Recreational Water Facilities
The Boone County Health Department strives to ensure that the numerous water recreational facilities (pools, spas, water parks, etc…) existing within our territory are operated and maintained to ensure optimum public safety for their thousands of users. The Boone County Health Department works with facility owners/operators to aid them in creating a safe recreational environment for their guests:
- Review plans of all new and remodeled water recreational facilities
- Educate water recreational facilities operators about health and safety issues
- Conduct routine inspections
- Investigate reports of illness and potential safety hazards
A Recreational Water Facility is defined as: A body of water that is under the control of a person that has been modified, improved, constructed or installed, for the purpose of public swimming or bathing. It includes, but is not limited to, bathing beaches; swimming, wading, and diving pools; water slides, spray pools, lazy rivers, and wave pools; spas, hot tubs, therapeutic pools, hydrotherapy pools, and whirlpools; facilities operated by communities, subdivisions, apartment complexes, condominiums, clubs, camps, schools, institutions, parks, mobile home parks, hotels, and similar recreational and public facilities.
If you are constructing a new recreational water facility, you will need to contact the State Health Department and send plans to obtain a permit to modify, improve, construct, or install a recreational water facility for public swimming or bathing.
If it is a pre-existing facility. You need to contact your Local Health Department and send plans prior to opening, to schedule an inspection of the recreational water facility to obtain a permit.
The Boone County Health Department also relies on the public and the owner/operators to educate themselves about proper water safety and apply their knowledge at their establishment.