Author: Kailee Curtis

Local Health Department

Recreational Facility Safety

Public places like pools and spas, beaches, children’s camps, campgrounds, and RV parks are important community recreation places. They can also be prime locations for waterborne and communicable diseases to be spread. Environmental Health (EH) divisions at local health departments regularly inspect and monitor these recreational facilities to ensure that they are safe and healthy. Inspections include sampling pool and beach waters, checking that community wells are functioning properly and free of contaminants, and ensuring that human waste is disposed safely.

Key Positions
Environmental Health Sanitarians
Environmental Health Secretaries
Environmental Health Supervisors

Meets Public Health Standards:

ü	Michigan Public Health Code
ü	Michigan Local Public Health Accreditation
	Public Health Accreditation Board

Services:
Local health department Environmental Health (EH) sanitarians provide inspection, regulation, and licensing services for public swimming pools and spas, public bathing beaches, children’s camps, and public campgrounds and RV parks. Many of these activities are seasonal, in the warmer months. Campground, and RV park, and pool inspection programs are conducted independently by health departments; beach and camp inspection programs are conducted in partnership with the State. Most local health departments (LHDs) in Michigan conduct one operational inspection per year for pools and spas, however, some conduct two yearly inspections.
Goals:
Regulation, inspection, and licensing activities around recreational facilities are meant to
Assess facilities and recreation areas and/or educate operators on various EH factors that could negatively impact the health and safety of the public.
Reduce the incidence of injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
Promote healthy recreation and public awareness.

Fees

Local Funding

State Grants

Impact:
In 2015, 98 beaches reported 212 incidents of E. coli exceeding accepted water quality standards. These reports helped to alert beach goers of the hazardous water, and prevent the spread of disease.

Created by the Barry-Eaton District Health Department for the Michigan Association of Local Public Health with funding from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. August 2018.
*41 of Michigan’s local health departments indicated that they participate in recreational facility activities (of 41 who participated in the survey). Participants might not have answered each question.

Primary Funding Sources for Recreational Facility Activities: