Water Recreation Facilities Rule Revision

What's Happening?

The department and the state board of health are considering 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 state board of health 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.

Get Involved!

Informal Comment Period: August 1 – September 30, 2025

Provide input during our informal comment period!

Here’s how:

Review draft rules (Word) and Chapter Outline (Word)
Submit written comments to waterrecreation@doh.wa.gov.

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.