Public Health

Recreational Water Illness

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It is well known that swimming is an all-round exercise that keeps your heart rate up without stressing out your body.  It is beneficial and helpful in building endurance, muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness.  Swimming is a popular sport at HKUST, especially in summer time.

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are becoming a concern in recent years as reported by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

RWIs are mainly caused by germs and chemicals found in the water where we swim. They can affect stomach, intestines, skin, ears, respiratory system, eyes or even the nervous system.

Let us look at some key facts about RWIs:

  • The most commonly reported RWIs is diarrhea, which could be caused by just a mouthful of water contaminated with diarrhea-causing bacteria, such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia, Shigella, norovirus, and E. coli.  

  • We usually have minute quantity of poop on our bottoms. This poop can wash off of swimmers’ bodies and contaminate the swimming pool water with germs.

  • Other germs that cause RWIs can be spread by having contact with or breathing in mists of contaminated water. 

  • RWIs can also be caused in some cases by chemicals that contaminate the water.

 

You may have questioned whether we are having a healthy swimming environment in our swimming pools on campus.  The HKUST pool water has been monitored by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) once a month.  Results of the sampling indicated all samples tested were acceptable and well within applicable standards.  Our pool guards carry out five regular checks on pH and free residual chlorine in the pool water every day and clean the pool regularly to maintain the optimal condition both for water disinfection and swimmers’ health protection.

HSEO also implements a monitoring program on swimming pool water quality.  We test the pH and free residual chlorine level as a cross-monitoring and collect samples for laboratory analysis on turbidity, total bacterial count and E.coli.  Monitoring is also performed when there is alteration on the operation of the outdoor and indoor swimming pools in order to make sure the swimming water quality complies with the requirements of LCSD and the Swimming Pools Regulation before opening to swimmers.  E.coli is accepted as a surrogate parameter for water cleanliness.  Water sample results over years indicated E.coli detected from the samples collected was well within standard.

In addition, HSEO monitors the water quality of aesthetic fountains at Academic Building, New Academic Building and Jockey Club Institute for Advanced Study/Lo Ka Chung Building.  Water has been sampled every quarter for total bacterial count and Legionella sp.  If the bacterial count was high or Legionella sp. was found, fountain would be suspended and additional cleaning and disinfection would be arranged as soon as possible. 

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Apart from all these monitoring programs, we still need your help to keep our recreational water safe to contact or swim in!  Always protect yourself and other swimmers from germs by taking the following simple steps:

  • Shower before you get into the water. 

  • Stay out of the water if you have diarrhea or other skin disease. 

  • Do not swallow the water.

  • Do not pee or poop in the water.  Keep pee, poop, sweat and dirt out of the water.  

  • Take kids for a bathroom break every hour.  

  • During breaks, check diapers, and change them inside a bathroom or diaper-changing area and NOT at side of the pool to keep germs away from the pool. 

  • Reapply sunscreen and drink plenty of fluids. 

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