ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that it takes a scientific approach and good technical understanding to interpret and apply the regulations governing public safety and specifically the potential water quality issues that may emerge. Exposure to water poses more dangers than just those associated with poor water quality. Outdoor public areas expose visitors to solar radiation. Overexposure to the sun may result in acute and chronic damage to the skin, eyes and the immune system. The most noticeable and familiar effect of excessive solar exposure is inflammation of the skin, commonly termed sunburn. The profuse growth of macrophytes in impoundments or along riverbanks, while possibly aesthetically pleasing, may provide hazardous situations for participants of full contact recreational activities because of snagging and entanglement. The presence of shoreline litter and floating matter of human and natural origin detracts from the aesthetic enjoyment of water bodies.
