MAHC Monthly Checklist

For my remarkably busy friends, here’s the TLDR: take a minute today to review your daily, weekly, and monthly checklists for Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) compliance. It could be what saves your facility – and your guests – from a catastrophic incident. We’ve even helped get you started by sharing our own Weekly MAHC Inspection Checklist below

If it’s not written down, did it really happen?

When I was a young professional back in the days before cell phones and text messages (you know... about 25 years ago), my team quickly learned one of my cardinal rules: “If you didn’t write it down, it didn’t happen.” Whether it was asking for time off, flagging a maintenance issue, or just needing more testing supplies, there was a very real chance I’d forget before I even left the office.

More importantly, they knew this applied to daily tasks like chemical testing and facility walk-throughs. “If it’s not recorded, you didn’t do it” became our mantra. My initial goal was to shift our culture from focusing on getting a tan to prioritizing safety and accountability. Years later, I realized how critical that documentation was when it came to litigation — it kept my team and me from even being called for depositions.

But who decides what you should be documenting?

There’s no single regulatory body that oversees all pools, splash pads, spas, and waterparks. Health and safety codes vary widely from state to state, and even city to city. That’s why aquatic professionals often turn to “industry standards” and “best practices” when developing their standard operating procedures (SOPs).

One of the most comprehensive and science-based resources available is the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC). It’s widely used by insurance providers and legal teams as a benchmark for safe operations. The MAHC offers guidance on everything from how often to test pool water (every 2–4 hours at every aquatic feature, including splash pads per MAHC 5.7.5), to checking chemical feeder function and reagent expiration dates.

Ignoring these tasks — or failing to record them — puts your guests, your team, and your organization at risk.

Prepare before the crisis — not after.

Each year, we see serious incidents at aquatic facilities across the country. A few summers ago, a Shigella outbreak occurred at a local splash pad in my own community. These events are tragic — and should prompt all of us to re-examine our written procedures, observe how consistently tasks are completed, and identify any gaps in training or documentation that could lead to risk.

Now is the perfect time to do a quick audit of your checklists and ensure they reflect current standards and best practices. Start by asking yourself:

• Have you reviewed your daily, weekly, and monthly checklist items recently?

• Do they include references from the MAHC?

• Have you addressed requirements from your local/state health codes?

• Have you included manufacturer recommendations like daily slide testing or rescue equipment checks?

How are you documenting what you find?

Whether you're using paper forms or a digital platform like HydroApps, the goal is to ensure that the right people have access to the information — and that follow-up happens when something goes wrong.

A few questions to consider:

• Are your checklists accessible to everyone who needs them?

• If you use a centralized work order system, how do frontline staff submit concerns if they don't have access?

• Can your team attach comments or photos (e.g., of cloudy water or a corroded fitting)?

• When a problem is identified, is there a clear and effective process to report and resolve it?

If you resolve an issue, be sure to document that remediation. It’s not just about checking the box — it’s about building a defensible, transparent, and safety-first process.

Training matters more than you think.

Let me share a story (you didn’t think we’d get through this without at least one story, right?). One sunny afternoon during my first summer as an Aquatics Manager, my dad took me to lunch under a tree in the park. I was venting about how my guards never cleaned the bathrooms well. His response? “Did you teach them how to clean the bathroom?”

I scoffed — of course not! They were old enough to know how! He just laughed and said, “Then it’s your fault.”

The next week, we added “How to Clean a Toilet” and “Using a Squeegee” to our in-service agenda. Guess what? The bathrooms sparkled after that.

The moral of the story: Don’t assume your team knows what to look for. Teach them.

Train your staff to see your facility with a critical eye:

• Teach them to inspect from floor to ceiling.

• After test-riding the slide, are they checking the gutters and the catch pool?

• Do they move the shower curtain or close the door in the locker room to check for hidden messes?

• Are they documenting what they see with photos when appropriate?
  

Visual cues — like sharing photos of leaking tubing or early signs of corrosion — can train your team to spot problems before they escalate.

Bottom line: review, update, and verify.

Now is the time to revisit your documentation practices. Make sure you’re tracking your daily checklists and verifying that the work is being done — accurately and consistently. You’re already doing the hard work of keeping your facility safe. A little extra attention to documentation and process could make all the difference.

If you have questions or want to learn how HydroApps can help digitize your documentation and simplify compliance, we’re always happy to help.

Download the Daily MAHC Checklist HERE