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After over a decade the Italian regulation on hygiene and surveillance in swimming pools is under revision based on WHO guidelines and current laws from other European countries. The Ministry of Health is proposing an update of the Annex 1 that contains physical, chemical and microbiological indicators for monitoring swimming pool hygiene. The authors review current regulations and the new proposal for updating surveillance. A comparison of Annex 1 as approved in 2003 and the new version as proposed in 2016 allowed to enlighten innovative improvements. The suggested updates underwent a public consultation through an online questionnaire involving citizens and stakeholders, following the required procedure for accessing the final approval of a new regulation. The updates include new requirements and changes involving several controls and microbiological parameters. Safety of recreational waters is presently under revision in different European countries. This updating process is a valuable opportunity to implement critical control points and improve monitoring. The final aim is an optimization of surveillance in terms of efficacy and costs, with an advantage for both the National Health Service as the swimming pool management.

Natural swimming ponds (NSPs) are a new type of recreational water facility characterized by the substitution of traditional disinfection with biodepuration. While this feature meets esthetic desires of users, specific concerns on public health issues have been raised by the scientific community and local authorities. The absence of a European directive applicable to these environments leaves each country without specific and harmonized indications. The present work describes the local/national policy situation, describing adopted parameters and monitoring activities. All documents underline the need for appropriate microbiological analysis and correct water management.