool company to service the  165,000 gallon complex pool, and the 7,500 gallon children’s pool. Intini is a CPO herself , and recently arranged training for a member of  the maintenance staff to also become licensed. “It makes good business sense to have a member of the maintenance staff trained  as a CPO. He is already available 32-34 hours a week.” Another proactive accomplishment for Intini was the conversion of the pool to a  salt filtration system. “The pool requires fewer chemicals, it is healthier for swimmers, and the water  is gentler.”  

 While a salt system may also be more economical, Intini insists that is not  sufficient reason to change out a system. “ The system runs 24/7 and filters, and cells need replacing every 18–24 months, plus the law still requires a chlorine backup. “The real benefit is health, she says. We seldom have a complaint on ear  infections now.”  

 The NSPF, according to Batter, cites several safety check items a CPO will  include to ensure a pool is running properly. In addition to the three times  daily water chemistry checks, Batter lists maintaining pool water at or below  104 degrees F, and keeping filter pressure constant and water circulating. “The pool rules should be posted and clearly visible, and the bottom of the pool  should also be clearly visible,” Batter advises.  

 Both Cooper and Intini value a good pool vacuum as a favorite tool, and both  have seen their share of maintenance challenges. Cooper has fished bats, live  frogs, crawfish, turtles and snakes from pools and spas in addition to articles  of clothing, towels, batteries, and bathing suits. Cooper serviced one property  where children had put soap in the hot tub and turned on the jets. “The suds were 15 feet high, and took a long time to clean up.” He agrees with Intini the worst cleanup call is a 'fecal incident'.  

 “We require swim diapers for children and adults who routinely wear them,” says Intini. “An incident will shut the pool down for hours since the water must be filtered  and re-circulated at least three times. Pool closure for 24 hours is  recommended.”  

 Scott Eure is a service manager for All Pools and Spa Center in North Miami. All  Pools is family-owned and operated with a forty-two year history of pool  servicing expertise. Eure personally has ten years of experience in the field  and sees the same trends and challenges as Intini and Cooper. Eure stresses the  need for daily checks on water levels, temperature and chemicals. In addition,  Eure recommends weekly servicing according to the volume of usage a pool  receives. Thorough cleaning must also include filters at least once a month or  more often. “Sand filters will require back-washing and diatomaceous earth (DE) filters  require the highest level of maintenance, while providing the best possible  filtration, removing debris down to 3 to 5 microns in size.  

 “Seasonal prep is limited in South Florida, and pool decks generally need to be  resurfaced every 10-12 years based on usage. Diamond Brite, a mixture of quartz and plaster is the preferred product for pool resurfacing. Like Intini, in the Tampa Bay area, Eure  sees a salt system as “user friendly.”  

 “Chlorine is made from salt, and a salt system can reduce the need to add extra  chlorine; it allows the chlorine levels to remain constant. Hot tubs and spas  are obviously hot, and things can get out of balance quickly and encourage  bacteria growth. For an elderly population, this can pose a serious risk for  illness and even death.” Eure is right on target—there is a lawsuit currently pending in Plant City, Florida due to a death from  Legionnaires’ disease. The Health Department discovered 'the Legionnaire' bacterium in a fountain in the gated retirement center. Three residents became ill and one  died as a result of exposure to the bacteria.  

 In addition to daily routine pool maintenance, a CPO must know and comply with  all codes, regulations and laws. Additional training and information is  available on the Florida Swimming Pool Association website,  www.FloridaPoolPro.biz and the National Swimming Pool Foundation site,  http://nspfcart.eproacademy.org.  

 A swimming pool is an asset to your community and its residents, and an amenity that everyone should be able to enjoy. A knowledgeable staff and a proactive approach to maintenance and upkeep can be the best defense against potential problems, and will keep your pool in good shape for many years to come.     

 Anne Childers is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to The South  Florida Cooperator.