Swimming pools - hygiene monitoring

The Health Office (Gesundheitsamt) monitors swimming pools and bathing pool facilities. This does not apply to swimming pools used only privately. The purpose of the inspections is to prevent the further spread of infectious diseases. The Health Office inspects every public swimming pool annually. Typically, the Health Office requests access to hygiene-relevant documents and inspects the swimming pool and the treatment facilities. Operators are required to provide information, allow access to the operating log (Betriebsbuch), and permit entry. The Health Office may order measures, including a restriction of pool operations. The planning of a pool or its renovation must be reported to the Health Office in good time. Operators of swimming pools are required to carry out self-monitoring. They must comply with the hygiene recommendations of the Umweltbundesamt (Federal Environment Agency), the generally recognized rules of technology, and the statutory requirements of the Infektionsschutzgesetz (Infection Protection Act) and the Trinkwasserverordnung (Drinking Water Ordinance). Drinking water tests must be carried out by a testing body accredited under DIN EN ISO 17025. Bathing sites in natural bodies of water, such as bathing lakes, are inspected by the health authorities in summer. This is described on the bathing water (Badegewässer) page of the Landesamt für Gesundheit und Soziales (State Office for Health and Social Affairs).