Transmission of Campylobacter via swimming pools, recreational water and drinking water in The Netherlands was studied and exposure to waterborne Campylobacter and the related risk of infection were estimated (Schijven, 2003).

It was concluded that exposure to Campylobacter as well as the risk of infection in well chlorinated circulation pools for swimming can be neglected.

It was estimated that person of twelve years or younger ingest on average 3 Campylobacters in recreational waters per year. For persons over twelve this is 0.063 n/py, and for all inhabitants of The Netherlands 0.53 np/y. The risk of infection due to bathing was estimated to be 0.045, 0.001 and 0.0091 per person per year, respectively.

Drinking water companies that treat water from open (storage) reservoirs are vulnerable to Campylobacter contamination from birds. Exposure estimates to Campylobacter in drinking water ranged from 5.2 × 10-4 to 0.72 campylobacters per year, with an average for the whole country of 0.022. The risk level of 10-4 per person per year was exceeded for the water from two of the eight companies, as well as for the water for the whole country.

Microbiological Laboratory for Health Protection, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), P.O. Box 1, 3720 BA Bilthoven, The Netherlands