Professionals from other fields are often amazed that there are no official standards or legislation specifically for swimming pools. For over a decade PWTAG had campaigned to put this right, but with little support from UK authorities. This is why PWTAG's book, Swimming Pool Water, remains the best help on the subject. (The HSE book, The Management of Health & Safety in Swimming Pools, is an invaluable companion volume, which refers to PWTAG's book for guidance on water treatment.)

As an example of PWTAG’s influence, the Scottish Health Department sent a letter to all EHO chiefs, recommending they enforce PWTAG guidelines on cryptosporidiosis (in the light of a Glasgow pool outbreak).

PWTAG is also still active in the five areas below, that contribute to official guidance.

Code of practice
2004 saw a major advance in this area with the publication by the British Standards Institution of a code of practice. To give it its full title: Publicly Available Specification PAS39:2003 Management of public swimming pools – Water treatment systems, water treatment plant and heating and ventilation systems – Code of practice.(£74 from 020 8896 9001 or orders@bsi-global.com)

This was the result of a three-year collaboration between PWTAG and BSI and an expenditure by PWTAG of over £15,000. The CoP is based on the guidelines in Swimming Pool Water.

Since then, PWTAG and the Institute of Sport & Recreation Management have set up a system, run by ISRM, which allows pools to buy the inspection needed for them to conform to the CoP and to carry a plaque demonstrating it (details from 01509 226474).

The PAS will need modest updating when the new edition of Swimming Pool Water is published.

World Health Organisation
The long-awaited WHO guidelines on swimming pools and similar environments were published in June 2006. PWTAG was closely involved in their production: its secretary attended working groups in Michigan, Jersey and Rome; and PWTAG drafted the section on managing water quality.

Spa pools
PWTAG members were involved in the drafting of a new book published jointly by the Health Protection Agency and Health & Safety Executive. Management of Spa Pools: controlling the risk of infection was published in March 2006. See http://www.hpa.org.uk/publications/2006/spa_pools/default.htm

CEN
In a European initiative from the UK Drinking Water Inspectorate, PWTAG has been involved in discussions about Europe-wide CEN standards for pool water chemicals. (The DWI, until 1999, organised an approval system for pool chemicals.) Various drafts have been prepared, but progress is slow.

Legislation
Although the political climate remains hostile to regulating new areas, PWTAG continues to lobby and negotiate with interested parties, outside as well as inside government.