SWIMMING POOLS AND HEALTH: THE NEW ITALIAN LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PROTECTION

Introduction The regulation of swimming pools is a crucial aspect of public health policy, as it concerns both user safety and the hygienic quality of bathing water. Until recently, the Italian framework relied primarily on the 2003 State-Regions Agreement which, although forward-looking at the time, over the years revealed structural limitations. The absence of harmonization, the fragmented regional implementation, and the lack of specific provisions for new types of facilities underscored the need for an updated and more consistent approach. In July 2025, the Italian Council of Ministers approved the new Framework Decree on swimming pools, which introduces for the first time a nationally coherent and modern regulatory structure. Although the legislative process is still ongoing, this represents an important step forward in aligning national standards with European Directives and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, and in strengthening the protection of public health. Aims This work illustrates how the new decree enhances the protection of health in swimming environments by overcoming regional disparities and setting uniform national rules. It highlights the main innovations introduced by the reform: the extension of its scope of application, the recognition of professional roles, and the definition of updated hygienic-sanitary parameters consistent with the latest scientific evidence and international guidelines. Methods The legislative process was accomplished by a comprehensive review of the existing national framework, an analysis of European Directives (i.e. quality requirements for swimming pool supply water) and WHO standards, and consultations with health authorities, technical experts, and stakeholders in the sector. The result is a structured regulatory system supported by technical annexes specifying chemical and microbiological parameters, monitoring procedures, and corrective measures, designed to ensure a preventive and evidence-based approach to risk management. Results The decree significantly expands the scope of regulation. Beyond public and collective pools in hotels, sports centres, and wellness facilities, it also encompasses therapeutic and rehabilitative pools, seawater pools, and natural facilities such as bio-lakes and bio-pools. Notably, it also includes residential, condominium, and domestic pools, establishing minimum safety requirements to protect users and prevent accidental access. Professional roles are clearly defined: the presence of a lifeguard is now mandatory in all publicly accessible pools, with responsibilities ranging from accident prevention to hygienic supervision and emergency response. Moreover, the decree introduces the role of the Pool Manager, entrusted with ensuring overall safety, compliance with protocols, and the implementation of self-control plans inspired by the Water Safety Plan approach in line with EU Directive 2020/2184. Water quality is safeguarded through updated reference values for chlorine, pH, turbidity, Escherichia Coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, intestinal enterococci, Staphylococcus aureus as well as through the introduction of new parameters, such as total trihalomethanes. These parameters, organized in technical annexes, provide a systematic basis for monitoring and corrective action, while inspections by health authorities ensure consistent enforcement nationwide. Conclusions The 2025 Framework Decree constitutes a significant step towards modernizing and unifying the regulation of swimming pools in Italy. Compared with the 2003 State-Regions Agreement, it offers a more rigorous and up-to-date framework, addressing long-standing gaps and reducing regional disparities. By including domestic pools, recognizing innovative types of facilities, defining hygienic and microbiological standards, and formalizing key professional roles, the decree enshrines a management model founded upon professionalism, accountability, and prevention. Its implementation, once the legislative process is concluded, is expected to improve safety, promote consistent oversight, and strengthen the protection of public health.