During a regular meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of Health (BoH) on Thursday, March 19, the board heard from Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation (PSCDC) Executive Director Emily Lashbrooke in regard to a potential ordinance concerning geothermal mineral hot spring pools.
Lashbrooke explained that the topic was being brought forward “because we are trying to preserve the geothermal and hot springs operators that currently exist” in the county.
She mentioned that the county is considering adopting updated building codes being required by the state and that one of those codes is the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
“And there is no provision for geothermal pools at all” in that code, Lashbrooke mentioned.
She then explained that a draft of an ordinance provided by David Dronet, owner of The Springs Resort, is asking for geothermal hot spring pools to be “special category” and not have to adhere to public swimming pool regulations, like chlorine levels “or anything like that.”
She commented that the chemicals that are required to be administered in regular public pools “would really destroy the minerals and everything that are in our geothermals.”
Lashbrooke clarified that the ordinance was being brought up just for discussion during the BoH’s meeting, but that it has been agreed upon by all three hot springs operators in the community.
Jeff Greer, the owner of Overlook Hot Springs, provided public comment on the matter, explaining that he used the state’s former design and sanitation criteria to design his building.
He also mentioned that all of his tubs are designed for “flow-through.”
Greer mentioned that looking at the past history of “successful operation” of hot springs in Pagosa Springs is the best way to predict potential issues.
He commented that being clean “is part of the brand” and that “water quality is our business,” noting that his indoor tubs are cleaned daily and the outdoor tubs are cleaned two to three times per week.
He explained that his staff uses baking soda and vinegar to clean the pools “because all that water returns to the river,” as the goal is to minimize chlorine usage, unless there is a contamination issue.
Greer then compared hot spring codes in the state of California, claiming that mineral pools there that meet a freshwater flow standard do not have to comply with chlorine aspects.
He noted that the state of California has allowed this practice “for years,” and that this exception is “virtually identical to the carve out that we’re asking form the health board.”
Greer also indicated that most hot spring facilities in Pagosa Springs sanitize with flow-through systems and that any tub less than 1,000 gallons has to have a full water exchange every hour, and tubs of more than 1,000 gallons have to have a full water exchange every two hours.
“So, that’s the guidelines that I follow,” he said.
Greer urged the BoH to follow the guidelines that the local hot springs operators have developed that Lashbrooke was presenting.
“This will only affect the public geothermal pools,” Lashbrooke said.
She explained that the operators would be required to clean on a regular basis and keep record of those cleanings, mentioning that the operators do this already.
Lashbrooke added that the goal is for the hot springs operators to not get “lumped into regular pools.”
“This is a full attempt to preserve the natural hot springs that we have here,” she said.
Dronet then provided some background on the origin of the ordinance being discussed, explaining that he sits on the board of a Hot Springs Association of North America.
He explained that the ordinance being presented was developed with guidance of the Hot Springs Association and that this situation is not unique to Archuleta County, as jurisdictions around the country have adopted something similar to create a separate classification for geothermal pools.
Dronet explained that the operators are looking for a special designation, claiming that is allowed within the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC).
He described the ordinance as being a great way to “codify” what’s already being done by the hot springs operators and keep the pools full of minerals “without unnecessary chemicals.”
Commissioner Warren Brown asked how this ordinance would fit into the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code, with Lashbrooke indicating that it would supersede the international code.
Brown then noted that the hot springs businesses currently reside within the Town of Pagosa Springs, asking if the town may need to approve the ordinance as well.
Lashbrooke commented that going to the town would be the next step.
“We would seek to have approval from both,” she said, explaining she was starting with the county due to it running the local public health department.
In response to questions from Brown and Commissioner Veronica Medina, Lashbrooke explained that the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code regulates the design, construction, alteration and maintenance of pools, and does not differentiate between geothermal or mineral pools.
“So, all pools would be treated as public pools with this new code,” Lashbrooke said.
BoH member Stacey Foss described the proposed ordinance as a “preemptive move” to protect what is already being done in the community before anything gets “overdefined.”
Public comment was given by Angel Stahr, owner of Healing Waters, who expressed that she is in support of the ordinance to carve out a special designation for hot spring geothermal pools.
Dronet offered clarification on how the MAHC works, explaining that it would not need to be a town ordinance as only the Public Health Department would need to approve it, adding that the actual construction of the pools is a different building code matter.
“But the treatment of water … that is a health department matter,” he said.
Brown commented that it would still ultimately go before the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for final approval.
Brown then asked if the BoH could direct staff to continue to move forward with the ordinance and have it brought back to the BoH at a later date for consideration.
Medina explained that the BoCC recently tabled its decision on adopting a number of new building codes, including the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Medina commented that the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code was not explained to the BoCC, saying, “We may or may not adopt it.”
She then asked if the ordinance being proposed would still be necessary if the county decides not to adopt the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
Public Health Director Ashley Wilson commented that some exploration on that would be needed.
Medina then asked if it would be Wilson or the attorney, Cathleen Giovaninni, looking into that.
“Because I think there’s some defined duties that I think have been maybe overstepped — I think some of us are not staying in our lane,” Medina said.
Wilson commented that the MAHC has been brought up from the county’s Water Quality Department in the past.
She mentioned that some of the things such as approval power in regard to water testing “lie with this board and the Public Health Department first to determine if they feel like this poses enough of a public health risk to then pursue and create something.”
Wilson also mentioned that during the October 2025 flooding events, the Public Health Department had conversations with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment about cleaning and testing, “and we have nothing in place that would make [hot springs operators] do that in those types of things.”
Wilson noted that the operators perform testing, noting they want to operate well.
BoH member Jessica Cox asked if there would be any potential downside in adopting the ordinance before the county adopts any other codes.
Brown mentioned that he’d like to have the county’s legal team assess everything before considering anything for adoption.
Foss commented that her thought on the matter is, “Our community has come to us and asked us to look at this” and therefore the BoH should consider it.
Medina commented that it would be appropriate for staff to continue to investigate more on the process.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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