While we are blessed with beautiful waterways and waterholes, water quality is affected by factors that aren’t always easy to control. Rain can wash pollutants such as animal droppings, sediment, sewerage, fertilisers and chemicals into waterways.
- Always look for signs of pollution before entering waterways and don’t swim in water that looks discoloured, murky, stagnant or smells unpleasant.
- Avoid swimming in rivers and lakes for at least three days after heavy rain.
- Stay out of the water especially if you have an open wound or infection, and don’t drink untreated water from waterways.
- Wash with soap and clean water, and disinfect wounds if you have contact with polluted water, and see your doctor if you experience stomach upsets or infections.
Children under five years old, the elderly, people with compromised immune systems and people with open cuts have a higher risk.