The regulation, stemming from Decree 485/2019 and extended by the Junta de Andalucía, mandates that only accredited personnel can handle chemicals for pool water treatment. Facilities failing to comply with the technical-sanitary regulations face fines up to 600,000 euros or pool closure.
María José García, president of the Association for Equitable Water Distribution (AREA), emphasizes the certification's importance in preventing unqualified individuals and ensuring public health. "Incorrect actions can affect the health of users due to disinfection deficiencies, dosage errors, incompatible product mixtures, lack of parameter control, microbiological proliferation, or failure to respond to incidents," she stated.
The certification is personal and individual. Companies and self-employed individuals must ensure their staff are certified, while property managers are responsible for verifying it. The accreditation process, open since 2025, is for those with at least three years of pool maintenance experience. Those lacking this minimum experience can complete a four-month training course, costing around 2,000 euros in Málaga.
García warns that time is short for applications, as the process can take five to six months. Violations are categorized as minor (up to 3,000 euros), serious (3,001 to 15,000 euros), or very serious (15,001 to 600,000 euros), with potential pool closure for severe cases. Responsibility lies with both the maintenance company and the homeowners' association, which must demand and verify the staff's qualifications.
According to Cadastre data, Málaga province has 83,789 uncovered swimming pools. Municipalities like Marbella (11,505), the capital (6,583), and Alhaurín de la Torre (5,250) have the highest numbers. Some areas show a high density of pools per capita, such as Arenas (2.7 people per pool) and Alcaucín (3.1).
