Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC): A National Model Swimming Pool and Spa Code

CDC, through an initial grant from the National Swimming Pool Foundation, is working with public health and industry representatives across the United States to prevent drowning, injuries, and the spread of recreational water illnesses at public swimming pools and spas by building a Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). The MAHC will serve as a model and guide for local and state agencies needing to update or implement swimming pool and spa code, rules, regulations, guidance, law, or standards governing the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, and other treated or disinfected aquatic facilities. CDC has agreed to host the MAHC on its Healthy Swimming website. Visit the MAHC Modules for Review page to review the latest updates on the MAHC modules.

MAHC Fact Sheet

NEW! The Model Aquatic Health Code: Making Swimming Healthy and Safe [PDF - 2 pages]

MAHC Presentations and Webinars

Visit our Presentations and Webinars page to view currently available MAHC presentations.

Watch the FREE video of Tracynda Davis of the National Swimming Pool Foundation and MAHC Steering Committee member presenting on the Model Aquatic Health Code at AD-HOC, an event for designers, health officials and contractors.
The FREE video "Model Aquatic Health Code Update" presented by the MAHC’s Director, Doug Sackett, has been added courtesy of the National Swimming Pool Foundation.

Newsroom

Visit our Newsroom page to read the latest articles written about the MAHC.

It's time to adopt the CDC Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) for pools and hot tubs is featured on the National Swimming Pool Foundation blog.

MAHC Announcements

Visit our Announcements page to read the latest MAHC developments.

Background

In the United States, there is no federal regulatory authority responsible for disinfected aquatic facilities (e.g. swimming pools, water parks, etc.); all pool codes are developed, reviewed, and approved by state and/or local public health officials. As a result, there are no uniform, national standards governing the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of swimming pools and other treated aquatic facilities. Thus, the code requirements for preventing and responding to recreational water illnesses (RWIs) can vary significantly among local and state agencies. The Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) is intended to transform the typical health department pool program into a data-driven, knowledge-based, risk reduction effort to prevent disease and injuries and promote healthy recreational water experiences. The MAHC should ensure that the best available standards and practices for protecting public health are available for adoption by state and local agencies. It will provide local and state agencies with uniform guidelines for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of swimming pools and other disinfected aquatic facilities.

This effort stems from a CDC-sponsored workshop called "Recreational Water Illness Prevention at Disinfected Swimming Venues" that was convened on February 15-17, 2005, in Atlanta, Georgia. The workshop assembled persons from different disciplines working in state, local, and federal public health agencies and the aquatics industry to discuss ways to minimize recreational water illnesses spread through disinfected swimming venues. CDC, through an initial grant from the National Swimming Pool Foundation, has been working with public health and industry representatives across the United States to build this effort. Initial efforts have been focused on reducing the spread of recreational water illnesses and injuries at disinfected aquatic facilities.

MAHC Process

The MAHC development process involves a Steering Committee that guides the work of various Technical Committees which work on specific areas of the MAHC. The linked Project Outline document describes the MAHC vision, organization, goals, and objectives. The MAHC Process Diagram illustrates the sequence of events being undertaken as part of the MAHC process.