Aquatic facilities are commonly used by people of all ages for sport, recreation, education and therapeutic activities. Many modern aquatic facilities are now incorporated with specialised features such as spa pools, river rides, water slides and hydrotherapy pools, to increase variety for their users. Due to its wide use and growing range of features, it is important that aquatic facilities are designed, operated and maintained adequately, taking into consideration factors such as safety, health, hygiene and aesthetics.

In support of the National Water Safety Council’s task of establishing national water safety standards, and in line with its mission to enhance water safety in Singapore, the SS 556 : 2010 on design and management of aquatic facilities was initiated.

The new SS 556 specifies the general requirements for the design, construction, installation, operation, management and maintenance of all aquatic facilities in Singapore. It also provides operational guidelines to ensure that aquatic facilities consistently meet high safety and health standards to minimise the risk of disease, injury and other health-related dangers associated with the use of these facilities.

Water quality is another critical aspect of aquatic facilities. Pollutants are inevitably introduced into the water by users and the surrounding environment. These are often accompanied by micro-organisms, which may survive and breed, posing risk of infection to facility users. The standard provides guidelines on the implementation of effective water treatment system to maintain the water in a clean and disinfected condition.