All aqua therapy pools used by the public should operate within National or State water quality and operational guidelines. People who use aqua therapy pools may have a variety of undesirable conditions that could be transmitted by the pool water if the pool is not properly maintained.

Aqua therapy pools can be more difficult to maintain than other pools due to the higher water temperature, and higher temperatures decrease the life of the disinfectant (e.g. chlorine) and provide optimum conditions for bacterial growth.

The temperature should be maintained between 28°C and 36°C. Guidance for Aqua therapy  and spa pools in health care facilities are contained in Queensland Health’s Infection Control Guidelines – June 1999 and Australian Standard AS3979-1993 Aqua therapy pools.