Intro to Swimming Pools

Swimming pools and water features are valuable amenities in multi-family communities—but they also require knowledgeable oversight and daily attention. This class provides a practical, real-world overview of why water features are included in residential communities, how they are built and operated, and what it takes to keep them safe, compliant, and enjoyable for residents.

Participants will explore common water features such as pools, spas, and play fountains, along with the fundamentals of the 3 C’s: Chemistry, Cleaning, and Circulation. The course covers common filtration and disinfection systems and examines key risks associated with aquatic environments, including slips and falls, electrical hazards, chemical storage, disease, entrapment, and drowning.

The class also explains who is responsible for managing water feature risk, from Certified Pool Operators (CPOs) and county health departments to major regulatory and standards organizations including OSHA, CDC, CPSC, PHTA, NSF, and others.

To reinforce learning, participants will visit a local apartment community to observe a real multi-family pool environment and conduct hands-on pool water testing. The course emphasizes practical actions anyone can take to reduce risk—maintaining controlled access, ensuring safety equipment and signage are in place, keeping pool areas clean and organized, monitoring water clarity and bather load, assisting with readings and testing, observing patron safety, and knowing when to close the pool due to weather or other hazards.

Do you have pool questions? Bring them to this class!