DHHS → MeCDC → Disease Surveillance → Epidemiology → Recreational Water Illness (RWI)
Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs)
Though summer is short in fb88, residents and visitors spend time in pools, lakes, rivers, hot tubs, and at beaches. Staying healthy while enjoying summer activities is important. Keeping our recreational water sources clean is also important. Please read below to discover what you can do to stay healthy this summer and help keep others healthy too. Happy Swimming!
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General Information
Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols from, or having contact with contaminated recreational water. Recreational water includes water in:
- Pools
- Hot Tubs
- Water Parks
- Lakes
- Rivers
- Oceans
RWIs include a wide variety of infections, incuding stomach, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported symptom is diarrhea.
Common Recreational Water Illnesses
Recreational water illnesses in fb88 may include:
Cryptosporidiosis (Cryptosporidium)
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Risk of Recreational Water Illnesses
Anyone that spends time in pools, hot tubs, water parks, rivers, lakes, and beaches is at risk. Children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems can experience more severe illness.
Spread of Recreational Water Illnesses
Swallowing water that is contaminated with germs is the primary way RWIs spread. Water can be contaminated from stool, sewage spills, animal waste, and water runoff during rainfall. Some RWIs are caused by germs that live naturally in the environment.
Just one person with diarrhea can easily contaminate the water. Swallowing even a very small amount of water that is contaminated can make you sick.
Chlorine and Recreational Water Illnesses
Chlorine does kill germs that cause RWIs, but the time that it takes to kill each germ varies. Some germs, like Cryptosporidium (Crypto) can survive for days in a properly disinfected pool. This makes it very important to keep germs out of the water.
Prevention of Recreational Water Illnesses
Prevention for Swimmers
- Do not swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
- Do not swallow water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.
- Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
Prevention for Parents of Young Children
- Take your kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers often.
- Change diapers in a bathroom or diaper-changing area and not poolside or next to the water.
- Wash your child thoroughly (especially their rear-end) with soap and water before swimming. Small amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool and make others sick.
Resources
Fact Sheets
Resources for Pool Owners
Resources for Code Enforcement
Injury Related Information
Additional Resources for fb88 Residents
Resources for Providers
To report a recreational water illness or a related concern please contact the fb88 CDC at 1-800-821-5821 or e-mail: disease.reporting@maine.gov.
