Monday – Thursday:     11 AM – 8 PM
Friday & Saturday:        11 AM – 9 PM
Sunday:                           10 AM – 8 PM
Holidays:                         11 AM – 9 PM

Pool Closed September 5-7

Post Labor Day Weekend:  Friday, Saturday & Sunday 12 – 8PM

Pool Management

• All aspects of the pool amenity are governed by the Mews Board of Directors with input from the Recreation Committee, and both support the work of the pool management company.
• High Sierra Pools is the contracted management company for 2023.
• The pool management company is responsible for the maintenance, cleanliness, and safety of the pool.
• At least one employee who holds an Arlington County swimming pool operator’s license will be on duty during operating hours.
• Lifeguards and pool management employees are in charge of enforcement of these rules and regulations. Mews directors and the Recreation chair support enforcement as warranted.
• Proper respect and cooperation are due the lifeguards and pool management employees whose role is to provide for the safe and orderly operation of the pool.
• Lifeguards shall not serve as babysitters or caregivers for any pool patron or guest and shall not provide private services to individual pool patrons while on duty.

Swim Tests & Safety of Non-Swimmers

• The lifeguard may require any person, regardless of age, to take a swim test. Anyone who does not pass the swim test will be prohibited from using the deep end of the pool and may be subject to other restrictions imposed by the lifeguard, pool management company, Recreation chair, or Mews director.
• All children ages 14 and under are required to take and pass a swim test once each pool season in order to enter deep end.
• At the discretion of the lifeguard, anyone at least 15 years of age may be asked to take a swim test in order to enter the deep end.
• Except as otherwise determined by the lifeguard, a person only need pass the swim test one time per pool season. The lifeguards will maintain a list of persons who have passed the test for reference throughout the pool season.
• No person shall be left unsupervised or unattended in the pool or on the pool deck if the person cannot swim without the assistance of another person, a flotation device, or other means. The lifeguard may make an exception to this rule for a responsible person at least 15 years of age who is capable of making sound judgements about safe pool use regardless of their swimming ability.

Supervision of Children

• Parents or guardians are responsible at all times for their children using the pool amenity, including when not in the company of their children.
• Residents and guests 10 years of age and under always must be accompanied by a person responsible for their care who is at least 15 years of age and capable of swimming.
• Residents 11 -14 years of age may be unsupervised at the pool provided they have passed the swim test and provide a permission form signed by the person responsible for their care. Forms may be obtained from the lifeguards.  A list will be maintained by the lifeguards of children who meet these requirements to be in the pool enclosure unsupervised.  Unless earlier revoked by a person responsible for the child’s care or by the lifeguard, pool management employee, Mews director, or Recreation chair, the waiver and permission form will be valid for the pool season for which it was submitted.
• Fairlington Mews Pool Permission Form

Breaks

• A fifteen (15) minute break will be called each hour to accommodate the inspection of the bathrooms, water testing, equipment check, clean-up duties, and to allow the lifeguards time to take personal breaks and get relief from constant surveillance.  Additional breaks may be called at the discretion of the lifeguard.
• All patrons must exit the water completely during breaks.
• Patrons creating unsafe conditions during breaks are subject to provisions described in the Enforcement section of these rules.
• Regular breaks do not apply to the wading pool, though lifeguards may impose breaks in the wading pool area for maintenance purposes.

Wading Pool

• Lifeguards are not responsible for the safety of patrons within the wading pool enclosure and do not monitor activity within it.
• Wading pool patrons are required to comply with wading pool rules and patrons responsible for children in the wading pool enclosure are expected to help enforce them.
• Children 14 years of age or younger are permitted to enter wading pool area only if continually accompanied by a person responsible for their care who is at least 15 years of age and capable of swimming. Patrons using the wading pool may not engage in activities that cause safety concerns for or interfere with the enjoyment of younger patrons using the wading pool.
• The cantilever umbrella in the wading pool area may be touched only by persons at least 15 years of age. The lifeguards will raise and lower the umbrella, while patrons may adjust the positioning of it as needed throughout the day.

Food

• Arlington County Code prohibits the consumption of food within 10’ of the swimming pool edge.
• Food is permitted inside the pool enclosure on the grassy area only.
• ALCOHOL IS STRICTLY PROHIBITEDin all areas of the pool enclosure, including the grassy area, regardless of the type of container.
• Glass items are prohibited in all areas of the pool enclosure.
• Patrons must clean up their food items and ensure the area is clean for the next patron.
• Lifeguards may eat in or near the guard room.

Health

Arlington County Code requires the following rules:

• If you have or have had diarrhea in the past two weeks, please do not use the pool.
• Shower your child and yourself before entering the pool or after using the toilet.
• Bathers who are not toilet trained, or incontinent persons, must wear a swim diaper.
• Do not drink pool water.
• Persons with skin infections, open wounds, communicable diseases, and nasal, ear, or eye discharge are not permitted in the pool.
• Spitting, spouting of water, blowing one’s nose, eating, drinking, and chewing gum are not permitted while in the pool.
• Smoking of any substances in any form, including vaping, is prohibited within the pool enclosure.
• All injuries occurring on the premises must be reported immediately to the pool manager or lifeguard.
• If medical help is called, any charges will be the responsibility of the individual concerned, with residents being responsible for themselves, their children, guests, and caregivers.
• Pets of any kind are not allowed in the pool enclosure.

Safety

• The use of any flotation devices and toys in the pool and pool enclosure shall be at the discretion of the lifeguards.
• Any person in need of a flotation device to swim must be accompanied in the water and be within arms’ length of a person responsible for their care who is at least 15 years of age who is capable of swimming. Lifeguards may make exceptions to this rule for responsible adults who cannot swim but are capable of making sound decisions about safely using areas of the pool, though they will not be permitted to use the deep end.
• Running, pushing, wrestling, acrobatics, and roughhousing in the water and anywhere within the pool enclosure area are strictly forbidden.
• At the discretion of the lifeguard, ball playing and other games in which items are thrown are permitted in the pool, but not on the deck. Hard objects may not be thrown anywhere in the pool enclosure.
• Forward-dives are permitted only in the deep end and may be restricted at the discretion of the lifeguard.Back-dives are not permitted.
• No tricycles, bicycles, big wheels, scooters, skateboards, or other riding toys or devices are allowed in the pool enclosure.
• Wagons and strollers are permitted as long as they do not obstruct walkways, block views of the pool by lifeguards or those responsible for patrons using the pool.
• Socializing with or distracting the lifeguards on duty is prohibited.
• The presence of intoxicated persons anywhere within the pool premises is prohibited.

Guests

• Mews residents may bring guests to the pool, subject to the limitations described in these rules, without charge and without a reservation.  Discretion is encouraged at times of peak usage.  The pool manager or lifeguards may, at their discretion, restrict or suspend guest privileges to prevent overcrowding.
• Residents may bring up to four (4) guests per household per visit.
• Guests will not be admitted without their host who must be a resident with a current recreation pass.
• A resident with a recreation pass must always accompany their guests in the pool enclosure.
• Guests may also be asked to leave the pool area if the resident leaves the guest unaccompanied. Requests for exceptions to this rule (for example, temporary house guests or house-sitters) should be addressed to the Recreation Committee, preferably a week in advance, for receipt of temporary guest pass.
• Guests are subject to the same rules and regulations that apply to residents. Residents are responsible for the conduct of their guests.

Parties

• Residents wishing to schedule a pool party should submit a written request to the Recreation Committee two weeks (14 days) in advance of the event. The Recreation Committee may make exceptions to the 14-day rule at its discretion.  Reservations are granted on a first-come, first-served basis.  The Recreation Committee may determine that no parties are allowed on a given day or weekend for which it is anticipated to be more crowded.
• Parties are defined as 5-15 guests, with larger groups possibly subjected to charges for additional lifeguard staff as
• Parties may not exceed two hours in duration.
• For parties with guests 14 years of age or younger, as well as non-swimmers of any age, party hosts must clear their chaperone and supervision plans with the Recreation chair.
• Groups that do not provide adequate chaperonage may be asked to leave the pool.

Miscellaneous

• Music may be played at a low volume so as not to bother other pool patrons.
• Chairs may not be reserved for persons who leave or who are expected to arrive later. Chairs should be covered with towels when in use to keep them clean for other patrons and for their long-term durability.
• Repair and/or replacement costs for any pool property damaged by a resident or their guest will be charged to the appropriate resident. Residents are responsible for themselves, their minor children, and all guests.
• Lap swimmers have priority in the lap lane.
• The Board of Directors, Recreation Committee, and the pool management employees are not responsible for the safety of personal articles brought into the pool enclosure.
• No personal items and no flotation devices, including pool floats of any kind, may be left at the pool.
• Each patron uses the pool and its facilities at their own risk. Engaging in any activity comes with inherent risks despite the actions taken by the Mews, its directors, officers, agents, and employees to mitigate such risks.
• Appropriate swimming attire must be worn when swimming so as to prevent damage to the pool equipment.
• Unauthorized entry into the pool enclosure when the pool is not open shall be grounds for suspension.

Enforcement

• Pool employees are in charge of the pool and, as warranted, work with Mews Directors, and the Recreation Chair in enforcing pool rules. Pool employees are to be respected and cooperation with their instruction is required.
• The lifeguards, pool management staff, Mews Directors, and Recreation Chair each have the authority to suspend pool privileges for the day for any individual(s) who create a safety risk for themselves or others or who do not abide by pool rules.
• All incidents of suspension will be reported to a Board member or the Recreation Committee chair immediately.
• In consultation with the Recreation chair as needed, the Board has the authority to suspend pool privileges for individual(s) if it determines that the circumstances warrant a longer suspension.  Considerations include, but are not limited to, the nature of the offense(s) and the number of times the individual has caused a safety issue or other disturbance anywhere in the pool enclosure area.
• The Board also may suspend the pool privileges of a child and their parent/guardian/chaperone if the parent/guardian/chaperone of that child does not take action as needed to ensure their child is using the amenity in a safe, rule-abiding manner or is not responsive and helpful to inquiries from Mews directors about incidents involving their child.
• Enforcement authority for these rules and regulations derives from the Fairlington Mews Bylaws of the Master Deed.
• Requests for exceptions to any of these rules should be addressed in writing to the Recreation Committee.