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Water Recreation

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About the Water Recreation Program

Protecting Your Health and Safety

Water recreation activities are a great source of exercise and enjoyment for people. Our state provides abundant beaches and pools for public use. However, there are health concerns. In Washington, drowning ranks second as the most common cause of unintentional injury or death for people 19 years old and younger and ranks third for people under 60 years old. Over 140,000 injuries related to swimming pools are seen by health care providers each year and recorded outbreaks of water recreation illnesses are increasing in the United States.

The Water Recreation Program works to ensure that water recreation facilities provide a safe and healthy environment for the public. We do this by reviewing the design and construction of new water recreation facilities, providing training for pool operators, assisting local health departments, and developing guidance materials and educational resources. We also work with industry and other key partners to address the health and safety needs of water recreation environments. 

Resources We Provide

• Pool safety at home - Supervision, barrier, and entrapment prevention advice.

• Water safety for lakes, rivers, and beaches - Open water safety tips.

• Recreational water illnesses - Infections and illnesses associated with recreational water activities.

• Pool construction permit - Process for obtaining a water recreation facility construction permit application packet.

• Water recreation rules and guidelines - State rules and guidelines involving construction and operation of water recreation facilities.

• Pool designer and builder- Resources for construction of regulated water recreation facilities.

• Pool owner and operator - Resources for operation of regulated water recreation facilities.

Working with Local Health to Keep Pools Safe

The Water Recreation Program works with local health departments to address health and safety concerns at water recreation facilities by:

• Providing training and consultation in pool construction review and pool operation.

• Reviewing water recreation facilities designed in accordance with applicable standards and good engineering practices.

• Assuring water recreation facilities are operated under current standards.

• Researching and developing guidance and policy documents to support revisions to state water recreation facilities rules.

• Addressing critical public health needs through partnerships and collaboration.