Navigation
Swimming pool and spas water can become contaminated by germs from swimmers or incoming water from unsafe water supplies. Contaminated recreational water can cause a variety of diseases such as diarrhea and skin, ear, and upper respiratory infections, particularly if the swimmer's head is submerged. The risk of illness or infection associated with swimming pools, spas and similar recreational-water environments has been linked to fecal contamination of the water. The fecal contamination may be due to feces released by bathers or contaminated source water. Many of the outbreaks related to swimming pools have occurred because disinfection was poorly or not at all applied. The majority of reported swimming pool-related outbreaks have been caused by viruses; recently, however, reported outbreaks have been more frequently associated with bacteria and protozoa. Non-fecal human shedding (e.g., from mucus, saliva, skin) in the swimming pool, spa or similar recreational-water environments is a source of potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms.Mucus, saliva and skin of infected users can directly contaminate pool or spa waters and the surfaces of objects or materials at a facility with sufficient numbers of primary pathogens (notably viruses or fungi), which can consequently lead to infections in other swimmers who come in contact with the contaminated water or surfaces. Opportunistic pathogens (notably bacteria) can also be shed from users and transmitted via contaminated water in pools or spas. In addition, certain free-living aquatic bacteria and amoebas can grow in pool or spa waters, in pool or spa components or facilities (including heating, ventilation and air conditioning [HVAC] systems) or on other wet surfaces within the facility to a point at which some of them (opportunistic pathogens) may cause a variety of respiratory, dermal or central nervous system infections or diseases.People with diarrheal illnesses are more prone to contaminate the water. Kids who wear diapers or are just learning to control their bowels are more likely to have fecal accidents and, if they are ill with diarrhea, the germs in their stool can contaminate the pool. Then when swimmers accidentally swallow this fecally contaminated water, can become ill. Also, some germs such as Cryptosporidium (crypto) can come with the make-up municipal water (mainly in sites with bad sanitation conditions. See Safe Water for International Travelers for worldwide water quality.) and are not easily killed by desinfectants in the pool, increasing the risk of disease.