Back to All News
Back to All News
SCDES Reminds South Carolinians to Swim Safely this Summer at Pools, Lakes and Beaches
FOR IMMEIDATE RELEASE:
May 23, 2025
COLUMBIA, S.C. ― In recognition of Healthy and Safe Swimming Week (May 19-25), the S.C. Department of Environmental Services (SCDES) reminds South Carolinians how important it is to practice safe swimming and take educated precautions when enjoying a swimming pool, lake, river, ocean, hot tub or splashpad.
While SCDES has key roles in water safety – such as inspecting public pools and hot tubs, sampling ocean water for bacteria and monitoring lakes and rivers for algal blooms – it’s up to individuals to help keep themselves and their children safe during water activities. Natural waters ― like lakes, rivers and the ocean ― are not sterile environments, and the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms that can cause illness is always a possibility.
The week before Memorial Day, which is considered by many to be the unofficial start of summer, is recognized as Healthy and Safe Swimming Week to focus on the health benefits of water-based physical activity while minimizing the risk of recreational water-associated illness. Following recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), SCDES recommends the following tips:
Pools and hot tubs
- When you first arrive at a pool, take a rinse in the shower, then dry off and apply sunscreen. The amount of dirt and oil on your skin can throw off the balance of chemicals in the water keeping you safe.
- Don’t go to the bathroom or let children go to the bathroom in a pool, and try not to swallow any water. Germs in the water can make people sick if they swallow just a mouthful of contaminated water.
- Don’t swim if you have diarrhea, and apply the same rule with children. Some parasites, like the diarrhea-causing Cryptosporidium, can survive in properly treated pools.
- Know the risk of Legionnaires’ disease associated with hot tubs. While Legionella bacteria are found naturally in the environment, known cases of Legionnaires’ disease have been linked to hot tubs that didn’t have proper control measures in place.
Beaches, lakes, rivers and streams
- Use the CheckMyBeach webpage or SCDES's Beach Monitoring webpage for any swimming advisories due to elevated bacteria levels in ocean waters. SCDES monitors ocean water quality at more than 120 locations along South Carolina’s beaches.
- South Carolina lakes, rivers, streams and the coast are great places to cool off, but there is always a potential risk when swimming in natural water bodies.
- It’s always recommended that individuals evaluate a waterbody before entering in it. If a waterbody looks discolored, has a foul odor, noticeable algal mats, or dead fish or other animals, it’s advisable to not enter the water or allow pets or animals near that water. Algae blooms can be very fast growing and become an issue before the Department has been made aware of them. SCDES's Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Monitoring App provides information about identified HABs in the state.
- It's always advised to not entire a natural waterbody if you have open wounds. Different pathogens exist naturally in lakes and rivers that can cause infection by entering the body through cuts and lesions.
For more information, visit SCDES's Safe Swimming webpage (des.sc.gov/safeswimming), or learn more from the EPA and CDC.
###