[HISTORY: Derived from Ch. XVII of the 2003 Revised General
Ordinances of the Township of Willingboro. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this chapter,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Includes building or installing a new swimming pool or enlarging
an existing swimming pool or any of its facilities.
Includes any private swimming pool which remains in a particular
location at times other than during the five calendar months between
May 1 and October 1, whether or not disassembly or movement of such
pool is feasible and possible.
Includes any private swimming pool of a type entirely above
ground surface, with not more than 100 cubic feet of capacity, not
stationary or fixed, and capable of being moved or removed for storage
at will.[1]
Includes any pool of water designed to be used or in fact
utilized for swimming purposes by an individual for use by his household
and guests without fees and located on property owned, leased or otherwise
used and maintained by the owner of the swimming pool. It shall further
mean and include fill and draw, flow-through and recirculation pools
which are artificially constructed to provide recreational facilities
for swimming, bathing or wading and all buildings, equipment and appurtenances
thereto. It shall not include natural outdoor ponds, rivers or lakes,
or baths used for cleansing of the body or practice of the healing
arts.
Includes any private swimming pool which is removed from
the yard in which it is used or available for use and stored, whether
or not dismantling is included in such process, for a period of not
less than seven calendar months during each year, to include the months
from October 1 to May 1.
A.
Application for permit. Application for permits for the installation, construction, erection, placement or maintenance of any private swimming pool other than a portable swimming pool, as defined in § 333-1, shall be made to the Department of Inspections by the owner of the property upon which it is to be constructed or by the contractor who will construct the same. The application shall be accompanied by duplicate sets of plans, specifications and plot plans of the property. The plot plan shall show the accurate location of the proposed pool on the property, together with any proposed accessory buildings. The plot plan shall also show the location, height and type of all existing fencing or walks on the boundary lines of the property, together with the height and type of fencing or enclosure as may be required by this chapter.
B.
Permit fees. Applicants shall enclose with each application a permit fee, in accordance with the fee schedule as set forth in Chapter 150, Fees, of the Code of the Township of Willingboro, to be paid to the Township for a permit to erect any private swimming pool, other than a portable swimming pool, as defined in this chapter, which permit fee shall be exclusive of the permit fee required for the erection of any accessory structure or structures to be used in connection with such swimming pool.
C.
Approval by Township authorities. No permit for a private swimming
pool shall be issued by the Department of Inspections until the plans,
specifications and plot plan have been reviewed with and approved
by the Township Engineer.
All materials used in the construction of private swimming pools
shall be waterproof and so designed and constructed as to facilitate
emptying and cleaning and shall be maintained and operated in such
manner as to be clean and sanitary at any time when any such pool
shall be in use or at such times as the same shall be subject to use.
Inlets of the treated water shall be so located and spaced as to secure
satisfactory dispersion of the water throughout the pool and not to
interfere with draining, cleaning, and disinfecting of the bottom
and sides. Sand or earth bottoms shall not be used.
There shall be no physical connection between a potable public
or private water supply system and any private swimming pool below
the maximum waterline of the pool or to a recirculating or heating
system of said pool. The piping system shall be designed to circulate
the pool water through filtering equipment. Potable water shall feed
the pool with a downspout with an air gap not less than six inches
from the pool overflow level. Potable water siphons will not be permitted
to drain the aforesaid pools. The installation, repair and control
of plumbing facilities shall comply with the Plumbing Code of the
Township.
A.
All private swimming pools supplied by a public or quasi-public water
supply system and not equipped with facilities for the recirculation
and reuse of the pool water shall be subject to closure by order of
the Department of Inspections during any period of emergency water
shortage declared by a duly authorized public official.
B.
Whenever any private swimming pool is a hazard to the health of the
public, the Department of Inspections is authorized to summarily close
this pool upon the failure of the owner, lessee or occupant of the
premises upon which such pool is located to take satisfactory or reasonably
prompt action to abate such hazard to the health of the public forthwith
from the receipt of the notice to do so from the Department of Inspections
and keep such pool closed until no further hazard to the public exists,
subject to the right of appeal from the Department of Inspections
by the owner of the pool. The appeal, however, shall not stay the
action of the Department of Inspections.
All private swimming pools with a water depth of more than one
foot, hereafter constructed, installed, established or maintained
within the Township, shall be provided with the necessary equipment
to completely pump out or empty the pool or shall be emptied by providing
one drainage outlet, to be installed at the lowest point of the pool,
not in excess of three inches in diameter extending from the pool
to either a storm sewer, storm sewer catch basin, lawn watering system,
adequate dry well or sand filtering pit on the premises on which the
private swimming pool is located. The discharge of water from such
pools into a storm sewer shall be permitted only where the capacity
is adequate as determined by the Township Engineer. No private swimming
pool drain shall be connected into the sanitary sewer system. Pool
water may not be discharged at the curb or upon the surface of any
street. The discharge of the waters shall in no case cause or create
a nuisance to the abutting property or to the public.
Chlorine gas-bearing compounds in solution shall be required
as disinfecting agents for swimming pools, wading pools or portable
pools. The use of ozone, ultraviolet light or any other method wherein
a residual cannot be determined is prohibited. Not more than 15% of
the samples of water taken from any private pool shall contain more
than 250 pathogenic organisms per cubic centimeter or shall show positive
test (confirmed) for coliform in any of 10 cubic centimeter portions
of water at times when the pool is ready for use; provided, however,
that no less than three samples shall disclose the presence of a bacteria
content in excess of the limits described in this section. For the
purpose of this section, any number of samplings of water on a single
day shall be considered as one sample. The local Director of Health
is hereby authorized to take samples to ensure compliance with these
requirements. Free chlorine residuals and pH values shall be maintained
within ranges indicated below:
|
pH
|
Free Chlorine Residual
|
|---|---|
|
7.0 to 7.6
|
0.4 to 0.6 ppm
|
|
8.0 to 8.4
|
2.0 to 5.0 ppm
|
All private swimming pools now existing or hereafter constructed, installed, established or maintained, with the exception of portable swimming pools, shall be completely and continuously surrounded by a fence as described in § 155-3G. All portable swimming pools shall be enclosed by a fence as described in § 155-3G unless they shall be either emptied when not in use or unattended or covered with a suitable, strong, protective covering, securely fastened or locked in placed when not in use or unattended. A covering shall be considered to be of sufficient strength and securely fastened or locked in place if, when fastened or locked in place, it will support a minimum dead weight of 100 pounds.
A.
No permanent private swimming pool, as defined in § 333-1, or accessory building shall be erected or placed nearer to a street property line or nearer to a side or rear property line than would be allowed for buildings in the respective zoning districts as set forth in Chapter 370, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of Willingboro.
B.
No private swimming pool shall be constructed so that its drain outlet
shall connect in any manner to any sewage disposal system.
C.
No private swimming pool shall have an area in excess of 10% of the
area of the lot upon which it is constructed or installed.
No artificial lighting shall be maintained or operated in connection
with a private swimming pool in such a manner as to be a nuisance
or any annoyance to neighboring properties. Such lighting shall not
shine directly upon any abutting property. No unshielded lights shall
be permitted.
A.
Abatement of nuisances. Any nuisance which may exist or develop in
or in consequence of or in connection with any private swimming pool
shall be abated and/or removed by the owners.
B.
Mechanical defects and supervision. Whenever any private swimming
pool, by reason of mechanical defects or lack of supervision, is,
in the opinion of the Department of Inspections, polluted and detrimental
to health, it shall be summarily closed.
C.
Compliance with Township ordinances. The Department of Inspections may cause any private swimming pool, as defined in this chapter, to be inspected for compliance with the Plumbing Code of the Township, and any such pool shall meet all requirements of Chapter 370, Zoning, of the Code of the Township of Willingboro.
D.
Operation and maintenance. Any accessory buildings such as locker
rooms, bathhouses, cabanas, shower rooms, toilets, runways or any
other physical facility or equipment incident to the maintenance and
operation of any of those described in this section shall be in conformance
with the rules and regulations of both the Department of Inspections
and the Township Council.
[Added 2-6-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-2[1]]
A.
Application for permit. An application for the demolition or filling
in of any in-ground swimming pool, both concrete and vinyl, requires
a Uniform Construction Code Building permit prior to the demolition
or fill in of the pool.
B.
Pool demolition requirements:
(1)
All concrete must be broken into pieces no larger than three to four
inches to minimize air voids if it is intended to be mixed in with
the clean fill.
(2)
All steel reinforcement must be removed.
(3)
All vinyl liner material must be removed.
(4)
Large pieces of concrete and steel must be removed from the site
and are not permitted to be used as back fill materials.
(5)
Any in-ground piping for the filtration system must be removed.
(6)
Any in-ground wiring or electrical conduits for lighting and filtration
must be removed.
(7)
Any in-ground gas piping for pool heaters must be removed.
(8)
Only clean fill can be used and a minimum of six inches of topsoil
must cover the surface to be brought back to grade.
(9)
Compaction of 95% of material is recommended to minimize settling.
(10)
Must provide receipts for the removal/disposal of concrete.
(11)
Must provide receipts for the clean fill material.
A.
Enforcement officials. It shall be the duty of the Department of
Inspections to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B.
Compliance with health regulations. Every private
swimming pool constructed, installed, established or maintained in
the Township shall at all times comply with the requirements of the
Department of Inspections. Any nuisance or hazard which may exist
or develop in consequence of or in connection with any such private
swimming pool shall be forthwith abated and removed by the owner,
lessee or occupant of the premises on which the pool is located upon
receipt of notice from the Department of Inspections.
[Amended 2-6-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-2]
C.
Inspection. The owner or operator of any private swimming pool within
the Township shall allow the Department of Inspections access to any
private swimming pool and appurtenances thereto for the purpose of
inspection to ascertain compliance with this chapter at all reasonable
times.
[Amended 2-6-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-2]
[Amended 3-5-2013 by Ord.
No. 2013-1]
Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to one or more
of the following: a fine not exceeding $2,000, a term of imprisonment
not exceeding 90 days, or a period of community service not exceeding
90 days. Each day a particular violation continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
