Swimming-Associated Illness and Recreational Water Quality Criteria

There is a measurable risk of acute gastroenteritis associated with swimming in marine waters contaminated with human fecal wastes to levels that would be aesthetically acceptable. The Enterococcus level in the bathing water is the best single measure of its quality relative to the risk of swimming-associated, pollution-related infectious disease. A model is presented for the regulation of water quality which defines decision-making and actions by federal and local agencies as well as resource users. This model requires the ability to predict illness rates from monitoring data. Differential die-off of viral pathogens and the bacterial indicator during wastewater chlorination and protracted residence in marine waters may confound the use of the criteria.