Pools & Spas
"An estimated 7.4 million swimming pools are in public or residential use in the United States. Every year, more than 360 million visits are recorded for recreational-water venues (e.g., swimming pools, spas, lakes, and oceans), making swimming the second most popular recreational activity in the United States—and the most popular activity for children. This use of recreational water, however, is associated with public health consequences such as drowning, injuries, and the spread of infectious diseases. Most public environmental health jurisdictions have programs that are designed to maintain safe and healthy public swimming facilities in their jurisdictions by reviewing construction and remodeling plans and conducting operational inspections." (1)
CDC’s Healthy Swimming web site is heavily focused on swimming in chlorinated and disinfected swimming venues. Below you will find useful information related to healthy swimming in pools and spas.
Design and Operation Guidelines
Disinfection and Remediation Guidelines
- General Disinfection
- Fecal Contamination of the Water
- Other Contaminants in the Water
- Surface Contamination
Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC)
Training
- Pool Operator Training Courses
- Certified Pool-Spa Inspector Training (CPI)
- Swimming Pools and Spas Interactive Training CD-ROM for Environmental Health Pool Programs
Prevention
- Prevention Materials
- General Public
- Aquatics Staff
- Public Health Professionals
- Pediatricians and Healthcare Professionals
- Health Promotion Materials
State Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Otto III, C. Recreational water-illness-prevention = healthy swimming. 2006: National Environmental Health Association Journal. 68(9). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/pdf/Otto%202006%20RWI%20Prevention%20NEHA%20Journal.pdf.
This icon indicates a link leading outside of this CDC Web site. While this external link provides additional information that is consistent with the intended purpose of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), not all external links will lead to federal websites. CDC cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal site, and linking to a non-federal site does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the site. You will be subject to the destination site’s privacy policy when you follow any link so indicated.
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
- Page last reviewed: November 6, 2008
- Page last updated: November 6, 2008
- Content source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Contact Us:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30333 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - healthywater@cdc.gov
