Maintenance Morning - Pool Inspections

On March 18, 2025, maintenance professionals gathered at the Lubbock Apartment Association (LAA) office for our latest Maintenance Morning session. This month, we welcomed the City Pool Inspectors, who shared critical updates on pool inspection requirements, ensuring compliance, and best practices for maintaining safe and clean pools.

Here’s a breakdown of the key takeaways from the session:

Understanding the Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Maintaining proper chlorine levels is essential for pool sanitation, and understanding the impact of cyanuric acid is crucial. Key points covered included:

• Cyanuric acid acts as a stabilizer for chlorine but too much can reduce chlorine’s effectiveness.
• A pool with 40 ppm cyanuric acid and 3 ppm free chlorine is only as effective as a pool with 1 ppm chlorine and no stabilizer.
• To maintain proper sanitization, free chlorine levels should be 7.5% of the cyanuric acid level.
• High cyanuric acid levels (above 15 ppm) should be avoided if hyperchlorinating a pool.
• The only way to reduce cyanuric acid is by draining and refilling the pool.

Ensuring a Smooth Pool Inspection

Before scheduling a pool inspection, maintenance teams should confirm that all nine of the following requirements are met:

1. Permit Renewal – Ensure payment for your permit renewal has been submitted.
2. DPD Testing Kit – Have a valid kit on-site, ensuring all reagents are within expiration.
3. Water Chemistry Logs – Regularly test and log pool chemistry levels, including free chlorine, pH, and cyanuric acid.
4. Emergency Phone Testing – Call emergency responders with the message:
   “This is NOT an emergency call, I am testing the emergency phone as a safety protocol.”
   Verify that both parties can hear each other clearly and confirm the correct address is on file.
5. Pump Room Labeling – Ensure all plumbing is labeled, including the flow direction and the fixture each pump system serves.
6. Gauges and Flow Meters – Confirm that pressure gauges, vacuum gauges, and flow meters are installed and functioning correctly.
7. Safety Equipment Readiness – Verify that required safety equipment is in place, including:
   • USCG-approved ring buoy with a rope
   • Shepherd’s hook pole (at least 12’ long, non-conductive, non-telescopic, and bolted together)
   • Ensure equipment is smooth and undamaged.
8. Weir Gates in Skimmers – Check that weir gates are installed and working properly.
9. SVRD or AVS Functionality – If your pump system requires an SVRD (Safety Vacuum Release Device) or AVS (Automatic Vacuum System), it must be installed correctly and operational.
   You will need to demonstrate this during the inspection.

Avoid Re-Inspection Fees

If any of the above nine conditions are not met, your facility will be subject to a $175 re-inspection fee per visit after the initial inspection.

Final Thoughts

With pool season around the corner, it's essential for maintenance staff to stay proactive in ensuring compliance with inspection requirements. By following these guidelines, you can avoid costly delays and penalties while keeping residents safe.

Thank you to the City Pool Inspectors for sharing these crucial updates, and to everyone who attended this month's Maintenance Morning!

💡 Stay tuned for next month’s session, and don’t forget to mark your calendars for future training opportunities!