According to
Trulia.com, a clubhouse community is something potential homebuyers take into consideration when deciding where to purchase a home. However, managing and maintaining a community pool can be anything but relaxing. It can be frustrating to find a good pool partner, rather like being “it” in the game of Marco Polo, when you’re wandering around the pool with your eyes closed yelling out, “Marco!” and waiting to stumble into somebody nearby who responds by saying “Polo!” Swimming pools demand time and money, regular maintenance, regulatory compliance, and a lot of attention on so many levels. How DO you find the right pool partner to assist with this important work?
One involved property manager, Laurie Wishnoff from Foster/Premier, Inc., put it this way: “When searching for a pool care provider, boards and community managers alike must consider more than simply the contract price. Additional key factors to take into consideration are the reputation of the company, their experience in the industry, what company provided training is offered to the lifeguard staff and so forth. After all, you are placing the care of your owners as well as a large asset of your community in the hands of this team, and to do so you must have the utmost confidence in the contract selection made.” For an association to successfully manage a swimming pool, it must address management of risk and maintenance.
Swimming Pool Management
It takes a team effort to properly manage a pool facility. The community manager and board of directors often hire a pool management company that specializes in managing aquatic facilities for homeowner, townhome, and condominium communities. Although the needs of each facility vary, companies can provide seasonal opening and closing of the facility, state regulation guidance, staffing of pool attendants and/or lifeguards, chemical supply, daily maintenance of water chemistry and overall cleanliness of the facility. These services may cover a wide range in cost, from less than $12,000 to more than $200,000 per season depending on many factors. Like any relationship, finding the right pool care vendor for a community is important. Regular meetings held between the board, community manager, and the pool company representative to understand the needs of the facility and community as well as make suggestions for proper facility maintenance throughout the year are highly recommended.
Managing Risk Prevention strategies are necessary to create a safe environment. This starts with the design of the facility and leads to setting expectations for the guests. Strategies should constantly be reevaluated.
Government health departments have regulations when building a pool. State approved drawings detail specific guidelines that affect the overall operation and safety of the facility. Underwater and overhead lighting is necessary, specific main drains that prevent entrapment, and signs communicating specific guidelines and safety information to the maintenance crew and guests are only few of the requirements.
It is crucial for associations to have clear-cut rules and policies. These will be unique to each community and homeowners or members should be given a set of the pool rules so expectations are clear. For example, some may include a safety break policy for users to lessen the risk of drownings, a weather policy for usage of the pool during and after severe weather, and an emergency action plan in the event of an incident.
No matter the strategies to prevent incidents from occurring, they will happen. Waivers of liability signed by users of the facility are usually recommended to minimize the association’s risk. Associations and pool management companies must have insurance to protect themselves from lawsuits after an incident. Community associations should always consult their attorneys and insurance professionals for best practices.
Maintenance
Another preventative strategy to minimize risk is to keep a well-maintained facility. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) code requires pool water to be monitored and readings recorded twice daily. Local municipalities may have additional requirements. All such regulations are intended to help keep pool water properly treated and keep swimmers safe from disease and illness. Local health departments issue operating licenses and perform unannounced site audits several times a season making sure the facility is compliant. Pool management companies can provide the community with maintenance plans that can include daily, multiple times a week, or weekly service.
It is Cook County law and preferred by surrounding counties, that there is a Certified Pool Operator
www.cai-illinois.org • 847.301.7505 | 37
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