Public aquatic facilities

Changes to Victoria’s Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations now require certain public aquatic facilities to register with their local council from 14 December 2020.
These changes recognise the risk aquatic facilities pose to the health of the public if they are not managed properly.

What is an aquatic facility?

There are two categories of aquatic facilities.

Category 1 facilities include swimming pools, spa pools or interactive water features that:

• are used by the public
• are used in association with a class or program
• are located at an early childhood service, school or other educational institution, a residential aged care service or at any of the following premises:
  • a public hospital 
  • a multipurpose service
  • a denominational hospital
  • a private hospital
  • a privately-operated hospital defined in section 3(1) of the Health Services Act 1988.

Category 2 aquatic facilities include swimming pools or spa pools that are used by the public and are located at any of the following premises:

• a residential apartment complex
• a hotel, motel or hostel

Who needs to register with us?

Category 1 aquatic facilities must be registered.

Call 9524 3333 to speak to an environmental health officer.

Running your aquatic facility

Both category 1 and category 2 aquatic facilities must have a water quality risk management plan that describes how you will comply with the Regulations and the Water quality guidelines for public aquatic facilities – managing public health risks.

The Department of Health and Human Services provides resources for developing a water quality risk management plan for public aquatic facilities. Visit the DHHS website to download documents which may help you in preparing your Plan.

Our role

Our environmental health officers provide education and support around maintaining water quality as well as routinely inspecting public aquatic facilities to ensure they operate in accordance with the Public Health and Wellbeing Regulations 2019.