SWIMMING POOL INSPECTION PROGRAM :: POOL SEASON GUIDELINES

January 27, 2008

Dear Owner/Operator,

The purpose of this letter is to make you aware of fee and ordinance changes, approved by the City of Arlington City Council that became effective on January 15, 2008.

Effective January 15, 2008, the following rates have changed:

NOTE: All permit renewal notices will show the fee due as $200.00. To take advantage of the permit savings you must contact Community Services at 817-459-6777 and arrange a pool inspection. If the pool passes an inspection prior to May 1st, you will receive the saving by bringing a copy of the inspection to our office and paying $150.00. An adjustment will be made to your account showing “paid in full”. We will not contact you to arrange an inspection that leads to an early savings discount. You must contact us.

Additionally, a re-inspection fee has been approved by City Council in the amount of $100.00. This fee will only apply when a second follow-up is required to verify correction of health violations. Example = Critical pool violations are observed during a routine inspection and a re-inspection time is set for seven days. The same critical violations are observed uncorrected during the follow-up inspection. Any additional follow-up inspections required seeking correction of the same pool violations would be at the rate of $100.00 per follow-up inspection.

As in past years you must provide an annual letter from a licensed electrician stating that pool electrical systems, including the pool lights and GFCI, are in working order. This letter must be on the electrical company’s letterhead.

Effective January 15th, 2008 the City of Arlington City Council has approved the following addition to Article VII, Section 7.12(C):

“Each public and semi-public pool shall be required to post signage at all public pool entrances stating “All violations should be reported to the Department of Community Services – Health Division at 817-459-6777.” Signage should be in at least two contrasting colors and lettering should be no smaller than 1 inch in height.”

Enclosed is a list of agencies that are offering classes that lead to the Pool Operator Certification. The operator must register with our department after successfully completing the training. Your pool must be maintained by a person registered with the City of Arlington. You may register via mail. A copy of the certificate awarded at the end of the class must be included with the application. The application is available for download at www.arlingtontx.gov/health/pdf/permit_pooloperatorregistration.

Routine inspections may start as early as April. Any items not in compliance at the time of inspection could be subject to citations. You may review the State Pool Standards at www.tdh.state.tx.us/beh/gs/pools. You may review the City of Arlington pool ordinance at www.arlingtontx.gov/health/pool_ordinance.html.

Our workforce is extremely limited. May pool operators wish to open their pool over the Memorial Day weekend. If this is you goal please have you pool in compliance and schedule an inspection early. Many operators call to schedule their inspection the week before Memorial Day weekend. Our staff resources cannot always accommodate the demand.

Let’s work together to assure that this is a safe pool season for the citizens of Arlington. Please contact me directly if you have questions.

Thank you,
Barbara Martindale
Field Operations Manager
Department of Community Services
Health Division
City of Arlington
Barbara.Martindale@arlingtontx.gov
817-459-5982 Fax 817-459-6772