As variations of large-scale artificial lakes and lagoons become more prominent, particularly on the commercial front, government agencies are struggling with how to approach and enforce their water-quality management.
These bodies of water increasingly appear on the grounds of large condominium and resort complexes in the form of simple lakes. One company, Chile-based Crystal Lagoons, has been making headway selling its system of massive lakes to such properties since it entered the U.S market in 2015.
Some specialty recreational applications also are appearing more frequently, including surf parks, where artificial waves are generated. In one case a couple years ago, Texas officials prolonged the opening of a park, insisting that it be treated like a pool, while owners of the property just as staunchly maintained that it was a lake that didn’t require treatment.
The issue gained national attention last year, when 29-year-old Fabrizio Stabile died after allegedly contracting a brain amoeba while surfing at another park, BSR Surf Resort in Waco, Texas.
Currently, no standard practices seem to exist when it comes to maintaining water quality and preventing such tragedies in a practical and financially feasible way. But the governments of at least two states — Florida and Texas — are working to clarify the issue. Florida is in the process of updating its state building code to establish standards for lagoons. The Texas Department of State Health Services is fleshing out language for an artificial swimming lagoon code that was mandated by 2017 legislation.
Both states are in preliminary stages, still undergoing comment cycles. In developing guidelines and requirements, the groups must establish even baseline parameters, including the very definition of a lagoon, as opposed to a swimming pool. In assessing the sanitization needs of such bodies of water, officials also will look at what role usage plays, says Jennifer Hatfield, director of government affairs with the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the new association created by the merging of APSP with NSPF. Some of these lagoons have dividers in place to separate areas for swimming, so stakeholders are exploring the possibility of chemically treating certain sections of a lagoon.
The first draft of the Florida code refers to these bodies of water as bathing places, which it defines as measuring at least 2 acres. It states that bather loads should be calculated to allow 50 square feet per bather. It also would require sanitizing agents and materials such as vinyl liners to meet certain third-party standards. The language, which is still being modified, also states that vacuum systems must meet Florida code and cannot be used while an area is open for swimming. It would place minimums on lifeguard staffing and require certain safety measures.
In Texas, the draft defines an artificial swimming lagoon as a body of water with more than 20,000 square feet of surface area, an artificial liner and method of disinfectant. The current language would call for disinfection with an agent whose residual can be easily monitored, and the use of automatic controllers.
As these agencies continue to fine-tune their requirements, industry associations are working with them and supplying suggested changes, Hatfield said.
She doesn’t expect this issue to end with Texas and Florida.
“We are expecting it to spring up in other states,” she said, “which is why we ultimately hope that we can provide a good framework in both these states.”
