Swimming Pools in Co-ownerships: New Water Quality Requirements as of July 2, 2026

Please note that the Government of Québec published Decree 846-2026 in the Gazette officielle du Québec on June 17, amending several sections of the Regulation respecting water quality in swimming pools and other artificial pools (chapter Q-2, r. 39).

These changes come into force on July 2, 2026, and apply in particular to divided co-ownerships that have an indoor or outdoor swimming pool and/or a “basin,” as defined in sections 1, 2 and 4 of the said regulation:

Section 1
The purpose of this Regulation is to establish standards respecting the water quality of swimming pools and other artificial basins referred to in section 2, whether indoor or outdoor, operated for swimming, games, sports or relaxation.

Section 2
This Regulation applies to swimming pools and other basins that are accessible to the general public or to a restricted group of the public, such as those of the State, municipalities, educational institutions or non-profit organizations, or those intended for users of tourist establishments, sports centres or water parks.

It also applies to private swimming pools and other artificial basins that are accessible exclusively to the residents of buildings or mobile home parks, as well as to their guests.

Section 4
For the purposes of this Regulation, “basin” means swimming pools and other artificial basins, including wading pools and whirlpool baths. Water play facilities are included among basins.

(Emphasis added)

It should be noted that section 4 will be amended by Decree 846-2026, effective July 2, 2026, to read as follows:

“Section 4. For the purposes of this Regulation, the following terms mean:

“basin”: a swimming pool or any other artificial basin, including a water play facility, a fountain, a wading pool designed for young children to bathe in and whose water depth does not exceed 60 cm, and a whirlpool bath designed for sitting and not for swimming, which is not emptied, cleaned and refilled before being used by a new user and which is equipped with water jets, air jets or a combination of such jets;

“water play facility or fountain supplied by groundwater”: a water play facility or fountain whose water is never recirculated, whose water accumulation is less than 5 cm and which is supplied exclusively by groundwater;

“Minister”: the Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment and Parks;

“swimming pool”: an artificial basin in which people may swim, wade or dive and whose water depth exceeds 60 cm;

“professional”: a professional within the meaning of section 1 of the Professional Code (chapter C-26), whose order governs the practice of preparing opinions on water treatment equipment, and any other person legally authorized to carry out that activity in Québec;

“person responsible for a basin”: the owner or operator of a basin.”

Given the numerous amendments made to Regulation r. 39, we cannot detail them all here. Accordingly, the syndicates concerned should contact their water quality service provider in order to adjust to the new standards, where applicable.

Article written by Richard Lecouffe