FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
Diagram of an Artificial Swimming Lagoon
Fourth Edition of the 2023 Model Aquatic Health Code
2023 Model Aquatic Health Code Code Language
4th Edition, February 2023
Note. Artificial swimming lagoons combine swimming and nonswimming activities into one venue, which pose challenges for keeping water clean and healthy for swimmers. DSA = designated swimming area.
CS337253-A
ing and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Cen- ters for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS H24-9, Atlanta, GA 30329. Email: acz3@cdc.gov. Reference Miko, S., Cope, J.R., Hlavsa, M.C., Ali, I.K.M., Brown, T.W., Collins, J.P., Greeley, R.D., Kahler, A.M., Moore, K.O., Roundtree, A.V., Roy, S., Sanders, L.L., Shah, V., Stuteville, H.D., & Mattioli, M.C. (2023). Case of pri- mary amebic meningoencephalitis associated with surfing at a novel manmade surf venue: Environmental investigation [Unpublished manuscript]. The latest edition of the Model Aquatic Health Code is now avail- able. It includes updated guidance on preventing illness and injury associated with public aquatic venues, including preventing pathogen transmission, pool chemical injuries, spinal cord injuries, and drowning. You can explore the new edition at www.cdc.gov/mahc/ editions/current.html.
water) aquatic venues designed to mimic a natural lagoon. ASLs include one or more designated swimming areas (DSAs) for tra- ditional aquatic venue activities (e.g., swim- ming, wading). The rest of the lagoon—the water sports area—is designated for non- swimming aquatic activities such as kayaking and sail boating (Figure 1). The completely artificial environments, including artificial bottoms, simultaneously have clear water giving the appearance of a pool and can be several acres like a pond or lake. The challenges with developing guidance for ASLs stem from the fact that two types of recreational water venues (i.e., an aquatic venue and an untreated recreational water venue), each designated for di erent pur- poses, share water. Areas designated for swim- ming will need to be monitored and regulated as aquatic venues, in which water is filtered and disinfected. But most of the venue will be open water for nonswimming aquatic activi- ties and not subject to the same water quality
requirements. Open water will need microbio- logical water quality monitoring as conducted at untreated recreational water venues with freshwater. The ad hoc committee also focused on treated water renewal, or displacement (rather than turnover time in DSAs); restricted access to DSAs to prevent unauthorized entry; water clarity maintenance throughout the entire ASL; and lifeguarding. CDC posted the fourth edition of the 2023 MAHC in February on its MAHC website at www.cdc.gov/mahc (Figure 2). CDC will also post interim guidance for surf venues and ASLs later this year on its Healthy Swim- ming website at www.cdc.gov/healthyswim ming. CMAHC will accept change requests for the fifth edition of the MAHC from spring through fall 2023 and will hold the Vote on the Code Conference and the vote on change requests in early 2024.
Corresponding Author: Michele Hlavsa, Health Scientist, National Center for Emerg-
Did You Know?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 30 million swimmer visits each year in the U.S. We have a webpage of resources that can help you keep your communities safe, especially with the summer months approaching. Explore our recreational water resources at www.neha.org/recreational-waters.
33
May 2023 • Journal of Environmental Health
Powered by FlippingBook