The PWTAG UK Code of Practice is the UK National Standard for safe, hygienic, quality, healthy swimming pool water

Poolmark is the swimming pool accreditation scheme that shows a pool is operating to the PWTAG code.

The Poolmark certification is an assurance to operators and to the public that the pool meets essential safe and healthy pool operational standards.

PWTAG Code of Practice and

Poolmark

The PWTAG Code of Practice provides pool operators with a structured plan for the technical operation of their pool.

The Code ensures that the technical operation of a pool meets quality standards that provide a healthy experience for swimmers using recognised and established practices, techniques, engineering and design.

For this reason all UK pools are encouraged to follow it. The Code provides a model of operation based on the

authority of PWTAG good practice.

Poolmark

Following the Code gives an assurance to operators and to the public that the pool meets essential healthy pool operational standards. The Code is designed, among other things, to meet the health challenge of one of the greatest threats that the sector has to deal with – the chlorine-resistant pathogen, Cryptosporidium.

The answer to Crypto

Pools that follow and achieve the Code’s standards through assessment are awarded a plaque and certificate to show their achievement. They also become associate members of PWTAG and receive technical updates, emergency notices and have access to designated areas of the PWTAG website

Recognition and assessment

Pools will be assessed either by a PWTAG-approved assessor or through self-assessment. Either way, there will be a fee to PWTAG of £100, which includes the assessment, the certificate, a plaque and associate membership for 5 years. Professional assessors will require an additional fee. Self-assessment forms are free to download from www.pwtag.org

Recognition and assessment

To meet the Code pools must have appropriately trained and qualified staff called swimming pool technical operators (SPTOs).

To show the training required PWTAG has produced a training document – which is free to download. Its syllabus defines the knowledge and onsite skills that lead to competence. Pools themselves can assess staff knowledge against the syllabus, or it can be used as the basis of a training programme.

PWTAG itself does not do the training; that is provided by training organisations accredited by PWTAG.

Poolmark andTrained staff

You will be sure that the pool is safe and a health promoting experience

Pool users can be assured – by you and by the Poolmark plaque – that the pool meets the PWTAG national standards

You will have the reputation and authority of PWTAG behind you

You can rely on the authority of the organisations that endorse PWTAG – Public Health England , Health & Safety Executive, Royal Society of Public Health, ASA, etc

If anything does go wrong at the pool, you will be able to demonstrate – in court if necessary – that you were following the best available guidelines; without this protection, you are vulnerable.

What are the benefits of my pool becoming accredited?

You have decided to become a Poolmark accredited pool: download the Code of Practice do your background reading of Swimming Pool Water make sure you are up to date with PWTAG Technical

notes take a trial test assessment if your pool technical staff are not qualified to the Code

training syllabus, then take this step first if you then think you can pass the assessment and your

technical staff are in place, go ahead and take the self assessment or contact PWTAG for a professional assessment.

Poolmark – the process