title: Risk factors and monitoring for water quality to determine best management practices for splash parks.
abstract: Splash parks have been associated with infectious disease outbreaks as a result of exposure to poor water quality. To be able to protect public health, risk factors were identified that determine poor water quality. Samples were taken at seven splash parks where operators were willing to participate in the study. Higher concentrations of Escherichia coli were measured in water of splash parks filled with rainwater or surface water as compared with sites filled with tap water, independent of routine inspection intervals and employed disinfection. Management practices to prevent fecal contamination and guarantee maintaining good water quality at splash parks should include selection of source water of acceptable quality.
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Public Health (VPH), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, P.O. Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: h.deman@uu.nl.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Man
authors.affiliation: Grontmij Water & Energy, De Bilt, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J T M
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Leenen
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Public Health (VPH), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, P.O. Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: h.deman@uu.nl.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Knapen
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Public Health (VPH), Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, P.O. Box 80175, 3508 TD Utrecht, The Netherlands E-mail: h.deman@uu.nl; National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: de Roda Husman
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D009426:Netherlands; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers