Pools in Peachtree

City's subdivisions, apartment complexes and country clubs will have to

meet new health regulations thanks to action by the City Council at its

meeting Thursday night.

Council adopted

a ordinance regulating pool maintenance and construction that was suggested

pools in subdivisions, apartment complexes and country clubs would not

be subject to compliance.

Kurbes has

said those types of pools generate the most health complaints compared

to other swimming facilities. The rules will help protect the public from

illnesses and injuries in the pools, he also has said.

In most cases,

existing pools would be grandfathered in regarding the construction rules,

said Health Environmentalist Robert Kurbes. The only exception would be

for pools that don't have special covers over single drains to protect

swimmers from getting stuck underwater, he said.

Violators of

the new ordinance can be brought before municipal court, Kurbes added.

The new state

law only requires the monitoring of pools operated by hotels, cities and

health clubs. Had the city not adopted the more stringent rules, the health

department would have been powerless to cite operators of unsafe pools

in apartment complexes, subdivisions and country clubs.