Recreational ("Bathing") Waters

Recreational use of water can deliver important benefits to health and well-being. Yet, there may also be adverse health effects associated with recreational use if the water is polluted or unsafe.

WHO produces international norms on recreational water use and health in the form of Guidelines. The first edition of WHO's Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments consists of two volumes. Volume 1: Coastal and Freshwaters, and Volume 2:Swimming Pools and Similar Recreational Environments. Both volumes, and the 2009 update of VOlume 1 can be accessed through the links below.

• Guidelines for safe recreational waters
  Volume 1 - Coastal and fresh waters
• Guidelines for safe recreational waters
  Volume 2 - Swimming pools and similar recreational-water environments

Other documents available

• Monitoring bathing waters
• Water recreation and disease. Plausibility of infections: acute effects, sequelae and mortality

These documents take account of the "Annapolis Protocol", developed at a meeting organized in collaboration with USEPA and others; and a Code of Good Practice for Monitoring of Recreational Waters developed in collaboration with the European Commission and others.