HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinances - MC-07-940 - 11/12/2007 - AMEND AND UPDATE MC CH 22 SWIMMING POOLSOrdinance No. MC-07- 940
An Ordinance providing for updates to
Chapter 22 of the City of McHenry Municipal Code.
BE IT ORDAINED by the CITY COUNCIL of the CITY OF MCHENRY, McHenry County,
Illinois as follows:
SECTION 1: That Chapter 22 Swimming Pools of the City of McHenry Municipal Code is
hereby repealed and replaced with the following:
MUNICIPAL CODE
CHAPTER 22
SWIMMING POOLS
Sec. 22-1. Defined. (MC-06-890)
The term "swimming pool" is hereby defined as a receptacle for water fabricated from man-made
materials and having a depth capacity of twenty-four inches or more, which is intended for the
immersion or partial immersion of persons, and including all appurtenant equipment.
(a) Permanent. A swimming pool shall be considered permanent if located in the same location
on a lot for more than six months in any calendar year.
(b) Temporary. A swimming pool shall be considered temporary if it is located in the same area
or different location on a lot for six months or less in any calendar year, and
1) can be readily disassembled for storage during winter months and reassembled
to its original integrity; or
2) can be easily moved or carried by hand.
Sec. 22-2. Compliance required.*
It shall be unlawful to construct, maintain, install or enlarge any swimming pool in the City except in
compliance with all the provisions of this Chapter.
Sec. 22-3. Permit required. (MC-06-890)
A permit shall be obtained from the City for the construction, installation, enlargement or alteration of
any permanent, private residential swimming pool and appurtenant equipment. A temporary swimming
;pool, as defined herein, shall not require a permit and shall be exempt from the requirements of this
Chapter.
Sec. 22-4. Drawings, plans required.
(a) All drawings and plans for the construction, installation, enlargement or alterations of any
swimming pool and appurtenances shall first be presented to the Community
Development Department for examination and approval as to proper location and
construction.
* Cross Reference - Permits generally, Ch. 12.
(b) All plans and drawings shall be drawn to a scale of not less than one -eighth of an inch to
the foot, on paper, in ink, or by some process that will not fade or obliterate. All
distances and dimensions shall be accurately figured and drawings made explicit and
complete, showing the lot line, and including information pertaining to the pool, walk,
and fence construction, water supply system, drainage and water disposal systems, and all
appurtenances pertaining to the swimming pool. Detail plans and vertical elevations shall
also be provided in accordance with the Building Code.
(c) All private, residential swimming pools, appurtenances, water supply and drainage
systems shall be constructed in conformity with the approved plans.
Sec. 22-5. Permit fees.
The fee for a permit for the erection or construction of a swimming pool shall be as prescribed in
Section 7-3 A(8) of this Code.
Sec. 22-6. Inspection required.
The Community Development Department shall, from time to time, inspect any swimming pool to
determine whether or not the provisions of the ordinances regarding health, sanitation and safety
applicable thereto are being complied with.
Sec. 22-7. Water supply.
No source of water other than that secured from the City water works distribution system, if available,
shall be used in swimming pools.
See.22-8. Location.
No portion of a swimming pool outside a building shall be located at a distance less than eight feet from
any side or rear property line, or building line. Pumps, filters and pool water disinfection equipment
installations shall be located at a distance not less than eight feet from any side property line.
Sec. 22-9. Recirculation required.
All swimming pools shall be of the recirculation type in which circulation of the water is maintained
through the pool by pumps; the water drawn from the pool being clarified and disinfected before being
returned to the pool.
Sec. 22-10. Recirculation system and appurtenances.
(a) The swimming pools' recirculation systems shall consist of pumping equipment, hair and
lint catcher, filters, together with the necessary pipe connections to the pool inlets and
outlets, facilities and pipe connections necessary for backwashing filters, and facilities
and equipment for disinfecting the pool water.
(b) Every swimming pool shall have a recirculation system with an hourly capacity equal to
the pool volume divided by eight.
(c) The recirculation system pump shall have sufficient capacity to discharge the volume of
water required for an eight -hour turnover of the pool against the maximum head in the
recirculation system.
(d) The pump used for backwashing filters shall have sufficient capacity to provide a filter
backwash rate of at least twelve gallons per minute per square foot of filter area.
(e) A hair and lint catcher or strainer shall be installed on the suction side of the circulation
pump to prevent hair, lint and other extraneous matter from reaching the pump and filters.
Hair and lint catcher shall be so designed that it -can be easily dismantled for the cleaning
and inspection and shall be so located as to be easily accessible for cleaning. The design
features shall be as follows:
1. Water passes through the strainer from the outside;
2. The strainer shall be made of non -corrosive material;
3. The width or diameter of the strainer openings shall not be more than 1/8 inch;
4. The area of the strainer openings shall be at least five times the cross -sectional
area of the inlet pipe to the strainer.
(f) Recirculation systems shall contain rapid pressure filters. Sufficient filter area shall be
provided to filter the entire contents of the pool in 18 hours at the rate of not more than 3
gallons per square foot of filter area per minute. The filter backwashing facilities shall be
sufficient to backwash at a rate of 12 gallons per minute per square foot of filter area. All
backwash water and effluents shall be discharged to the sewer through an indirect
connection. Pressure filters shall be equipped with readily accessible air relief valves,
loss of head or pressure gauges on the inlet and outlet pipes, and an access head or hole
large enough to permit inspection, maintenance and repair work. Sight glasses that can
be easily removed for cleaning shall be provided in the effluent line from the filter units.
(g) Equipment shall be provided for the disinfection of all pool water. Any disinfection
method using materials other than chlorine compounds shall be subject to the approval of
the Director of Public Works. Disinfection equipment installed for the use of chlorine
compounds shall have sufficient capacity to maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of
0.5 parts per million. The disinfectant shall be introduced into the recirculation system
ahead of the filters.
(h) Gaseous chlorination systems shall not be used as a disinfection method for pool water.
Sec. 22-11. Inlets.
(a) Swimming pool water recirculation system inlet shall be located so as to produce so far
as possible uniform circulation of water throughout the pool without the existence of
dead spots and to carry pool bottom deposits to the outlets, and shall discharge at a
minimum depth of ten inches below the pool overflow level. A minimum of one
recirculation system inlet shall be provided for every 615 square feet of surface area of
the pool.
(b) Pools shall be equipped with suitable facilities for adding make-up water as needed.
There shall be no physical connection between the water supply and the pool system. If
the make-up water is added directly to the pool, the outlet shall be at least 6 inches above
the upper rim of the pool. If the make-up water line discharges to a surge or balancing
tank, the point of discharge shall be at least 6 inches above the rim of the tank. If a hose
connection from a sill cock or other plumbing fixture is to be used for supplying make-up
water, then an approved vacuum breaker shall be installed between the sill cock or
control valve at the fixture and the hose connection. The vacuum breaker shall be
installed at a height not less than 7 feet 6 inches above the floor, platform or ground upon
which a person would stand when operating the sill cock or control valve. Maximum size
of the fillpipe shall be 2 inches.
(c) The systems supplying recirculated water and make-up water to the pool shall be
constructed in conformance with the ordinances regulating plumbing.
Sec. 22-12. Outlets.
(a) In swimming pools, 30 feet in width or less, water circulation system outlets shall be
located so as to provide at least one outlet at the deepest point in the pool. If the pool
width is more than 30 feet, multiple outlets shall be provided and spaced not more than
30 feet apart, nor closer than 4 feet to any wall. All pool drain outlets shall be equipped
with gratings having an area of openings not less than 4 times the cross -sectional area of
the outlet pipe. The gratings shall be of such design that they cannot be readily
removable by bathers and will not injure bathers' fingers. One outlet shall be provided
for each 800 square feet of surface area.
(b) Pools shall be equipped with facilities for completely emptying the pool. The discharge of
the pool water to the sewer shall be at a rate not exceeding 200 gallons per minute. No
direct connection shall be made to the sewer.
(c) Water drained from the pool shall not be discharged to the sewer system during periods
of rain or storms. At no time shall the rate of drain water discharge exceed a flow of 200
gallons per minute.
Sec. 22-13. Materials; slope of walls.
Swimming pool walls and floors shall be constructed of any impervious material which will provide a
tight tank with white or light colored finish and easily cleaned surfaces. The floor or bottom surface of
the pool shall have a non -slip finish as smooth as possible. The side and end walls of a pool shall
present a smooth finish and shall be vertical to a depth of at least 6 feet or shall have a slope of curvature
meeting one of the following conditions:
(a) The pool wall may be vertical for 30 inches from the water level, below which the wall
may be curved to the bottom with a radius at any point equal to the difference between
the depth at that point, and 30 inches.
(b) To a depth of 6 feet, except as in Subsection (a) above, the wall's slope shall not be less
than one foot horizontal in six feet vertical.
Sec. 22-14. Resistance to pressure; slope of floor.
Swimming pools shall be designed to withstand the water pressure from within and to resist the pressure
of the earth when the pool is empty, to a pressure of 2,200 pounds per square foot. The slope of the
bottom of any part of a pool in which the water is less than 5 feet in depth shall not be more than one
Boot in each 10 feet. The maximum slope where water is 5 feet or more in depth shall not exceed one
Boot in two feet.
Sec. 22-15. Electrical requirements.*
(a) All electrical installations provided for, installed, and used in conjunction with private
residential swimming pools, shall be in conformance with the ordinances regulating
electrical installations.
(b) No current carrying electrical conductors shall cross private residential swimming pools,
either overhead or underground or within 15 feet of such pools.
(c) All metal fences, enclosures or railings near or adjacent to swimming pools, which might
become electrically alive as a result of contact with broken overhead conductors or from
any other cause, shall be effectively grounded.
Sec.22-16. Skimmers.
In every swimming pool, at least one skimming device shall be provided for each 800 square feet of
surface area or fraction thereof. Skimmers shall be located at least 30 feet apart. Handholds shall be
provided and consist of a bull -nosed coping not over 2 1/2 inches thick for the outer 2 inches or an
equivalent approved handhold. The handhold must be not more than 9 inches above the normal water
line. Skimming devices shall be built into the pool wall, shall adequately remove floated oil and waste
and shall meet the following general specifications:
(a) Each skimmer shall be designed for a flow -through rate of at least 30 gallons per minute
and a total capacity of all skimmers on any pool shall be at least 50% of the required filter
flow of the recirculation system.
(b) They shall be automatically adjustable to variations in water level over a range of at least
3 inches.
(c) An easily removable and cleanable basket or screen through which all overflow water
must pass shall be provided to trap large solids.
(d) The skimmer shall be provided with a device to prevent airlock in the suction line. If an
equalizer pipe is used, it shall provide an adequate amount of make-up water for pump
suction should the water of the pool drop below the weir level. This pipe shall be at least
2 inches in diameter and shall be located at least one foot below the lowest overflow level
of the skimmer.
(e) An equalizer line shall be provided with a valve that will remain tightly closed under
normal operating conditions, but will automatically open at a differential of not more than
4 inches between the pool level and the level of the overflow tank.
(f) The overflow weir shall be of sufficient length to maintain a rate of flow of at least 20
gallons per minute per linear foot of weir lip.
Sec. 22-17. Steps or ladders.
Two or more means of egress in the form of steps or ladders shall be provided for all swimming pools.
At least one such means of egress shall be located on a side of the pool at both the deep end and shallow
end of the pool. Treads of steps and ladders shall be constructed of nonslip material and at least 3 inches
wide for their full length. Steps and ladders shall have a handrail on both sides.
Cross Reference - Electrical regulations generally, Sec. 7-31 et seq.
Sec. 22-18. Walk areas.
Unobstructed walk areas not less than 36 inches wide shall be provided to extend entirely around the
pool. The walk area shall be constructed of impervious material, and the surfaces shall be of such as to
be smooth and easily cleaned and of non -slip construction. The slope of the walks shall have a pitch of
at least 1/4 inch to the foot, designed so as to prevent back drainage from entering the pool.
Sec. 22-19. Lifesaving devices.
Every swimming pool shall be equipped with one or more throwing ring buoys not more than 15 inches
in diameter and having 60 feet of 3/16 inch manila line attached, and one or more light but strong poles
with blunted ends and not less than 12 feet in length, for making reach assists or rescues.
Sec. 22-20. Barriers and Fences. (MC-03-829)
(a) Barriers: A barrier shall be defined as any structure utilized or having the ability to be
utilized as an obstruction for entry. All outdoor swimming pools shall be completely
enclosed by a barrier whether the pool is at or above ground level.
(b) Fences:
(1) All fence openings or points of entry into pool area enclosure shall be equipped
with gates.
(2) Fence and gates shall be at least 4 feet in height above the grade level;
(3) Fence shall be constructed of a minimum number 9 gauge woven wire mesh
corrosion -resistant material, or similar material;
(4) All gates shall be equipped with self -closing and self -latching devices placed at
the top of the gate.
(5) Fence posts shall be decay or corrosion -resistant and shall be set in concrete
bases.
(c) No outdoor swimming pool shall be required to be enclosed by a separate fence where it
is located in a yard which is itself enclosed by a fence meeting the requirements of
Article XI of Chapter 7 of the Municipal Code of the City of McHenry, Illinois and
which is at least 4 feet in height.
SECTION 2: If any section, paragraph, subdivision, clause, sentence or provision of this
Ordinance shall be adjudged by any Court of competent jurisdiction to be invalidate or nullify the
remainder thereof, which remainder shall remain and continue in full force and effect.
SECTION 3: All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the
extent of such conflict.
SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its passage, approval and
publication in pamphlet form (which publication is hereby authorized) as provided by law.
Passed and approved this 12 day of NOV. , 2007.
Voting Aye: SANTI, GLAB, SCHAEFER, MURGATROYD, WIMMER, PETERSON, CONDON
Voting Nay: NONE
Not Voting:
NONE
Absent:
NONE
Abstain:
NONE
( SEAL)
ATTEST:
y Cle c
APPROVED:
f Mayor