Acute gastrointestinal illness is a common and preventable public health issue. Exposure to recreational water, such as in swimming pools, is a risk factor for acute gastrointestinal illness. Serious outbreaks of water-borne diseases in Canada are rare but can pose a significant threat to human health. Cryptosporidium is one of the most common infectious agents causing pool-related outbreaks. Pool fouling, lack of education and training, inadequate pool structures, and lack of disinfection equipment have been linked to outbreaks of Cryptosporidium. To minimize the burden of swimming pool related outbreaks, interventions should include pool structure alterations, increased surveillance and reporting of swimming pool associated diseases, and public education regarding the risk of swimming pool infections.