Background:

On 14 March 2025 the Western Australian Department of Health released a health warning to the Western Australian community via their website:  

Health warning following rise in Cryptosporidiosis notifications

This warning requests people who have had diarrhoea to not enter any swimming pools, water spray parks and any other aquatic facility for at least two weeks after they have made a full recovery.  

The article notes that currently, there is no evidence that any public swimming pools have faulty disinfection systems or are constantly infected.  The Department noted that it is keeping a close eye on the situation.

Water Quality Testing in Aquatic Facilities:

Following recent, January 2025, similar public notifications of increased cases of cryptosporidiosis aquatic facility managers expressed concern that their patrons may stop swimming despite no indication that their local swimming pool had been affected.

LIWA Aquatics and its member base support the stringent water quality requirements of aquatic facilities as stipulated in the Western Australian Department of Health Code of Practice for the design, construction, operation, management and maintenance of aquatic facilities.  

All publicly accessible aquatic facilities in Western Australia are:

• Under constant filtration and disinfection,
• Compelled to implement stringent water testing requirements (at least once every four hours),
• Undergo regular microbiological testing, and;
• Are required to shut to public use if there is detection of negative microbiological results.  

Government of Western Australia Dept of Health Recommendations:

LIWA Aquatics supports the recommendations made by the Department of Health and requests that if you have diarrhoea, you should:

• wash your hands thoroughly for 15 seconds with soap and running water after using the toilet
• avoid swimming for at least two weeks after your symptoms resolve
• avoid sharing towels for at least two weeks after your symptoms resolve
• avoid preparing food for others for at least 48 hours after your symptoms resolve
• keep children who have diarrhoea home from preschool, childcare or playgroup until 48 hours after the diarrhoea has completely stopped.

To avoid catching cryptosporidiosis:

• wash your hands thoroughly for 15 seconds with soap and running water after using the toilet, changing nappies, and before preparing or handling food or drinks
• avoid swallowing or putting pool or spa water in your mouth
• ensure children who are not toilet-trained are wearing appropriate swimming nappies or waterproof tight-fitting pants over swimmers
• change nappies in a bathroom and not at the poolside – this will prevent germs being spread to surfaces or objects in and around the pool
• wash your child thoroughly (especially on the bottom) with soap and water before going swimming
• wash their hands with soap and water after changing a child’s nappy.

Like the Department of Health, LIWA Aquatics reminds its patrons and the broader community to be mindful and respectful of each other and to not swim if you have been ill in accordance with the above recommendations.