1. (a) Disinfectant equipment replacement for existing pools. When equipment is replaced on existing pools and spas and the equipment falls within the scope of ANSI and NSFI Standard-50-1996 (ANSI/NSFI-50-1996), the equipment shall meet this standard.

2. (b) Disinfectant equipment and practices at new pools and spas. Disinfectant equipment and practices at new pools and spas shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) Disinfectant equipment and installation shall comply with ANSI/NSFI-50-1996, "Circulation System Components and Related Materials for Swimming Pools, Spas/Hot Tubs."
   2. (2) Disinfectant feed systems shall have the capacity to maintain up to 5 parts per million chlorine or approved equivalent for outdoor pools and up to 3 parts per million chlorine or approved equivalent for indoor pools, under all conditions of intended use. The disinfectant feed system at a new outdoor spa shall have the capacity to maintain up to 8 parts per million chlorine or approved equivalent and up to 5 parts per million chlorine or approved equivalent in a new indoor spa.

3. (c) Disinfectant equipment and practices at new and existing pools and spas. Disinfectant equipment and practices at new and existing pools and spas shall comply with the following:

   1. (1) A chlorine or bromine residual or other method of disinfectant approved by the Department shall be maintained in the pool or spa water to meet the requirements of §265.204(a) of this title (relating to Water Quality (Required water quality for new and existing pools and spas)). Disinfection equipment shall be selected and installed so that continuous and effective disinfection can be secured under all conditions. The use of elemental gas chlorine shall be in compliance with §265.198 of this title (relating to Gas Chlorination).
   2. (2) The pool or spa water shall be continuously disinfected by a disinfecting agent whose residual can be easily measured by simple and accurate field tests.
   3. (3) Personnel responsible for the operation of the disinfection agent and other potentially hazardous chemicals shall be properly trained as required in §§295.1-295.8 and §295.10 of this title (relating to Hazard Communication). Protective equipment and clothing, including rubber gloves and goggles, and any other protective gear and safety information shall be provided as required in §§295.1-295.8 and §295.10 of this title.
   4. (4) Disinfection or other chemicals and feed equipment shall be stored in such a manner that pool and spa users shall not have access to such facilities and/or chemicals. Dry chemicals shall be stored off the floor in a dry, above ground level room and protected against flooding or wetting from floors, walls, and ceiling.
   5. (5) All chemical bulk and day tanks shall be clearly labeled to indicate the tank's contents.
   6. (6) Solution containers shall be provided with a cover to prevent the entrance of dust, insects, and other contaminants.
   7. (7) It is recommended that day tanks be provided to minimize the possibility of severely overfeeding liquid chemicals.
   8. (8) Chlorine compounds shall not be stored in the same area as petroleum products as required in §§295.1-295.8 and §295.10 of this title.
   9. (9) If needed in order to maintain proper chemical levels, chlorine, pH or other chemical control equipment which automatically adjusts chemical feed based on demand, shall be provided in order to meet §265.204(a) of this title.
   10. (10) If ancillary non-chlorine or non-bromine disinfectants are used, they shall be used in addition to chlorine or bromine or other approved equivalent, see §265.204(a) of this title.
   11. (11) Disinfectant agents for pools and spa shall be registered for use by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
   12. (12) Supplemental hand feeding of disinfectant or other chemicals directly into the pool or spa shall not occur when the pool or spa is occupied by users.
   13. (13) Pool and spa skimmer baskets shall not be used as chemical feeders.
   14. (14) It is recommended that an automated chemical control system that monitors disinfectant and pH be installed to assure constant adequate disinfectant and pH levels and to preclude overfeeding.

4. (d) Chemical feeders at new and existing pools and spas. Chemical feeders at new and existing pools and spas shall:

   1. (1) be installed, maintained and operated in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications;
   2. (2) be installed so that the gas or solution is introduced downstream from the filter and heater and, if possible, at a point lower than the heater outlet fitting or according to manufacturer's instructions;
   3. (3) incorporate failure-proof features so that the chemical cannot feed into the pool or spa, the pool or spa piping system, water supply system, or the pool and spa enclosure if equipment or power fails. Chemical feed pumps shall be wired so they cannot operate unless there is adequate return flow to properly disburse the chemical throughout the pool or spa as designed;
   4. (4) be regulated to ensure constant feed with varying supply or back pressure;
   5. (5) be designed to prevent siphoning from the recirculation system to the solution container and to prevent the siphoning of the chemical solution into the pool or spa;
   6. (6) have a graduated and clearly marked dosage adjustment to provide flows from full capacity to 10% of such capacity. The device shall be capable of continuous delivery within 10% of the dosage at any setting; and
   7. (7) be provided with make-up water supply lines to chemical feeder solution containers that have an air gap or other acceptable cross-connection control.

Source Note:The provisions of this §265.197 adopted to be effective June 17, 1999, 24 TexReg 4365.