Contact recreation is any water-based activity, including wading, swimming, skiing, diving, tubing, surfing or boating, where water might accidentally be ingested.
Contact recreation impairments simply mean that the water quality of a specific waterbody could impact your health, if ingested.
If a waterbody near you has a bacteria impairment, be careful when using the waterbody recreationally. Never swim or wade with open cuts or sores, wait three days after it rains to use the water recreationally, and do not intentionally ingest the water.
Visit H-GAC’s interactive Water Resources Information Map to find out about specific waterbody impairments.