El Paso’s New Initiative to Stop ‘Code Browns’ at Public Pools

El Paso’s pool season might soon come with a splash of accountability. City leaders are floating a fine for swimmers who drop the wrong kind of kids off at the pool. The proposed fee, buried among other budget tweaks, aims to keep facilities clean, swimmers safe, and pool days from being cut short by the dreaded “code brown.”

What’s a “Code Brown”?

These unexpected poolside incidents have a name- “code brown.” It’s not exactly a technical term, but it’s the city’s way of referring to those unfortunate moments when someone has a bathroom emergency in the water. And while the phrase might get a chuckle, the cleanup is no joke.

Each time it happens, staff are forced to shut down the entire facility for the rest of the day and follow strict CDC protocols to sanitize the water, the building, and any equipment exposed. It can cost the city around $1,000 in labor and chemicals every time a code brown strikes. There have been 10 shutdowns, or code browns, in the last four years. It's not a lot, but the cost adds up!

El Paso’s Proposed “Code Brown” Fine

To help cover those costs, and hopefully prevent future incidents, the city is proposing a $50 fine for any swimmer who turns a pool day into a cleanup crisis. The fee would apply only at the 13 city-operated aquatic facilities, with lifeguards tasked with identifying the culprits and issuing fines.

The proposal is part of El Paso’s upcoming budget discussions. City leaders will introduce the tax rate and next year’s proposed $624.4 million general fund budget on July 31, with a public hearing scheduled for August 12. A final vote is expected August 19.

So if you're heading to a city pool this summer, remember: pack your goggles, your sunscreen and maybe a little extra self-awareness. Because while splashing is encouraged, splashy accidents could cost you 50 bucks and a whole lot of embarrassment!