4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps

Delaware General Assembly : Delaware Regulations : Administrative Code : Title 16 : Department of Health and Social Services : Division of Public Health : Health Systems Protection (HSP)

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4400 Health Systems Protection

4467 Sanitation of Recreational Camps

1.0 Preamble

1.1 These Regulations as amended are approved by the Division of Public Health on February 27, 1989, pursuant to the authority invested by 16 Del.C. §122(3) a, b, c, d and g. These Regulations, as amended, provide a system of inspection of such facilities and establish procedures for their enforcement.

1.2 These Regulations, as amended, supersede regulations previously adopted by the Division of Public Health and have an effective date of April 1, 1989.

2.0 Introduction

Expanding leisure time, growing interest in outdoor recreation, rising standards of living and increased mobility make it possible for more people to seek and utilize recreational camps. To prevent the existence of adverse conditions, and to achieve and maintain such levels of environmental quality as will protect and promote public health, safety and general welfare, the establishment and enforcement of minimum standards in the form of regulations are established by the Division of Public Health. These Regulations provide a system of inspections of such recreational camps and establish procedures for their enforcement.

3.0 Purpose

3.1 It is hereby declared that the purpose of this part is to protect, preserve and promote the physical and mental health and social well-being of the people; to minimize the incidence of communicable disease; to regulate publicly and privately owned recreational camps for the purpose of maintaining adequate sanitation and public health; and promote the general welfare of the people by this Regulation.

3.2 To prevent the existence of adverse conditions, and to achieve and maintain such levels of environmental quality that will protect and promote public health and the general welfare, establishment and enforcement of such standards are required.

4.0 Application And Scope

The requirements of this part shall apply to the construction, alteration, addition, establishment, maintenance and/or operation of recreational camps.

5.0 Severability

If any provision or application of any provision of these Regulations is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of these Regulations.

General Provisions

6.0 Definitions

The following words and terms, when used in these Regulations, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

“Camp” means a property consisting of a tract of land and all tents, vehicles, buildings, or other structures pertaining to it used as living quarters or shelter, which is operated gratuitously or for compensation.

“Camp Director” means the individual who has the primary responsibility for health matters, food, staff supervision, the administration of program operations, and supportive services, such as business and transportation.

“Camping” means a sustained experience which provides a creative, recreational and educational opportunity in group living in the out of doors. It utilizes trained leadership and the resources of natural surroundings to contribute to each camper’s mental, physical, social and spiritual growth.

“Counselor” means an individual who has a supervisory role in a youth camp.

“Day Camp” means a camp operated on a campsite for any part of the day but less than 24 hours a day for at least six days or more per year for six or more day campers per year. This does not include day care centers as defined and licensed by the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families.

“Dependent Camp Site” means a plot of ground with no sewage disposal or water service hookups and designed for the accommodation of a dependent camping vehicle or tent.

“Hostel” means a building where sleeping space and/or meals are offered for a fee on a daily basis for persons who are involved in a recreational experience.

“Independent Camp Site” means a plot of ground that is provided with sewer, water and electrical hookups that is designated for the accommodation of one independent camping vehicle.

“Permit” means a written permit as required under Section 7.0.

“Person” means any camp owner or operator and shall include any individual, firm, partnership, company, corporation, trustee, association, municipality, county authority, the State, or any public or private entity conducting, controlling, managing or operating a camp as defined herein.

“Primitive or Outpost Camp” means a permanent camp premises or other site at which the basic needs for camp operation such as places of abode, water supply systems and permanent toilet and cooking facilities are not usually provided.

“Recreational Camp” means a camp for travel, recreation or vacation use operated on a campsite by the same or different persons for six days or more per year on a mutual or prorate basis, for six-day or resident campers.

“Refuse” means all solid waste materials, including garbage, rubbish, and ashes, etc.

“Residential Camp” means a camp operating on a permanent campsite for six or more consecutive 24-hour periods.

“Service Building” means a building housing toilet, bathing, laundry and/or other sanitary facilities.

“Division of Public Health” means the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services and the Director of the Division of Public Health or an authorized agent of the Board.

“Swimming and Diving Areas” means and includes those aquatic facilities and operations generally known as swimming pools, wading pools, diving tanks, beaches, rivers, lakes, other natural bodies of water, and similar areas and facilities.

“Tent” means any shelter of which 25 percent or more of the walls or roof or both are constructed of, or covered or protected by, canvas or any other fabric material.

“Travel Camp” means a camp which provides care for not less than a 48-hour period and which uses motorized transportation to move campers as a group from one site to another.

“Travel Trailer” means a vehicular portable structure built on a chassis, designed as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, and vacation use, usually identified “Travel Trailer” by the manufacturer. When factory equipped for the road, of body width not exceeding eight (8) feet and of any length providing its gross weight does not exceed 4,500 pounds, or of any weight provided its body length does not exceed 32 feet.

•	Dependent trailer means a trailer which is dependent upon a service building for toilet and lavatory facilities.

•	Self-contained trailer means a trailer which can operate independent of connections to sewer, water and electric systems. It contains a water-flushed toilet, lavatory, shower and kitchen sink, all of which are connected to water storage and sewage holding tanks located within the trailer.

“Troop Camp” means a camp which provides care for not less than a 24-hour period for organized groups of campers sponsored by a voluntary organization serving children and youth. If a Troop Camp is operated as a primitive, residential, travel, or trip camp, the regulations governing that specific type of camp shall apply.

“Youth Camp” means any day camp, primitive or outpost camp, residential camp, travel camp, or troop camp on public or private land which is conducted for the same 6 or more campers under 18 years of age. It shall include programs and/or activities promoted or advertised as a “youth camp” regardless of the programs advocated and shall also include sites and facilities primarily designed for other purposes such as, but not limited to, schools, playgrounds, resorts, wilderness areas, and governmental lands.