Those provisions listed in the Swimming Pool Code of New Jersey (1970),
that are specified below shall apply to bathing places:
A.
Diving stands and boards: Subsections 4.1, 4.3, 4.4 and
4.5.
B.
Wading pool: Section 5.
C.
Dressing rooms and bathhouses: Section 10.
D.
Showers: Section 11.
E.
Toilets and lavatories: Section 12.
F.
Emergency equipment: Section 13.
G.
Supervision and maintenance: Section 14.
H.
Water depth requirement for diving purposes: Subsection
3.5.
Since the standard of safety for the waters of outdoor bathing places
cannot be stated in any absolute values, the enforcing official must determine
the relative safety by means of:
A.
Collection of samples. Sampling shall be the responsibility
of the bathing beach director or operator. This includes maintenance of field
data, submission of samples to a laboratory and transmission of test reports
to the Board.
(1)
Location. Samples of lake bathing waters shall be taken
at the inlet(s) and bathing areas. Samples shall also be obtained at outlets
when sufficient discharge is occurring. Additional samples shall also be obtained
at any critical points subject to known or possible pollution from developments,
individual dwellings, streams or other sources.
(2)
Sampling frequency. A program of sampling shall be instituted
at least one week before Memorial Day and shall continue at weekly intervals
until the end of the bathing season.
(3)
Time of sampling. Whenever possible, samples shall be
obtained during or soon after peak bathing load periods.
(4)
Method of sampling. Samples shall be obtained at depths
representative of the body of water in use for bathing. Method of sampling
shall be in accordance with procedures stated in Standard Methods for the
Examination of Water and Wastewater, current edition.
(5)
Field data. Physical conditions noted at the time of
sampling shall be recorded on a suitable form, including sample number, name
of collector, source, location, time of sampling, water and air temperature,
wind direction and velocity, bathing load and the possible effect of recent
rainfall on bacteriological quality.
B.
Bacteriological examinations.
(1)
Laboratories. Bacteriological analyses of bathing lake
waters shall be made by laboratories acceptable to the State Health Department.
In addition, all laboratories doing such analyses shall be thoroughly familiar
with all requirements contained herein.
(2)
Number of portions and dilutions. Although the number
of portions and dilutions used will depend on the expected character of the
water, it is recommended that three portions at the following dilutions be
used: 10.0, 1.0 and 0.1 milliliters.
(3)
Method of reporting. The number of positive findings
shall be reported in terms of most probable number per 100 milliliters (MPN
per 100 ml).
(4)
Total bacteria determination. As an aid to interpretation
of the results, agar plate counts shall be made in accordance with Standard
Methods. One milliliter shall be planted on at least two plates, and the resultant
counts averaged arithmetically.
(5)
Chemical analysis. The pH values of every sample shall
be determined as an aid to interpretation of bacteriological results.
(6)
Physical analysis. Determination of turbidity, color
and odor should also be made as an aid to the interpretation of quality of
bathing lake waters. Such determinations shall be in accordance with Standard
Methods.
C.
Test results.
(1)
The minimum bacteriological standard of safety shall
be an average coliform index of 2,400 per 100 milliliters, average for a representative
number of samples taken at one time and repeated over a period of 24 hours.
Should the analyses show a high bacteriological content, the water shall be
declared unsafe.
(2)
Bacteriological analyses showing an average coliform
index of 1,000 to 2,400 per 100 milliliters shall require the enforcing official
to evaluate carefully the condition of the bathing place and the prior results
of analyses to see if there has been a drastic change in the condition of
the water. He shall declare the water unsafe if in his judgment there appears
to be a health hazard.
(3)
Along with bacteriological analyses, the Health Official
shall inspect the condition of the bathing place. If conditions exist which
jeopardize the safe condition of the water or the health of the public, he
shall declare the bathing place unsafe.
Whenever a bathing place is declared unsafe by an enforcing official
or the waters of the bathing place are declared unsafe, the operator, after
official notification by the enforcing official, shall close the facility
to the public until such time as it is again declared safe.
A.
Small flowing through bathing places. Disinfection is
desirable to counteract pollution introduced by bathers. Hypochlorite in solution
may be added to the water inlet or at various points over the water area.
Chlorination of the water inlet may be continuous. Several applications of
disinfectant over the water area during the bathing period are usually preferable
to one application. Even with disinfection, the same governing factors should
be considered in arriving at maximum bathing loads in small outdoor places
as presented under Swimming Pools, and also the same limits for chlorine residuals
are recommended as for swimming pools.
B.
Large bodies of water. The disinfection of relatively
large bodies of water by use of a chloroboat is recommended. Bathing areas
several acres in area may be disinfected satisfactorily by the use of extensive
piping systems along the water bottom either for distribution of chlorine
disinfecting solutions or for distribution of large volumes of pumped water
drawn from the bathing area and disinfected in the pump suction with chlorine
or chlorine and ammonia in what is practically a recirculation system. Where
such disinfection is feasible, the same contents of chlorine and chloramine
residuals are recommended as have been proposed for swimming pools. Chlorine
and ammonia are more practical for application with large outdoor bathing
areas. The use of disinfecting agents may be developed particularly to guard
against dangers from pollution by bathers themselves in the densely populated
bathing areas which are not subject to major water changes through the action
of tides and currents.
No person shall locate, construct or alter an outdoor bathing place
until the plans therefor shall have approved by the Board.