The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has released the first edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), a voluntary guideline based on scientific research and best practices to improve health and safety at aquatic facilities.
In 2005, local, state, and federal public health officials and representatives of the aquatic sector requested the CDC to develop a model, evidence-based code. Since 2007, the CDC has led a national collaborative effort to develop the MAHC. Going forward, the CDC will work with national partners to periodically update the code to ensure it remains current with the latest industry advances and public health findings.
The recently released 371-page MAHC (The Annex) includes 14 different sections: preface; user guide; glossary; contamination burden; disinfection and water quality; facility design and construction; facility maintenance and operation; hygiene facilities; lifeguarding and bather supervision; monitoring and testing; operator training; regulatory; risk management and safety; ventilation and air quality; fecal/vomit/blood contamination response; and recirculation systems and filtration.
In the United States, no federal agency regulates the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of public swimming pools and other public recreational water venues. All pool codes are independently written and enforced by state and/or local agencies. While the MAHC is not federal law, it can be used by state and local governments to create a pool code that will help reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and injuries.
The Conference for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC), a nonprofit organization, was created in 2013 to support and improve the MAHC by gathering input and advice from industry stakeholders. CMAHC members will suggest MAHC revisions for CDC’s final determination.
For those interested in learning more about the code, the CDC is hosting an organizational meeting for the CMAHC which will be held in conjunction with the World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 8. For more information on this event, contact susan.wichmann@nspf.org. To review the MAHC in its entirety click here.
