WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 20: Merrick, 4 of Virginia Beach, cools off in the Yards Park splash pad on ... [+] June 20, 2021 in Washington, DC. Many people took the chance to cool off with the sunny, warm weather reaching into the upper nineties today. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

In the scorching summer, many turn to water sports to cool down. That’s a relief and great fun but brings its own hazards.

The CDC just reported two new outbreaks associated with splash pads. In the first, 21 cases of shigellosis, a bacterial diarrheal disease, were identified among guests to a splash pad at a wildlife park in Kansas.

Splash pads are not well regulated, nor are they always required to use chemical disinfectants. These cases were identified because Shigella infections are reportable to the state health department. Further investigation, comparing attendees who became ill with those who did not, showed that playing in the splash pad water was not associated with illness; however, getting splash pad water in the mouth was.

Further study identified six young children who had become ill with norovirus after getting water from the same splash pad in their mouths.

In 2005, more than 2300 were infected with the Cryptosporidium parasite after playing in splash pads.

Both recent bacterial outbreaks might have been readily prevented if the splash pad water had been adequately chlorinated. This is harder to maintain with the water being aerosolized—but it can be since no infections occurred after the facility beefed up its disinfection practices. Water should not sit in holding tanks overnight. It should be continuously recirculated, filtered, and chlorinated, preferably with an automated controller for the chlorine.

Splash pads are risky because of catering to very young children, often in diapers, which don’t prevent contamination. Kids often playfully sit on the jets, further spreading fecal bacteria. And they like splashing their faces in the water.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - MAY 21: Susan Balemken, 3, tries to drink the water while cooling off at a ... [+] splash pad at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 2022. (Amanda Andrade-Rhoades/For The Washington Post via Getty Images)

This summer has been marked by areas with drought, which can concentrate pathogens and pollutants in water, and by flooding in other regions. The flooding can cause industrial chemicals and agricultural runoff to be released, overwhelming sewage treatment facilities.

The parasite Cryptosporidium was the leading cause of water-borne outbreaks from 2000-2010. It’s commonly spread in lakes as well as waterparks and pools.

A third of recreational disease outbreaks from 2000-2014 were in hotel pools or hot tubs. “Swallowing just a mouthful of water with Crypto in it can make otherwise healthy kids and adults sick for weeks with watery diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting,” said Michele Hlavsa, R.N., M.P.H., chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program.

While rare, there have been cases of Naegleria fowlerii infections from splash pads. The amoeba causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which is almost always fatal.

This parasite enters the body by being snuffed up the nose rather than by being swallowed. That’s also why you must use sterile water when doing sinus irrigation with Neti pots.

There is now a treatment protocol from the CDC.

The CDC recommends that when swimming in pools, soaking in hot tubs, or visiting water playgrounds:

Before getting in the water, use a test strip from your local retailer or pool supply store to check if the water’s pH and bromine or free chlorine level are correct.

It’s easy to stay safe and play in the water this summer with common sense precautions.