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

• Pool and Spa Design
• Pool and Spa Operation

Disinfection and Remediation Guidelines

• General Disinfection
• Fecal Contamination of the Water
• Other Contaminants in the Water
• Surface Contamination

Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC)

• 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
  • Brochures
  • Fact Sheets
  • Podcasts
  • Posters
  • Prevention Commentaries

State Resources

• State Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

• 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   (PDF, 180 kb, 2 pages).

• 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.