Aquatic Center Aquatic Center

POOL RULES

NO DRUGS, ALCOHOL, TOBACCO OR GLASS ARE ALLOWED IN POOL AREA

1. All persons should take a shower before entering or returning to the pool.
2. Children 7 years and younger, and children unable to swim, must be accompanied by a parent or responsible supervisor of at least 14 years of age or older, at all times, in and out of the water.
3. Swim diapers must be worn for babies/toddlers/individuals that require it.
4. No person having a communicable disease or infectious condition shall be permitted in the water.
5. Persons having open blisters, sores, cuts, etc. may be prohibited from entering the pool area.
6. Swimsuits are required for use of pool.NO street clothes are allowed in the water.
7. No alcoholic and/or controlled or illegal substances are allowed within the confines of the facility grounds, nor within the building structures, nor in the parking lot.
8. No smoking, food, or drink is allowed within the confines of the facility and grounds, except in designated areas- adjacent to the bathhouse on the West side of the pool or in the shade shelters.
9. The Onawa Aquatic Center or City of Onawa are not responsible for personal items brought into the pool. Bringing cell phones/valuables are at your own risk.
10. No large inflatable rafts or toys are allowed in the main pool. No dangerous toys in the pool. This is at the discretion of the Manager and Parks and Rec Director. Only soft toys, balls, floatation devices that are approved by the management, will be permitted.
11. Personal conduct in the pool and facility grounds must be such that the safety of self and others is not jeopardized.
12. No diving in the shallow end of the swimming pools and in other areas where it is marked “No Diving”.
13. No excessive splashing to where it makes a lifeguard’s water surveillance difficult.
14. No running on the deck or in the entire indoor/outdoor facility.
15. Rough play, rough language, profanity and/or any disturbance amongst the staff and/or public are prohibited in the entire indoor/outdoor facility.
16. Spitting and blowing the nose into the water is prohibited.
17. Lifelines and lane ropes are not to be played with, nor climbed on.
18. No glass objects are allowed in the facility. This includes Goggles.
19. No unnecessary talking with the lifeguards and/or aquatic staff while on duty and/or at work.
20. Any tag or ball games should remain in the water.
21. Breath holding games and attempting to swim the length of the pool on one breath will not be allowed.
22. Do not let anyone play with rescue equipment.
23. No pushing people on deck or pushing people into the water.
24. No dunking people in the water.
25. Keep swimmers in the correct depth of water according to the skill of the person.
26. Do not let non-swimmers float out into water over their heads, on any floating device.
27. No one should climb on anyone or carry each other around or carry a non-swimmer into deep water.
28. No back dives or flips permitted off sides of the deck.
29. Authorized Personnel only behind the front desk/control area, public allowed behind front desk when given permission to do so.
30. Swimmers should not climb on any devices such as benches, chairs, tables, counters, sink area, showers, stalls, fence, guard chairs, etc.
31. No bicycles, mopeds, skateboards allowed on the pool decks, or inside the facility.
32. Everyone should be able to swim the width of the pool, twice (by the rope) before allowed into water over his or her heads, and to use the diving board.
33. No person shall be allowed to enter the pool facility while under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled or illegal substances.
34. Lap lanes should be kept clear for lap swimmers.
35. All patrons will exit the pool immediately for break and at closing time.
36. The Onawa Aquatic Center and its authorized personnel shall have the power to close the pools whenever the safety and/or health of the participants are in danger.
37. Patrons are not allowed to use or work equipment that is intended for authorized personnel only, except in case of an emergency.
38. Patrons questioning the authority of the Onawa Aquatic Center personnel will not be tolerated. Any verbal or non-verbal aggressive behavior and/or negative comments aimed at any Onawa Aquatic Center personnel or facility itself will not be tolerated.
39. No large inflatable rafts or toys will be allowed in the main pool. This includes any potential dangerous items. This is at the discretion of the supervisor at the pool.
40. If a child uses a life jacket, they must be with in an arm’s length away from a person 14 years or older and they are not allowed in the deep end.

Diving Board Rules:

1.Patrons must demonstrate ability to swim two widths of the pool before using the diving board.

1.One person is allowed on the board at a time.

2.Only one bounce is allowed (No multiple bounces).

3.All diving stunts off the board should be initiated from the feet.

4.No loitering on the diving board- patron must walk forward at all times.

5.The next person using the diving board must wait on the deck until the diver leaves the board.

6.Patron must go straight off the end of the board.

7.The person on the board must wait until the diving area is clear before diving.

8.After using the board, patrons must swim directly to the nearest ladder and exit the diving area.

9.No balls, flippers, goggles, noodles, inflatable rings, etc. are allowed on the diving board.

10.No swimming or loitering in the diving board area.

11.Patrons should keep the diving area clear while the diving board is being used.

12. The diving board area maybe closed for open swim at the discretion of the lifeguard stationed at that area, so long as no one is wanting to use the diving board.

Slide Rules:

1. Patrons must obey lifeguard’s commands, and only begin descent when signaled by guard.
2. Must be seated to initiate start and must remain seated facing forward all the way down to the splash pool.
3. No multiple sliding or sitting on laps.
4. Must be approximately 4’ tall, or to the height of the bar at the top of the slide.
5. No pushing, shoving, or cutting in line on the approach to the slide will be allowed.
6. Patrons must exit the splash pool immediately by leaving the end of the slide and working your way to the steps as soon as possible.
7. Obey the lifeguard’s commands in the splash pool. They are there for your protection.
8. No floaties or life jackets are allowed.No sharp objects that could possibly scratch the slides are allowed. No eye glasses, goggles, fins, etc. are allowed. Watch for locker keys, zippers, studs/jewels, buttons, or gromets on suits that could scratch slides.

Baby Pool Rules:

1. No guard on duty area.
2. The children’s pool is for children 6 years and younger.
3. Children must be supervised at all times by a person 14 years of age or older within the fenced area. No child shall be left unattended!
4. Children must wear swimming suits. NO diapers are allowed. 
5. No running, dunking, splashing, throwing objects, spitting or rough play is allowed in or around the pool area.  
6. Children’s pool gates should remain closed at all times.

$250 fee (paid in full prior to pool party to confirm reservation)
Additional $25 for over 75 people
Available to book every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Pool Party Rules:

Everything and everyone must be cleared up and out of the pool by 8:30 p.m. 
No one may enter the water until 6:30 p.m.
Floaties are allowed 
Children who have not passed the swim test must be accompanied by an adult in the deep end with or without a floatie
No grills inside the pool (can be used outside fence)
Providing own food and non-alcoholic beverages is allowed but concessions will also be available for purchase--NO GLASS

Children are allowed to go down the slide with a parent but no lifejackets or floaties are allowed

2026 PUBLIC LESSONS  

Session 1:  June 15-26

Session 2:  July 20-31

Child must be 5 & up

$35 for Ten - 30min sessions

Lessons will be held Monday through Friday each week

11-11:30 a.m. 

5-5:30 p.m. 

Space is limited for the amount of children in each public level.

We do our best to accommodate as many time and date requests as possible. Scheduling is done based on a first-come, first-served basis.  

PRIVATE LESSONS

Child must be 2 & up

$70 for four 30min sessions

Lessons start on Monday and end on Thursday

Due to weather cancellations make-up days will be held on Fridays
Swim level will be up to the instructor's discretion or based on the last level the child completed