Did you know that swimming is the second most popular exercise activity in the United States, with approximately 360 million annual visits to recreational water venues such as pools, spas, wading pools, water slides and other swimming places? On average, people have about 0.14 grams of feces on their bottoms which, when rinsed off, can contaminate recreational water. Unfortunately, the number of Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) are increasing and there is low public awareness of the problem. The City of Wichita Office of Environmental Health would like to be at the forefront with efforts to combat RWIs this swim season and provide the information only a click away.

RWI's are illnesses that are spread by swallowing, breathing or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers or oceans. RWI's can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including gastrointestinal, ski, ear,respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. The most common reported recreational water illness is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses can by caused by germs such as Crypto, short for Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli O157:H7. 

Swimmers who are ill with diarrhea can often carry germs which can contaminate the water if an accident occurs in the pool. If someone swallows water that has been contaminated with feces, he/she may become sick. Many of these diarrhea-causing germs do not have to be swallowed in large amounts to cause illness.

Many other RWIs (skin, ear, eye, respiratory, neurologic, wound, and other infections) are caused by germs that live naturally in the environment (water, soil). In the pool or hot tub, if disinfectant is not maintained at the appropriate levels, these germs can increase to the point where they can cause illness when swimmers breathe or have contact with water containing these germs.

The real answer is everyone who uses a pool or spa can be at risk. Children, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems can suffer from more severely from illness if infected.

Properly maintaining pools and educating staff swimmers help keep RWI's out of aquatic facilities. By following the 6 please steps, swimmers can help keep themselves and everyone else safe.

The office of Environmental Health conducts inspections of all public and semi-public aquatic facilities within the city limits. Facilities are also required to report all fecal and vomit accidents to the inspectors. This helps ensure that proper sanitation is maintained at all times when the facility is in operation. Call the Office of Environmental Health if you suspect you have a RWI.

Please review the recall of the anti-entrapment pool covers.  The complete list can be viewed at http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html .

*If you missed the free training on May 4th & 11th at 9:30-11:30 AM for aquatic facility operators and managers, pleae review a copy of the presenation.   Download the Pool & Spa Operator Training PowerPoint Presentation in PDF.

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