Water Recreation Facilities Rule Revision

What's Happening?

We are revising the water recreation rules (Chapter 246-260 WAC and Chapter 246-262 WAC). These rules outline requirements necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of users of water recreation facilities and recreational water contact facilities. We are considering amending these rules to adopt the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) standards.

Why?

RCW 70.90.120 gives the authority to adopt rules for water recreation and directs staff to review and consider the CDC’s most recent version of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). The MAHC was updated in 2018 and 2023 however the rules have not been revised to reflect current practices.

The purpose of this rulemaking is to revise the water recreation rules to reflect current practices outlined in the MAHC, where appropriate.

Timeline

Task	Date
TAC Meeting Facility Staffing 6.3 Aquatic Facilities Management 6.4 Contamination Response 6.5	June 2025
TAC Meeting Recirculation & Water Treatment 4.7 \| 5.7	July 2025
TAC Input on Specific Aquatic Venues	June 12 - July 1, 2025
Float Tank Focus Group	July 2025
Reformat Draft Rules to align with Code Reviser Guidelines	May - July 2025
Informal Comment Period*	August 1 - September 30, 2025
Update SBOH	August 20, 2025
Complete Significant Analysis/Small Business Economic Impact Statement*	October 1 - December 31, 2025
File CR-102 (draft rules)*	January - February 2026
Hold Public Hearing*	June 2026
File CR-103P (final rules)	July 2026
Implementation (develop guidance, trainings, education, etc.)	July 2026 - July 2027
Rules Effective	2027

*Opportunities to provide input.

Get Involved!

Technical Advisory Committee

A technical advisory committee (TAC), consisting of subject matter experts outlined in WAC 246-260-191, has been convened to address discrepancies and begin drafting rule language. The TAC meets on the first Tuesday of every month. As the TAC finalizes sections of draft rules, they’ll be posted here for review.