The Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC)
When you consider the public health threats that are presented by commercial and public pools, it is surprising to find that there is currently no uniform national standard for water quality or RWI response. To address this, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control is set to release a Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC)
Crafted by state and federal public health officials along with industry professionals from across the United States, the MAHC is two years in the making and includes the best available standards and practices for protecting public health.
Formatted to be easily adopted by state and local health departments, along with aquatics facilities, the MAHC is “intended to transform the typical health department program into a data-driven, knowledge-based, risk reduction effort to prevent disease and injuries and promote healthy recreational water experiences,” according to the CDC. The Association of Pool & Spa Professionals is also working on a national code guideline (PDF opens in new window) for states to adopt, but it is much less detailed in its guidelines than the MAHC.
When the MAHC is published, it will include a section on the importance of Secondary Disinfection Systems to significantly reduce Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) and other health problems caused by microorganisms and chlorinated byproducts (including chloramines).
What the MAHC says about Secondary Disinfection Systems:
MAHC language specifically states, “Due to the risk of outbreaks of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI’s) associated with sanitizer-resistant pathogens such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia it is strongly recommended that all aquatic facilities include Secondary Disinfection Systems (SDSs) to minimize the risk to the public associated with these outbreaks.”
The MAHC goes on to state, “However, there are specific types of facilities that pose a greater risk to bathers, and therefore, Secondary Disinfection Systems are required for: therapy pools, wading pools, swim school pools, and aquatic play facilities/features.”
According to the MAHC the following conditions must be met for all Secondary Disinfection Systems (SDSs).
- All SDSs must be certified by an ANSI-Accredited third-party testing and certification organization to verify that they provide the minimum inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum in the full flow.
- All SDSs must provide a minimum of 3 log (99.9%) inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum in the full flow, prior to return of the water to the pool or aquatic feature at the minimum turnover rate.
- Ozone systems and UV systems are approved SDSs.
Ozone Secondary Disinfection Systems must be properly sized!
All ozone systems must be sized in accordance with the MAHC. Undersized ozone systems will not be recognized as MAHC compliant.
Only ozone systems that are certified by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-Accredited third-party testing and certification organization to verify that they provide a 3 log (99.9%) inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum in the side-stream applied full flow are qualified to be an SDS. This standard is in addition to the current ANSI/NSF Standard 50.
DEL Ozone systems for commercial aquatics are 100% MAHC-compliant.
Learn More about Ozone and Public Health:
The DEL Ozone Aquatics Program is Easy as 1-2-3:
1. Request a quote. We’ll size your system according to MAHC guidelines and send a quote right away.
2. We’ll deliver and commission your pre-installed system within one to two months.
3. Begin to enjoy the improvements to your water quality and your facility right away.
