Understanding Certified Lab Testing
In addition to an inspection, it is required that all public pools, wading pools and hot tubs test a sample of their water by a NJDEP certified laboratory initially before a pre-opening inspection and then on a weekly basis thereafter. Labs test the microbiological quality of the water using the limits of the recreational bathing code to determine if the waters are safe or unsafe to swim in. The health department gets notified if a body of water fails within 24 hours of the unsatisfactory tests. These failing facilities have within 24 hours to make adjustments with the body of water and resample. After two back-to-back failing lab reports the inspectors close these bodies of water until a passing lab results is issued by the lab.
On our website we post when a pool closes due to two consecutive laboratory failures and then the date of the facility re-opening from a passing lab result.