Pools & Hot Tubs

Photo of a senior woman standing by the pool

The benefits of water-based exercise are numerous, but to truly enjoy a safe and healthy swimming experience it is important for swimmers and hot tub users to know the steps they should take to protect themselves and others from potential health risks.

Aquatics professionals have a responsibility to provide a safe and healthy swimming environment for their patrons. Maintaining good water quality requires pool operators and staff to have specific skills.

Top Causes of Treated Recreational Water Outbreaks

Top 12 Causes:*

Cryptosporidium
Pseudomonas
Legionella
Disinfection agents & their byproducts (chlorine, chlorine gas, chloramines, pool chemical(s), bromine)
Giardia
Shigella
Norovirus
E. coli
Bacillus, Campylobacter, hydrochloric acid (tie)
Adenovirus

For a complete listing of water-related surveillance data, see CDC’s Surveillance Summaries for Waterborne Disease and Outbreaks.

US Census Bureau. Statistical abstract of the United States: 2012. Arts, Recreation, and Travel: Participation in Selected Sports Activities 2009. [PDF - 2 pages]

* Based on tracking of waterborne outbreaks from 1978-2008. Only confirmed causes have been included in the analyses. For outbreaks with multiple causes, each agent counted toward the total. Outbreak reporting is dependent on capacity to detect, investigate, and report the outbreaks. This requires health effects to be measured and these health effects to be easily linked to water exposure. Clusters of illnesses associated with chronic chemical exposures are not part of waterborne disease outbreak reporting or part of these lists.