ABSTRACT
Sanitary inspection, water quality determination and data analysis and interpretation are essential elements in characterising the microbiological safety of water in recreational areas. Sanitary inspection is a necessary adjunct to water microbiological analysis. A well-conducted sanitary inspection can identify sources of microbiological hazards, microbiological water quality data confirm the presence of hazards, and the two together allow an estimation of the risk of illness to bathers and other users. In assessing the microbiological quality of recreational waters, it will normally be necessary to conduct:
An intensive sanitary inspection (only once as part of an assessment or annually in monitoring programmes).
