What Is the MAHC? About Us

Driven by your expertise

The Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and safety of people, families, and workers at public swimming facilities.

Voting on MAHC 5th Ed. CRs is now open! Cast your vote by March 30th.

Use your voice to shape the next edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code

About Us

CMAHC promotes health and safety for public swimming facilities in the U.S. A member-driven organization, CMAHC is unique as it exists exclusively to advocate, evolve, innovate, promote implementation, organize research in support of, and advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on needed updates to the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC).

The Model Aquatic Health Code

Through science-based guidance from the CDC, the MAHC is the only all-inclusive national pool code that addresses current aquatic issues. The MAHC is a voluntary resource guide that can help local and state authorities and the aquatics sector make swimming and other water activities healthier and safer. States and localities can use the MAHC to create or update existing pool codes to reduce risk for outbreaks, drowning, and pool-chemical injuries. The MAHC guidelines are all-inclusive and address the design, construction, operation, maintenance, policies, and management cutting-edge needs of today’s public aquatic facilities.

  • Update Process

    The CMAHC collects, assesses, and relays MAHC Change Request recommendations to CDC every three years via its triennial Vote on the Code conference, during which members gather, assess, and decide on proposed Change Requests to the MAHC.

  • Adoption

    The MAHC is a voluntarily guidance document that can be adopted wholly or in-part, and is driven by your expertise. It is free and accessible to all.

Swimmers racing

Our mission

The MAHC is unique in that it is kept sustainable, current, and complete because the people who use it vote on its content every three years via membership in the CMAHC.

  • Vision

    An up-to-date, knowledge-based Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) that supports healthy and safe aquatic experiences for everyone and is used by pool programs across the U.S.

  • Driven by Science

    The MAHC update process is based on scientific data and best practices gathered through a strong partnership between public health and aquatics industry experts, which makes it easier to adopt and implement.

Child giving a thumbs up underwater in a swimming pool

Founding Sponsors

Our sponsors help ensure everyone can continue to have discussions about the latest aquatic needs with regulators and aquatics leaders to make the MAHC the best possible health and safety guidance available.

National Swimming Pool Foundation
Counsilman Hunsaker
SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment