Canadian recreational water quality guidelines - Indicators of fecal contamination: Applying the guidelines

Guidelines for the fecal indicator bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) and enterococci have been developed for recreational areas used for primary contact activities (see Table 1 and Table 2). These values consider both the potential health risks and the benefits of recreational water use in terms of physical activity and enjoyment and are considered to represent an acceptable level of risk for recreational activities (see Rationale for primary contact guidelines).