Guidelines for safe recreational waters
Volume 1 - Coastal and fresh waters
The World Health Organization’s Guidelines for Safe Recreational Water Environments, and its 2009 addendum with updates describe the present state of knowledge regarding the health hazards and risks associated with the recreational use of coastal and freshwater environments – specifically drowning and injury, exposure to cold, heat and sunlight, water quality (especially exposure to water contaminated by sewage, but also exposure to freeliving pathogenic microorganisms in recreational waters), contamination of beach sand, exposure to algae and their products, exposure to chemical and physical agents, and dangerous aquatic organisms. Control and Monitoring and management of these hazards and risks are also discussed.
The primary aim of the Guidelines is the protection of public health. The Guidelines are intended to be used as the basis for the development of international and national approaches (including standards and regulations) to controlling the health risks from hazards that may be encountered in recreational water environments. The Guidelines provide a framework for local decision-making. The Guidelines may also be used as reference material and as a checklist for industries and operators assessing potential health impacts of development projects in recreational water areas, and in the conduct of environmental impact and environmental health impact assessments in particular.
Executive summary
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Full report
pdf, 946kb
Download individual chapters
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List of acronyms, preface, acknowledgements
pdf, 72kb -
Executive summary
pdf, 82kb -
Chapter 1 - Introduction
pdf, 136kb -
Chapter 2 - Drowning and injury prevention
pdf, 115kb -
Chapter 3 - Sun, heat and cold
pdf, 153kb -
Chapter 4 - Faecal pollution and water quality
pdf, 276kb -
Chapter 5 - Free-living microorganisms
pdf, 115kb -
Chapter 6 - Microbial aspects of beach sand quality
pdf, 97kb -
Chapter 7 - Algae and cyanobacteria in coastal and estuarine waters
pdf, 92kb -
Chapter 8 - Algae and cyanobacteria in fresh water
pdf, 176kb -
Chapter 9 - Aesthetic issues
pdf, 100kb -
Chapter 10 - Chemical and physical agents
pdf, 61kb -
Chapter 11 - Dangerous aquatic organisms
pdf, 112kb -
Chapter 12 - Monitoring and assessment
pdf, 75kb -
Chapter 13 - Application of guidelines and management options
pdf, 135kb -
Appendix A - Lifeguards
pdf, 51kb