Microbial risks of recreational waters

The current standards relating to natural swimming water are based on a European Directive from 1976 and concern the level of faecal contamination. Partly with reference to a revision by the European Union of current standards relating to natural swimming water, the Minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment has asked the Health Council of the Netherlands to issue an opinion on the risk to bathers of pathogens in natural swimming water and to investigate what control measures can be adopted, apart from imposing a ban on swimming.

Committee

• A Wijbenga, environmental toxicologist; Province of South Holland, The Hague, chairman
• J van Dissel, professor of infectious diseases; Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden
• BJAM Haring, Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment; The Hague, consultant
• J Huisman, emeritus professor of epidemiology and infectious disease control, Rotterdam
• EJTM Leenen, microbiologist; National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection (RIVM), Bilthoven
• GJ Medema, microbiologist; KIWA Water Research, Nieuwegein
• LR Mur, professor of microbiology; University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam
• H Ruiter, environmental scientist Institute for Inland Water Management and Wastewater Treatment (RIZA), Lelystad
• JF Sluiters, parasitologist; Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam
• F Woudenberg, psychologist; Rotterdam City Health Service, Rotterdam
• JH van Wijnen, medical environmental scientist; Amsterdam City Health Service, Amsterdam
• JW Dogger, Health Council; The Hague, secretary