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NEW!! In December 2007, President Bush signed into law the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. The new law went into efect December 19, 2008 and requires safety improvements for public pools and spas, specifically in the area of entrapment prevention. Year around public pool had to be in compliance by the December 19th date and seasonal pools are required to be in compliance by the time they open for the 2009 season. For More information on the law or it's requirement click here to download the  State of Connecticut's Department of Public Health Recreation Program's Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Document.

All public and semi-public swimming pools within the district are inspected for compliance with the Connecticut Public Health Code including the new Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act, for the prevention of Recreational Safety & Water Illness. With most pools within the district being seasonal, the pools are inspected each year before opening and must be in compliance with the health code prior to being issued their license and allowed to open. Pools open year around are inspected on a more frequents basis. The inspection process involves checking compliance of the water chemistry as well as ensuring proper safety equipment & procedures.

If you are a homeowner and are looking for information on the proper operation & maintenance of your own residential pool, please follow the link below: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/. Click on the link for more information from the people at HealthyPools.org on Myths and Facts about pools and "sense-able" tips to look for this summer.

 

Bathing beaches are also a great way of remaining cool in the summer as well as offering great opportunity for recreation. However, bathing beaches can also be a source of  Recreational Water Illness and therefore are also regulated to prevent the spread of illness. The North Central District Health Department monitors its local bathing beaches by routinely collecting samples of the water at  the beaches and submitting those samples to the state laboratory for water analysis. Sampling is performed during the summer months that the bathing beaches are open and continue till the bathing beaches are closed for the season. The samples submitted to the state laboratory are tested for bacteria. If bacteria or other pollutants are present in the sample, the bathing beach is closed until the the bacteria or the pollutants are not longer present.

As the summer season starts we will be posting any bathing beach closings that are monitored by our district. So check back often as part of your recreational bathing plans.

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Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program

The state of Connecticut has set a goal of eliminating childhood lead poisoning within the state by the year 2010.  In support of this goal, the North Central District Health Department is mandated by The Connecticut State Statutes to investigate and follow up on elevated blood lead levels in children under the age of six. As part of this mandate, the district conducts follow-up epidemiological as well as environmental investigations.

If you or someone you know is in need of information on Childhood Lead Poisoning, you may contact our office at (860) 745-0383 or follow the link below:

http://www.ct.gov/dph/cwp/view.asp?a=3140&q=387550&dphNav_GID=1828&dphPNavCtr=|#47067

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Daycare Inspection Program

In the state of Connecticut, child day care centers licenses are handled by the State. However as part of that licensing process, an environmental inspection of the premises by the district has to be conducted. A District inspection ensures that the drinking water supply is safe, that the indoor and outdoor areas are clean and in good repair, and that facilities are lead free. If the facility prepares food on-site, than the kitchen is also licensed by the district and inspected on a routine basis under the Food Protection Program.

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Hotel & Motel Licensing

Hotel & Motels are licensed by the District and inspected for compliance with state, as well as District, codes and regulations relating to sanitation and safety. They are inspected twice a year or as often as necessary to ensure compliance with all codes. If you or someone you know has a hotel complaint about a hotel or motel within our district, please call (860) 745-0383.

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Barber Shop, Beauty Salons & Nail Salons

As required by the Connecticut General Statutes, the Connecticut Public Health Code and the North Central District Health Department Sanitary Code, The North Central District Health Department will be licensing and inspecting Barber Shops, Beauty Salons, and Nail Salons annually  as of January 1, 2009.  You can obtain a copy of the current Barber Shop/Salon Regulations as well as an application for a License by clicking on the blue links or navigating to our Forms Page.