Policy & Recommendations

• NEHA (National Environmental Health Association). Policy Statement: Model Aquatic Health Code. [ PDF – 6 pages] NEHA recommends the integration and adoption of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention’s Model Aquatic Health Code, by state, local, tribal, and territorial government agencies, to ensure public health and safety in aquatic facilities.
• CSTE (Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists). Support for Use of the CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) as a Resource and Guidance Document by State, Territorial, and Local Jurisdictions Regulating Public Aquatic Facilities [PDF – 4 pages], 2017. The position statement endorses state, territorial, and/or local jurisdictions using CDC’s Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) as a resource and guide when creating, revising, or updating state and local aquatic program regulations, guidance, and policy.
• NACCHO (National Association of County and City Health Officials). Recreational Water Safety. [PDF – 4 pages] 2015. NACCHO Statement of Policy calling for a renewed focus on improving recreational water safety. The statement emphasizes the importance of pool inspection and other recreational water safety activities at local health departments and specifically mentions the Model Aquatic Health Code as a tool to decrease waterborne injury and illness and promote healthy swimming.

The National Safety Council (NSC) “The State of Safety” [PDF – 25 pages] report now references the MAHC as an indicator for improved state status in drowning prevention. The NSC uses three indicators including “State has updated public pool and water facility regulations to conform with Model Aquatic Health Code”. See the full report. [PDF – 25 pages] The drowning indicator discussion can be found on page 26.

• CSTE and Sackett. D. A Decade after CSTE’s Call to Action, a New Voluntary Model Health Code Launches.  2014. Blog article discussing the launch of the MAHC and progress made over the past decade.
• CSTE (Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists). Prevention and Control of Recreational Water Illnesses. [PDF – 4 pages]  2004. CSTE’s 2004 position statement calling for the national workshop that led to the creation of the MAHC.