Since September 2025: Who else analyzes your bathwater?
The cantonal laboratory in Valais is no longer accepting samples. What many operators of swimming pools, hotels, or gyms don't yet know: Since September 1, 2025, all self-monitoring analyses must be submitted to an accredited private laboratory. The transition period has ended.
This is not a minor administrative change. It affects every business in the canton that provides public access to water – and is therefore subject to the Foodstuffs Act (LMG).
Who is affected?
The list is longer than many people think. According to the TBDV (Technical Building Regulations), any facility not used exclusively by families is considered a publicly accessible bathing facility. Specifically:
Swimming pools, thermal baths, whirlpools
Hotels, guest rooms, holiday centers, mountain huts
Fitness centers, sports centers, gyms
Campsites, group accommodations, hostels
Retirement and nursing homes, hospitals
Condominiums for tourist purposes
A private pool at home is not included unless it is regularly opened for group lessons or external use.
What needs to be analyzed?
The TBDV specifies clear parameters that an external laboratory must analyze:
Standard microbiology (for all bathing facilities except those with biological water treatment):
Aerobic, mesophilic bacteria: max. 1,000 CFU/ml
Escherichia coli: not detectable per 100 ml
Pseudomonas aeruginosa: not detectable per 100 ml
Legionella (only for facilities that generate aerosols – Jacuzzis, whirlpools):
Legionella spp.: max. 100 CFU/l
Physical Chemistry :
Turbidity, urea, chlorates, trihalomethanes. The limit values vary depending on the type of facility (indoor vs. outdoor pool).
How often are rehearsals mandatory?
Indoor swimming pools should be cleaned at least quarterly, and outdoor pools at least twice a season. These are minimum requirements, however. Pools with high visitor numbers or those serving vulnerable groups such as children or the elderly should increase the frequency based on risk.
The frequency must be determined in writing by the company's quality assurance person and documented in the company log.
What if a value is incorrect?
Non-compliant results are not uncommon – but they require immediate action. The operator must:
Determine the cause (technical malfunction, dosing error, maintenance gap)
Initiate and document corrective actions
If necessary, commission a follow-up inspection.
As soon as a value poses an immediate danger (for example, E. coli above 10 CFU/ml or Legionella above 10,000 CFU/l), the DVSV (Swiss Association for Swimming Pools and Water Protection) must be informed immediately and swimming in the affected pool must be stopped without delay. Reopening requires a thorough control analysis and approval from the authorities.
What does this mean in practical terms for operators?
Anyone who previously relied on the cantonal laboratory now needs a private analysis lab. And not just for mandatory analyses, but also as a partner who can advise on sampling, supply the correct bottles, and provide results quickly.
Valmonas Analytik AG in Steg (VS) is one of the few laboratories in Valais that covers all three types of analysis: standard microbiology, Legionella, and physical chemistry. We also conduct sampling directly at the customer's site and assist with correct documentation.
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