Most of my wading is done in northern Illinois. Just about every river that I fish has water treatment plants that output treated water into the rivers. Some rivers have cows that like to wade in the rivers. I know a couple of people that have picked up skin infections after wading in these rivers. Consequently, I wear waders when I fish these rivers because it is not worth the risk of getting an infection. In hot weather, I wear waist high waders. In clean north woods rivers or on trout streams, I will wet wade.