Updated Montgomery County Public Pool Guidelines as of 5/12

All spas / hot tubs, spray pools, lazy rivers, and kiddie and wading pools may open May 29, 2021 at the designated occupancy level.

How to determine occupancy

• Pools may currently open at 50% total pool capacity.
• When the Health Officer determines that 60% of County residents have received their first dose of a vaccine, total capacity may increase to 75%.
• When the Health Officer determines that 50% of the general population has been fully vaccinated, pools may return to total capacity under COMCOR.

Determine pool occupancy by

1. calculating the pool capacity under COMCOR 51.00.01.04 ( see COMCOR calculation details) and
2. applying the correct percentage based upon vaccination status as determined by the Health Officer.

Example

If the water surface in the shallow area is 1000 sq ft:

• divide 1000 by 12 to get 83.
• reduce 83 by 50% to get an occupancy of 42 persons.

If the water surface area in the areas exceeding 5 feet of water depth is 1000 sq ft:

• divide 1000 by 20 to get 50
• reduce 50 by 50% to get an occupancy of 25 persons.

The combined total occupancy of the pool and enclosed area would then be 67 persons.

Facilities must also:

• track pool capacity using a sign in/out sheet or another appropriate method.
• change deck layouts to ensure social distancingbetween patrons or household groups at the facility.
• ensure social distancing in spray pools, lazy rivers, dives, slides, falls, other water features, and anywhere patrons may form a line.
• ensure there is adequate equipment for patrons and swimmers (e.g., kickboards and pool noodles) to minimize sharing, or limiting the use of equipment by one group of users at a time and cleaning and disinfecting between use.
• follow mask guidance as required by the County’s Board of Health.
• provide and use one-way valve masks for CPR.
• monitor staff absenteeism. Require staff to stay home if sick. Have a plan to ensure required staffing. If possible, vulnerable staff should be allowed to telework.

Lap lanes

More than one patron per lane is allowed with applicable social distancing.

Indoor pools

Indoor pools should open windows and doors, or use fans or other methods, to increase the circulation of outdoor air as much as possible.  Windows and doors should not be open if doing so poses a safety risk to staff or patrons.

Prepare your Patrons

Face coverings

• At indoor pools, patrons should wear face coverings, unless swimming or showering.
• At outdoor pools, patrons not using the pools or water features should wear face coverings per CDC guidance.
• Patrons should not wear face coverings in the water.

Shared items

• Discourage patrons from from sharing objects that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect or that are meant to come in contact with the face (for example, goggles, nose clips, and snorkels).
• Also discourage them from sharing items such as food, equipment, toys, and supplies with those they don’t live with.

Post signs

• Post signs telling patrons not to enter if sick.
• Post hand washing reminders and cover your cough reminders.
• Post reminders to shower before entering the pool.
• MDH-prepared signs are available here.

Clean and Disinfect

• Maintain daily cleaning of the facility (floors, toilets, etc.) with soap and water.
• Maintain daily cleaning log.
• Train staff on guidelines and product instructions for cleaning and disinfecting.
• Follow instructions for use and storage on the product label.
• Disinfection products must be appropriate for the intended use.
• The pool may need to temporarily close if the CPO on duty must clean and disinfect the pool area.
• Clean/brush pool tile and wall at the water line to reduce slime and biofilm once a week or more if needed.

Facility operation

• Maintain chlorine and pH levels per current regulation, including shock or super chlorination as needed.
• Notify the local health department that the pool will open. Annual operation license is required per current regulation.

For more information

For more information, submit questions or requests for Letters of Approval to the Board of Health Regulation Portal.

Resources

• Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19), US EPA
• Guidance for Public Pools, Hot Tubs, and Water Playgrounds, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Coronavirus Resources, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

COMCOR pool capacity calculation

COMCOR 51.00.01.04 calculates pool capacity like this:

• Public Pools – After deduction of the 300 square feet for each diving board or platform, one person is allotted for every 20 square feet of Deep Area and one person for every 12 square feet of shallow area.  One additional person is allotted for each diving board or platform.
• Public Spas – One person is allotted for every 9 square feet of total water area.

COMCOR 51.00.01.04 requires that all pool and enclosure capacities “be conspicuously posted by the owner at the pool.”

Montgomery County Public Pools Update (5/3/21)

All spas / hot tubs, spray pools, lazy rivers, and wading pools may open May 29, 2021 at the designated occupancy level.

Prepare the Facility/Grounds

• Number of patrons will be determined according to user load as established under Code of Montgomery County Regulations 51.00.01.04 reduced by 50%. All licensed pools must post user load in a conspicuous area.  Total occupancy under COVID-19 restrictions is calculated by reducing this number by 50%.
• The maximum occupancy of the enclosed pool area, including deck and surrounding areas is one individual for:
  • Every 12 square feet of water surface in shallow areas,
  • Every 20 square feet of water surface in areas exceeding 5 feet of water depth, excluding a diving area, and
  • The 300 square-foot diving area required for each diving board or diving platform; and
  • Every 9 square feet of water surface in spas/hot tubs.
  • Then reduce the number by 50%.
    Example:
    If the water surface in the shallow area is 1000 sq ft, then divide by 12 to get 83, then reduce by 50%, to get an occupancy of 42 persons.
    If the water surface area in the areas exceeding 5 feet of water depth is 1000 sq ft, then divide by 20 to get 50, then reduce by 50% to get 25 persons.
    The combined total occupancy of the pool and enclosed area would then be 67 persons.  This includes all persons present (patrons, guards, staff, coaches, parents).  The number may be exceeded during certain events to allow one parent/guardian per minor child.  For more information submit questions or requests for Letters of Approval to the Board of Health Regulation Portal
• Facility will track pool capacity using a sign in/out sheet or another appropriate method.
• Implement physical distancing requirements between patrons or household groups at the facility, change deck layout to ensure that in the standing or seating areas, individuals or household groups can remain at least 6 feet apart.  No gatherings or events. Monitoring and controls must be in place to ensure applicable social distancing in spray pools, lazy rivers, dives, slides, falls and other water features.
• Implement physical distancing where patrons form a line waiting for the pool to open or for someone to leave so they can enter.
• For indoor pools, meet current standards for ventilation and dehumidification. Increase introduction and circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors, using fans or other methods. Do not open windows or doors if doing so poses a safety risk to staff or patrons.
• Maintain supply of hand sanitizer and also soap for hand washing and showers.
• Ensure that all water systems (e.g., decorative fountains, heated pools) are safe to use after prolonged facility shutdown to minimize the risk of Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases associated with water.
• Ensure there is adequate equipment for patrons and swimmers (e.g., kickboards and pool noodles) to minimize sharing to the extent possible, or limiting the use of equipment by one group of users at a time and cleaning and disinfecting between use.
• More than one patron per lap lane is permissible with applicable social distancing.

Prepare the Employees

• Staff who interact with patrons or other staff must wear face coverings.
• Provide and use one-way valve masks for CPR.
• Monitor staff absenteeism. Require staff to stay home if sick. Have a plan to ensure required staffing. If possible, vulnerable staff should be allowed to telework.

Prepare your Patrons

• Patrons should be alone or with members of their household.
• Patrons should stay at least 6 feet apart (both in and out of the water) from other individuals not from their household.
• At indoor pools, patrons should wear face coverings per the Governor’s Executive Order, unless swimming or showering.
• At outdoor pools, patrons not using the pools or water features should wear face coverings per CDC guidance.
• Patrons should not wear face coverings in the water.
• Shared objects: patrons should be discouraged from sharing objects that are difficult to clean, sanitize, or disinfect or that are meant to come in contact with the face (for example, goggles, nose clips, and snorkels). Patrons should also be discouraged from sharing items such as food, equipment, toys, and supplies with those they don’t live with.

Signage/Communication

• Post signs telling patrons not to enter if sick.
• Post hand washing reminders and cover your cough reminders.
• Post reminders to shower before entering the pool.
• MDH-prepared signs are available here.

Cleaning and Disinfection

• Maintain daily cleaning of the facility (floors, toilets, etc.) with soap and water.
• Train staff on guidelines and product instructions for cleaning and disinfecting.
• Follow instructions for use and storage on the product label.
• Disinfection products must be appropriate for the intended use.
• The pool may need to temporarily close if the CPO on duty must clean and disinfect the pool area.
• Facility will clean/brush pool tile/wall at the water line to reduce slime and biofilm once a week or more if needed.
• Maintain daily cleaning log

Operation

• Maintain chlorine and pH levels per current regulation, including shock or super chlorination as needed.
• Notify the local health department that the pool will open. Annual operation license is required per current regulation.

Construction has recently begun at the former Montgomery Village Golf Course. Monument Realty is in charge of building the planned community that will be known as Bloom Village.  The 150 acre site will consist of townhomes, single-family homes, walking paths, picnic areas, a dog park and an edible garden. The first homes are expected to be ready by Summer 2021.

You can read about how Montgomery Village will be incorporating the new homes in the Village News. Full site plans can be found at BloomMV’s website. Below are some photos of the golf course just weeks before construction began.

Some Outdoor Pools To Remain Open Through Oct. 4

Montgomery County Recreation announced that the summer outdoor pool season will be extended to Sunday, Oct. 4, weather permitting and some operating on an altered schedule.

While the Long Branch, Upper County and Western outdoor pools will close earlier on Sunday, Sept. 20, the Bethesda, Germantown and Martin Luther King, Jr. pools will be open until Oct. 4. The Glenmont Wheaton pool will open with a modified schedule starting Sept. 21.

Montgomery County Recreation Director Robin Riley explained that this decision was made as the pandemic “cut summer short for many of us” in order to allow residents more time to prioritize their physical and mental health.

The outdoor pools are open now to those with pool passes, and daily admission is also open to Montgomery County residents, who must show proof of residency before entering.

Those with Outdoor Summer Pool Passes will still be able to enjoy their pool time until Oct. 4, instead of the original expiration date of Sept. 7, for no additional cost.

45-minute lap swimming sessions are available at Bethesda, Martin Luther King, Jr. and Wheaton Glenmont pools in the early morning, as well as two-hour recreation swim periods.

Featured photo courtesy of the Montgomery County Recreation website.

By Adam Levine

Montgomery County Recreation will open its seven outdoor pools and three indoor aquatic centers on Monday, July 6, 2020 as part of the County’s Phase II reopening. Pools will be open to pass-holders only.

Outdoor pools will open for two-hour sessions of recreational swimming between noon and 8 p.m. seven days a week.

Indoor aquatic centers will open for lap swimming only. The centers will open for two-hour sessions between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

All swim sessions will require a reservation. Reservations can be made online at www.ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. Instructions on how to reserve your swim session can be found at www.mocorec.com/aquatics.

The following procedures will also be in place:

• All patrons two years old and over must use a face covering while on the pool deck, in common areas, and when social distancing is not possible. Face coverings are not required when in the water.
• Family groups are asked to stay together. Individuals and family groups are asked to maintain at least six feet of social distancing from others at all times.
• Pool features including crossing features, saunas, hot tubs and the lazy river will remain closed.
• Fitness rooms in aquatic centers will also remain closed.
• All wading pools—also known as baby pools or tot pools—will remain closed.
• Slides and diving boards will be available for use.
• For outdoor pools, patrons are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets.
• Shared equipment such as kickboards will not be available.
• Restrooms in locker rooms and bath houses will be available. We ask patrons to minimize their time in those areas by coming to the pool in their swim attire and showering at home. Marked alternate exits will be available for those who wish to avoid exiting through the locker rooms and bath houses. Lockers at the aquatic centers, however, will not be available for use. Patrons will have to take their belongings with them on the pool deck and place them in a chair assigned to the lap lane they are using.

Full press release available here.

Community swimming pools have begun to reopen in Brookeville and Olney as the 4th of July Weekend approaches.

Residents in the Olney Mill, Tanterra, and Hallowell neighborhoods must fill out waivers and reserve a visit time via the website “Sign Up Genius” if they wish to visit their community pools.

Pools will be offering two to three time slots a day in which a limited number of residents can attend. Between these slots, the pools will be sanitized.

More information and guidelines, as well as the specific reservation times and waivers, are available on the specific websites for each pool:

www.omswimclub.com/covid-19-information-and-procedures

tanterra.com/cm/pool

hallowell.nabrnetwork.com/hoapage.php?page=about_1715

By Isaac Donsky