Life Saving Victoria provides clarification over pool water quality requirements

Life Saving Victoria (LSV) has provided information pertaining to water quality requirements at public aquatic facilities to the Herald Sun, following the reporting of elevated levels at two large public aquatic facilities in Melbourne’s north and southeast.

The information details the provisions in the respective legislation and department of health guidelines, as well as information specific to industry standards, best practice and testing and reporting at the named facilities.

In the advice, LSV also confirmed that systematic assessments at both facilities - dating back to their respective openings - have continually demonstrated adherence to the Victorian Government - Public health and wellbeing regulations (2019) and Department of Health Water quality guidelines for public aquatic facilities. The Regulations, enforced by the Victorian Department of Health, set stringent requirements for systematic pool water treatment, monitoring, testing, reporting and corrective actions.

LSV Senior Manager - Aquatic Industry Services, Alek Olszewski explained “each of the pools provided appropriate evidence that they adhered to the components articulated in the regulations and guidelines, at each independent assessment.

“The assessment provisions cover the systematic internal water testing arrangements, as well as the completion of external water quality analysis.

“Additionally, the assessment records indicate that the facilities were able to demonstrate appropriate training records, signage provisions, access controls and both operational and response policies and procedures, inclusive of a water quality risk management plan.”

The Herald Sun’s investigation reported heterotrophic plate count (HPC) readings of 160 CFU/mL at one of the tested facilities and 120 CFU/mL at the other, each above the recommended threshold of 100 CFU/mL. However, health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Victorian Department of Health, confirm that HPC is not a direct indicator of health risk.

The WHO considers HPC levels below 500 CFU/mL acceptable in drinking water, meaning that HPC readings of 120-160 CFU/mL in pool water, which undergoes continuous chlorination and secondary disinfection, would not pose an immediate health risk. Despite commentary on social media, the report findings did not find either e. coli or pathogenic bacteria, meaning there was no evidence of faecal contamination or increased disease risk.

With training, policies and procedures articulated through the Royal Life Saving Society - Australia Guidelines for Safe Pool )perations, which both supports and aligns to the regulations and Department of Health guidelines, as well as evidence of comprehensive and systematic testing and assessments, it is the view of LSV that the most immediate improvement opportunity is community awareness and improved public health, rather than changes to treatment or operational practices.

LSV has long supported Victorian Department of Health Healthy swimming campaign which urges facility patrons to:

• Don’t swim if you have diarrhoea.

• Shower and wash with soap before swimming. Make sure your bottom is clean.

• Wash your hands with soap after using the toilet or changing a nappy.

• Only change nappies in nappy change areas.

• Avoid swallowing pool water.

Support resources

• Public health and wellbeing regulations (2019)

• Water quality guidelines for public aquatic facilities

• Healthy swimming campaign

• Water quality risk management plan

• Safer public pools - Code of practice