SHDHD Board of Health to consider adoption of swimming pool regulations
August 28, 2026
Launch the media gallery 1 playerHastings, Nebraska – The Board of Health for South Heartland health district will be considering adoption of public swimming pool regulations at their September 2 meeting.
South Heartland District health director Michele Bever said the Board of Health is considering this action because the State is no longer inspecting pools to ensure compliance with sanitary and safety regulations. “The primary purpose of public swimming pool regulations is to prevent illness outbreak, injuries and drowning,” she said.
Bever said the boards of health for district health departments have specific responsibilities under state law to protect the public’s health. This includes enacting and enforcing rules and regulations to prevent communicable disease, conducting health and sanitary investigations and inspections, and establishing fees for the costs of services.
During the 2026 legislative session, the Nebraska Legislature passed LB759. Part of LB759 transferred the regulation of public swimming pools from the Nebraska Department of Water, Energy and Environment (NDWEE) to local government, including district health departments. Under LB759, State regulations for operating pools, and for designing and constructing new pools, will remain in effect. While NDWEE will continue to review plans for new pools, NDWEE will not issue operating permits and will not conduct regular inspections to determine compliance with State regulations on sanitary and safe operation.
Due to these changes, the SHDHD Board of Health is proposing to adopt State regulations for sanitary and safe operation and maintenance of existing pools. The regulations also authorize issuing permits, conducting inspections, and establishing fees; authorize actions to gain compliance with health and safety regulations; and provide for appeals and due process.
“There are about 27 public swimming pools in our health district, which includes Adams, Clay, Nuckolls and Webster counties,” Bever said. “We plan to work collaboratively with pool operators to ensure they understand the regulations and know what steps they can take to be compliant. We have a shared interest in protecting the health and safety of pool patrons,” she said.
The public is invited to provide input during a hearing at the September 2 Board of Health meeting, scheduled for 8:45 am at 606 N. Minnesota Ave, Hastings, Nebraska, 68901. To learn how to provide testimony or to view the public swimming pool proposed regulations and proposed fee schedule, visit southheartlandhealth.ne.gov.
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