Public pool water norms in Ontario
In Ontario, Regulation 565 on public pools requires free chlorine of 0.5 to 10 ppm and a pH of 7.2 to 7.8 in an ordinary public pool.
Last verified: official text read, then re-read by a second reader, on 26 September 2026.
The values
Values for a public pool (Class A and Class B, which have the same water quality requirements), in ppm as written in the regulation.
| Parameter | Requirement | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Free chlorine, general case | 0.5 to 10 ppm | s. 7(8)(c) |
| Free chlorine, outdoor pool stabilized with cyanurate | 1 to 10 ppm | s. 7(10), para. 1 |
| Free chlorine or total bromine, hot-water pool at 35 °C or more | 5 to 10 ppm | s. 7(8)(e.2) |
| Total bromine, pool without waves | 2 to 8 ppm | s. 7(8)(d) |
| Total bromine, wave pool | 3 to 10 ppm | s. 7(8)(e) |
| pH | 7.2 to 7.8 | s. 7(8)(b) |
| Total alkalinity | 60 to 180 ppm | s. 7(8)(a) |
| Cyanuric acid, stabilized outdoor pool | 60 mg/L or less | s. 7(10), para. 1 |
| Cyanurate stabilization, indoor pool | Not permitted | s. 7(10), para. 2 |
What this page does not cover
The table does not repeat clarity, floatation pools and cold plunge pools, public spas, or public wading pools, which have their own rules (section 26.2). The regulation sets no numeric bacteriology, hardness or turbidity.
The medical officer of health may require a higher chlorine or bromine residual in writing.
Source
- Public Pools, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 565 (Health Protection and Promotion Act), consolidation of 1 January 2025 — Source: e-Laws, Government of Ontario —
www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900565(Regulation)
To be confirmed with the authority. The official text prevails. These values are copied from the cited source as of the date shown; rules change, and a public health inspector may require more. Confirm them in the text before relying on them.
Tracking your water logs
Remanso keeps each pool’s water readings and judges them against the norm of its jurisdiction. A value whose reading is not confirmed judges no reading. Try Remanso for 21 days, no credit card.