Automatic Controllers NSW
What is an Automatic Controller in NSW?
If you manage or operate a public pool or spa in NSW, you’re legally responsible for keeping the water clean, safe and healthy. That means knowing when you need to test your water and what counts as an ‘automatic’ controller under NSW law. This article clearly outlines the requirements to help ensure compliance with the NSW Public Health Regulation 2022 and NSW Health Guidelines, while maintaining bather safety and safeguarding your facility assets.
Why Testing Matters
Regular water testing helps keep bathers safe by ensuring disinfectant (chlorine or bromine) and pH stay in range. When disinfectant drops too low or pH drifts too high, your water can become unsafe even if it looks clear. That’s why the Regulation requires testing:
- Before the pool opens each day, and
- At suitable intervals during the day – depending on bather load, hours of operation, depth of pool and sunlight. (Public Health Regulation 2022, Schedule 1, Clause 7)
What is an “automatic” controller?
NSW Health defines an automatic dosing system as one that uses sensors to measure disinfectant and pH and automatically adjusts the dosing rate to keep the water within range.
But not all systems are equal. HealthySwim classifies controllers into the following types to make compliance easier to understand:
Notes & References
[1] NSW Public Swimming Pool and Spa Pool Advisory Document (2013) – Table 5.6: Swimming pool and spa pool testing frequency. High-risk pools include spa pools, hydrotherapy pools, baby and infant learn to swim pools, infant wading pools, water features in pools, pools used by incontinent people, or a pool with three or more of the following risk factors:
- pH greater than 7.6 in a chlorinated pool
- Consistently poor disinfection (previous chemical or bacteriological criteria failures).
- High turbidity
- Poor pool circulation and/or filtration
- High bather loads
- Presence of algae
- Regular use by birds e.g., ducks
- Easy access of foreign material e.g., litter
- Biofilms detected
- Poor quality make-up water (high in chloramines)
[2] NSW Public Health Regulation 2022 Schedule 1, Clause 3(1): A pool must be fitted with an
automated or a continuous metered disinfectant dosing system.
Why HealthySwim Goes Further than the Minimum
While the Regulation allows once-daily testing for automatic systems, HealthySwim recommends higher testing frequencies for ORP or chlorination-only dosing systems because these don’t directly measure free chlorine. Without verifying chlorine residuals, there’s no way to prove compliance or guarantee bather safety. Legislation requires that you must know that
minimum residual free chlorine is being maintained throughout operation. [4]
Notes & References
- [4] Public Health Regulation 2022 – Schedule 1 Clause 4(2) (maintaining residuals) and Clause 7(2) (testing/verification) and Clause 7(4) – “disinfectant level” means – (b) for a chlorine disinfected pool – the concentration of free available chlorine and the total chlorine level of the water.
ORP and the NSW Regulation
ORP remains a useful control tool, but operators must ensure actual chlorine or bromine residuals meet legal minimums (e.g. 1–3 mg/L free chlorine depending on pool type and pH).
Key takeaways for operators
- Test before opening every day — always
- Know your system type (FCL, ORP or Continuous Metered Dosing System)
- Test as per HealthySwim’s Manual Testing Frequency Guidance Column
- Keep all test results for at least 6 months for inspection
- Calibrate photometer regularly — test strips and comparators are not accepted for public pools
Final Word
HealthySwim helps operators maintain a strong reputation through consistent compliance and best-practice water management. Our recommended testing intervals are designed to protect your swimmers, safeguard equipment and help you pass any inspection with confidence.
For help selecting an automatic controller, contact the HealthySwim Helpdesk.
