“Recreational Water Illnesses (RWI) are caused by germs spread through ingestion, inhalation of mists or aerosols, or contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers or oceans. RWIs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or by chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems. RWI can include a wide variety of infections, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, ocular, neurological, and wound infections. Many RWIs (skin, ear, eye, respiratory, neurological, wound, and other infections) are caused by germs that live naturally in the environment (for example, in water and soil)” ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). many types of recreational water-related illnesses such as diarrhea, cryptosporidium, giardia, hot tub rash, legionella, swimmer's ear, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus MRSA, and pinworms. Factors contributing to recreational water-related illnesses include feces, unfiltered water, diaper-age children (infants to at least 4 years of age), sewage spills, animal waste, water runoff (following a rain) and recreational water ingestion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This mainly affects children, pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems. Acute otitis externa in swimmers is known in medical terms as acute otitis externa and results in approximately 2.4 million doctor visits each year and nearly half a billion dollars in healthcare costs (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). “Although acute otitis externa is generally a mild disease, it is a frequently diagnosed condition responsible for a substantial healthcare burden, with estimated costs of $0.5 billion and nearly 600,000 hours… half of paper… .and of them and we can take preventative measures. Making people more aware of diseases while keeping them safe and allowing them to have fun doing what they love to do in recreational water. Work Cited: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-what.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/rwi-where.htmlCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/fast_facts.html Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/illnesses/swimmers-ear-prevention-guidelines.html#one Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/crypto/epi.html