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Abstract(s)
Executive summary: The World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines on recreational water quality: volume 1 – coastal and fresh
waters aims to protect public health by ensuring that the quality of recreational waters is safely managed. These
guidelines update substantial content from the 2003 WHO Guidelines for safe recreational water environments:
volume 1 – coastal and fresh waters and its 2009 addendum.
Key changes are:
• emphasis on preventive risk management through site-specific recreational water safety plans at the centre
of a water safety framework (Fig. 0.1); and
• an exclusive focus on water quality, meaning that hazards that are not related to water quality (drowning;
exposure to sun, heat and cold; and dangerous aquatic organisms) are outside the scope of this guideline.
References to relevant guidance, including other WHO guidelines, on these topics have been added.
Water quality management for swimming pools and spas is addressed in the WHO Guidelines for safe recreational
water environments: volume 2 – swimming pools and spas.
Use of coastal, estuarine and freshwater recreational water environments has significant benefits for health and
well-being, including rest, relaxation, exercise, cultural and religious practices, and aesthetic pleasure. It also
provides substantial local, regional and national economic benefits from tourism. However, recreational water
environments contain potential hazards, which must be weighed against the benefits. These guidelines focus
on water quality management for coastal and freshwater environments.
Recreational water sites are ecosystems that support a range of aquatic organisms, including fish and shellfish,
insects and birds. Some of these organisms can be nuisances during recreational use of the site, or may
even cause injury and health hazards to humans. Protecting human health may need to be balanced against
environmental protection targets. Application of these guidelines therefore needs to consider targets and
measures for the protection of coastal and aquatic ecosystems.
These guidelines are mainly aimed at national and local authorities, and other entities with an obligation to
exercise due diligence relating to the safety of recreational water sites. They may be implemented in conjunction
with measures for environmental protection of recreational water use sites.
Unless otherwise noted, the guidelines apply to the general population participating in all types of recreational
water use entailing direct water contact, inhalation of sea spray and beach use. Immunocompromised individuals
should seek medical advice on their individual ability to tolerate exposure to surface recreational waters. The
guidelines:
• describe the current state of knowledge about the possible adverse health impacts of recreational use of
coastal, estuarine and freshwater environments; and
• set out recommendations for setting national health-based targets; conducting risk assessments; and putting
in place management approaches to identify, monitor and control these hazards, and associated public
health surveillance and communication.
Core recommendations for implementation by national authorities and personnel responsible for implementation
of recreational water safety plans (RWSP) are summarized below. The summary also includes management
advice for each type of risk, including indicators, guideline values and information on system assessment,
monitoring and management communications relevant for RWSPs. In-depth scientific rationale, supporting
data and case studies are in Chapters 1–9.
This publication is the update of the Guidelines published in 2003 entitled “Guidelines for safe recreational water environments. Volume 1, Coastal and fresh waters” (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42591).
This publication is the update of the Guidelines published in 2003 entitled “Guidelines for safe recreational water environments. Volume 1, Coastal and fresh waters” (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42591).
Description
WHO STEERING GROUP: Kate Medlicott (Water Sanitation Hygiene and Health, WHO Headquarters); Bruce Gordon (Water Sanitation Hygiene and Health, WHO Headquarters); Sophie Boisson (Water Sanitation Hygiene and Health, WHO Headquarters); Jennifer De France (Water Sanitation Hygiene and Health, WHO Headquarters).
GUIDELINES DEVELOPMENT GROUP: Nicholas Ashbolt (Southern Cross University, Australia); Lorraine Backer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA); João Brandão (National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Portugal); Neil Chernoff (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA); Ingrid Chorus (independent); Maria Rosario Coelho (Águas do Algarve, Portugal); Fátima Marinheiro Coimbra (Águas de Portugal, Portugal); David Cunliffe (Public Health Service, Australia); Lesley D’Anglada (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA); Dan Deere (Water Futures Pty Ltd, Australia); Jutta Fastner (Umweltbundesamt, German Environment Agency, Germany); Lorna Fewtrell (Independent consultant, United Kingdom); Rosina Girones (University of Barcelona, Spain); David Kay (Centre for Research into Environment and Health, United Kingdom); Teresa Lettieri (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy); Mong Hoo Lim (Public Utilities Board, Singapore); Luca Lucentini (National Institute for Health, Italy); Calum McPhail (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, United Kingdom); Maria Teresa Rebelo (University of Lisbon, Portugal); Ciska Schets (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands); Helena Solo-Gabriele (University of Miami, USA); Regine Szewzyk (Umweltbundesamt, German Environment Agency, Germany); Marta Vargha (National Public Health Centre, Hungary); Timothy J Wade (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA).
GUIDELINES DEVELOPMENT GROUP: Nicholas Ashbolt (Southern Cross University, Australia); Lorraine Backer (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA); João Brandão (National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Portugal); Neil Chernoff (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA); Ingrid Chorus (independent); Maria Rosario Coelho (Águas do Algarve, Portugal); Fátima Marinheiro Coimbra (Águas de Portugal, Portugal); David Cunliffe (Public Health Service, Australia); Lesley D’Anglada (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA); Dan Deere (Water Futures Pty Ltd, Australia); Jutta Fastner (Umweltbundesamt, German Environment Agency, Germany); Lorna Fewtrell (Independent consultant, United Kingdom); Rosina Girones (University of Barcelona, Spain); David Kay (Centre for Research into Environment and Health, United Kingdom); Teresa Lettieri (European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Italy); Mong Hoo Lim (Public Utilities Board, Singapore); Luca Lucentini (National Institute for Health, Italy); Calum McPhail (Scottish Environmental Protection Agency, United Kingdom); Maria Teresa Rebelo (University of Lisbon, Portugal); Ciska Schets (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands); Helena Solo-Gabriele (University of Miami, USA); Regine Szewzyk (Umweltbundesamt, German Environment Agency, Germany); Marta Vargha (National Public Health Centre, Hungary); Timothy J Wade (United States Environmental Protection Agency, USA).
Keywords
WHO Guidelines Bathing Beaches Water Microbiology Water Quality Water Pollution Fresh Water Environmental Monitoring Reference Values Risk Management Drowning Wounds and Injuries Guidelines Água e Solo
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Citation
Publisher
World Health Organization