State rules
Pool chemical requirements by state
For a hotel pool with stabilizer. 14 states have a statewide code we cite rule by rule; for the others the county health department applies its own rules, usually based on the CDC Model Aquatic Health Code (marked “model code”).
- Test
- Once a day25 TAC §265.193(o)
- Keep the log
- 3 years25 TAC §265.193(l)
- Rules
- Class C pool (residents, guests or members)25 TAC Chapter 265, Subchapter L (§§265.181–265.198)
Free chlorine
1.0 to 8.0 ppm · ideal 2.0–3.0
25 TAC §265.193(c)
Combined chlorine
no more than 0.4 ppm
25 TAC §265.193(c)
pH
7.0 to 7.8 · ideal 7.2–7.6
25 TAC §265.193(c)
Cyanuric acid
no more than 100 ppm · ideal 30–50
25 TAC §265.193(c)
Total alkalinity
at least 60 ppm · ideal 60–180
25 TAC §265.193(c)
Calcium hardness
150 to 1,000 ppm
25 TAC §265.193(c)
Free log sheet for Texas
Pool and spa chemical log — Class C · one month, letter landscape · columns for FC, CC, pH
Sources (5) — every number above is cited
- 25 TAC Chapter 265, Subchapter L — Public Swimming Pools and Spas (official PDF) — Texas Department of State Health Services
- 25 TAC § 265.193 — Water quality at pools and spas (Cornell LII copy) — Texas Department of State Health Services (text via Cornell LII)
- 25 TAC § 265.194 — Operation and certification (Cornell LII copy) — Texas Department of State Health Services (text via Cornell LII)
- Form EH-12, Public Swimming Pools and Spas Check List (rev. 05/19/2023) — Texas Department of State Health Services
- Health and Safety Code § 341.064 — Swimming pools and bathhouses — Texas Legislature
A Class C pool that is made available to the public must meet Class B standards.
If cyanuric acid goes above 100 ppm: raise free chlorine to 2.0 ppm and test disinfectant, pH and CYA daily until it is back under 100.
Interactive water features follow Subchapter M (records kept 2 years).
| State | Free chlorine | pH | Test | Keep log |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Alaska model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Arizona | 1–5 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | At least once a day | 12 months |
| Arkansas model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| California | 2–10 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | Once a day, every day the pool is open | 2 years |
| Colorado model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Connecticut model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Delaware model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| District of Columbia model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Florida | 1–10 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | At least once every 24 hours, tested by hand | Not set by the rule |
| Georgia | 2–10 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | At least twice a day while open | Not set by the rule |
| Hawaii model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Idaho model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Illinois | 1–4 ppm | 7.2–7.6 | At least twice a day, shallow and deep end | 3 years |
| Indiana model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Iowa model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Kansas model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Kentucky model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Louisiana model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Maine model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Maryland model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Massachusetts model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Michigan model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Minnesota model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Mississippi model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Missouri model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Montana model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Nebraska model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Nevada | 1–5 ppm | 7–8 | Not set by the state rule | Not set by the state rule |
| New Hampshire model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| New Jersey | 1–10 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | Every 2 hours while open | 3 years |
| New Mexico model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| New York | 0.6–5 ppm | –8.2 | At the start, during and at the end of each swimming period | 12 months |
| North Carolina | 1+ ppm | 7.2–7.8 | At least once a day | 6 months |
| North Dakota model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Ohio | 1+ ppm | 7.2–7.8 | Before opening, then every 4 hours | 2 years |
| Oklahoma model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Oregon model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Pennsylvania model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Rhode Island model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| South Carolina | 1–8 ppm | 7–7.8 | Daily, or more often, while open | 18 months |
| South Dakota model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Tennessee model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Texas | 1–8 ppm | 7–7.8 | Once a day | 3 years |
| Utah | 2–10 ppm | 7.2–7.8 | Daily | 2 operating seasons |
| Vermont model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Virginia model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Washington | 2–10 ppm | 7.2–8 | At least once every 24 hours | 3 years |
| West Virginia model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Wisconsin model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |
| Wyoming model code | 2–10 ppm | 7–7.8 | Before opening, then every 2 hours | 3 years (model code) |