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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- As Memorial Day approaches, pool and lakes will open up for swimming. But before you jump in, health officials want you to be aware of some health tips.

They warn illnesses can be spread by germs in contaminated swimming water. One such illness is cryptosporidiosis, or crypto.

Wapello County Public Health Director Lynelle Diers said it is picked up from fecal matter in contaminated water. She added it doesn’t take very much to get people sick.

She said they have seen a large number of cases of crypto in Wapello County the last three months, but they have not been able to isolate the source.

One large contaminator of pools are babies.  Diers said if you have a baby be sure to change the diaper often if they will be going into the water.

She also warns to be aware of animals using the same water you will be swimming in. She said animals and humans don’t mix and their diseases can make you very sick.

If you are sick, Diers said do not go swimming. As always, don’t drink the water when you are swimming.

If you are going out to enjoy a lake, Diers said you can check on bacterial counts in the lake. She said the state releases reports and while the lakes will not close to swimmers, they will post it as “not recommended.”

She invites you to ask questions wherever you go swimming.

One popular place to swim in Ottumwa is Beach Ottumwa.

At Beach Ottumwa employees test the water hourly to ensure it’s chemicals and levels are at proper levels and safe for you to enjoy.

“We stay on top of things and we make sure the water is clean and disinfected at all times and if it’s not then we shut things down and people are not allowed in the water,” said Ottumwa Parks Director Gene Rathje.

 If there are incidents in which fecal matter or other human wastes enter the pool, Beach Ottumwa will take the necessary steps.

“In the event there is an accident of that nature, what we do is clear the pool and clean up the mess and leave people out of the pool for about 8 hours. And after it has cycled through and been through the filter and disinfected we open the pool again,” Rathje said.

Rathje said in addition to the chemicals, filters, and hourly tests they vacuum the pool every morning, do routine visual inspections, and a variety of other tests.