The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the release of the Model Aquatic Health Code’s (MAHC’s) 5th edition. Read on to find out what’s new in the latest edition.
First published in 2014, the MAHC is a set of guidelines intended to prevent injury and illness at public aquatic venues, such as pools, hot tubs, and splash pads, and created in a collaborative effort between public health officials and aquatics sector leaders. Developed using the latest science and best practices, these guidelines seek to reduce the leading health risks of aquatic venues, such as swimming-related disease outbreaks, drowning, and pool chemical injuries. Local, state, territorial, and tribal officials can voluntarily adopt all or parts of the MAHC, and aquatic sector leaders can use the MAHC as guidance even if their jurisdiction has not adopted the code.
What’s new in the 5th edition?
- Portable slides are prohibited, as their location is not fixed and the water depth, landing area, and clear spaces are not ensured.
- Single pass splash pads are included as an interactive water play aquatic venue. This means they are subject to applicable MAHC design standards and construction, as well as facility operation and maintenance requirements.
- The aquatic venue diarrheal-stool contamination response in the presence of cyanuric acid (CYA) was modified to add dilution credits when draining and refilling to lower the CYA concentration.
- Artificial swimming lagoons design standards and construction, and operation and maintenance requirements are now included as a special venue.
Getting Started with the MAHC - Things You Can Do
- Join the CDC’s MAHC Network hosted by NACCHO, a community of MAHC users, subject matter experts, and those hoping to learn about the code (includes regular webinars on best practices, lessons learned).
- Looking to adopt the MAHC? Read Pueblo County’s experience fully adopting and implementing the code in Colorado.
