Waterborne Illness
Although we enjoy safe drinking and recreational water in the United States, waterborne diseases still pose a threat to our health and productivity. If someone is sick with diarrhea and has an accident in the water, millions of diarrhea-causing germs can get in the water. If another person swallows even a small amount of that contaminated water, they can get sick. Germs can also get in the water from small amounts of poop rinsing off swimmers’ bodies.
You can get swimming-related illnesses if you swallow, have contact with, or breathe in mists of water contaminated with germs. You can also get swimming-related illnesses by having contact with chemicals that are in the water or inhaling chemicals that evaporate from the water and turn into gas in the air.
The most common swimming-related illnesses are diarrhea, skin rashes, swimmer's ear, pneumonia or flu-like illness, and irritation of the eyes or respiratory tract.
Filters and disinfectants (chemicals like chlorine or bromine) work together to help kill germs. Filters remove debris (such as leaves), which can use up the disinfectant in the water that is needed to kill germs.
Pool staff make sure chlorine or bromine is at the level needed to kill most germs in the water within minutes. However, you can still be exposed during the time it takes for the disinfectant to come in contact with the germs and kill them. You can also get diarrhea from germs that are hard to kill, such as Crypto. Crypto can stay alive for more than 7 days, even if the water is properly disinfected.
How to prevent swimming-related illnesses
- Stay out of the water if you are sick with diarrhea. If you have been diagnosed with Crypto, don't go back in the water until two weeks after diarrhea has completely stopped.
- Stay out of the water if you have an open cut or wound (particularly from a surgery or piercing). If you do go in the water, use waterproof bandages to completely cover the cut or wound.
- Shower before you get in the water. Rinsing off in the shower for just one-minute removes most of the dirt or anything else on your body that uses up chlorine or bromine needed to kill or inactivate germs.
Once you are in:
- Don't pee or poop in the water.
- Don't swallow the water.
- Use well-fitting, Coast Guard-approved life jackets, not air-filled toys (for example, water wings), for flotation assistance.
- Keep an eye on children at all times. Kids can drown in seconds and in silence.
- Take kids on bathroom breaks and check diapers every hour.
- Change diapers away from the water to keep germs from getting in.
- Dry ears thoroughly after swimming. Drying your ears thoroughly after swimming can help prevent swimmer's ear.
If you are at an ocean, lake, or river:
- Check for beach or lake closure information on your state or local government website or signs on-site.
- Cloudy water can be a warning that there are more germs in the water than normal.
- Stay out if you see any pipes draining into or around the water.
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds before eating food, especially if you have been playing in or touching sand. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Hand sanitizer might not be as effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy, so wiping sand off before using it might be helpful.
If you see cloudy water, it can be a sign of higher levels of germs in the water.
Resources:
What You Can do to Stay Healthy at Splash Pads
How to Safely Visit Oceans, Lakes, and Rivers
For concerns regarding drinking water within the City of Albuquerque, please contact the Water Utility Authority at 505-842-WATR.