Water Quality Recreation FAQ

Is it safe to swim/kayak/boat on this body of water?

Recreating in any body of water involves risks. By far, the greatest risk is drowning caused in part by cloudy water, fast currents, submerged objects, or the lack of lifeguards.

Raw, untreated water always has the potential to cause illness if ingested without proper disinfection. Thousands of people recreate in and upon Iowa's waters every year and most of them do not get sick. However, children, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems have an increased risk of becoming ill when in contact with contaminated water. A variety of diarrheal diseases, and other infections such as skin, ear and respiratory infections, are associated with swimming in contaminated water. Diarrhea is one of the most common illnesses associated with swimming. Diarrhea is spread when disease-causing microorganisms from human or animal feces get into the water. You can get diarrhea by accidentally swallowing small amounts of water that contains these microorganisms.

How can I avoid getting sick?

Avoid swimming after a heavy rainfall when indicator bacteria levels are generally higher and the water is murky. Avoid swallowing the water. If the water appears extremely green, scummy, or full of algae, avoid those areas. Algal toxins and parasites can be higher in those locations.

Beaches and Swimming

Routine water quality monitoring is conducted at all of the State Park beaches and many locally managed beaches in Iowa. In order to help protect the health of those wishing to recreate at the beaches, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources works with various public health and management agencies throughout the state to inform the public of the most current water quality conditions.

Beaches at State Parks and some city and county lakes are monitored from Memorial Day to Labor Day and the results of this weekly monitoring are posted.

An additional FAQ page for swimming, bacteria, and other pathogens can also be found at that site.

Fish Tissue Consumption

In nearly all cases, Iowa fish are safe to eat. Cleaning and/or preparing the meal cause most of the problems regarding the taste or color of fish. Like all living creatures, fish are susceptible to diseases, parasites, and other naturally occurring conditions in the water. If you suspect your fish is affected by any of these conditions, do not eat it.

Consider eating smaller and younger fish which usually have lower levels of contaminants because most contaminants accumulate in larger, older fish. In addition, most contaminants tend to build up in a fish’s skin, fat, and organs (guts) more than the fillet (muscle), so always discard those parts before cooking and only eat the fillet.

For more information on Iowa's Fish Tissue Monitoring program and other fish safety information, visit the Fish Tissue Monitoring page.

More Information

For current conditions and any other information on specific waterbodies, contact the local experts.

State Parks: Contact the park office for up to date information on water conditions

County Parks: Look up the park you are interested in athttps://www.mycountyparks.com/for contact information.

City Parks: Contact the city's Parks and Recreation or equivalent department.