Will swimming at the pool make you sick?

Ahh Summertime.  My daughter's favorite pastime during the summer months is going swimming at the pool.  And while we all may joke about the pool being a big “potty”, do you really know how clean your public pool is?  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that at least 54%  of all swimming pools were in violation of at least one public health code.   That’s more than half.  Really shocking!

The CDC has published “Six Steps for Healthy Swimming” as a guideline for keeping your family safe from recreational water illnesses (RWIs) and healthy this summer.  Per their guidelines:

“You can choose to swim healthy!  Healthy swimming behaviors will help protect you and your kids from recreational water illnesses (RWIs) and help stop germs from getting in the pool in the first place.

Here are six steps that promote Healthy Swimming:

Three Steps for All Swimmers

 Keep germs from causing recreational water illnesses (RWIs):

·         Don't swim when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.

·         Don't swallow the pool water. Avoid getting water in your mouth.

·         Practice good hygiene. Shower with soap before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.

Three Steps for Parents of Young Kids

 Keep germs out of the pool:

·         Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Waiting to hear "I have to go" may mean that it's too late.

·         Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Germs can spread in and around the pool.

·         Wash your child thoroughly (especially the rear end) with soap and water before swimming. Invisible amounts of fecal matter can end up in the pool. “

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/six-steps-healthy-swimming.html

HealthyPools.org encourages everyone to “Use Your Senses” when visiting your local public pool.

If you have real doubts about the safety of your local public pool, don’t be afraid to test the water quality yourself.  You can visit the Water Quality and Health Council’s Healthy Pools page http://www.healthypools.org/freeteststrips and order free test strips.

The CDC recommends the following water quality ranges:

·         Free chlorine level 1–3 parts per million (ppm)

·         pH 7.2–7.8

·         Ask the pool operator the following questions:

o    Are the free chlorine and pH levels checked at least 2 times per day and more often when the pool is heavily used?

o    What is the latest pool inspection score?

o    Has he/she completed specialized training in pool operation

Don’t be fooled into thinking that your pool is clean because it has a strong odor of chlorine.  When pool water is not properly balanced, chloramines form when the good sanitizing free chlorine molecules combine with ammonia in the pool water. The "chlorine smell" that you associate with swimming pools is actually ammonia being broken down by the chlorine.  Yuck!

By using some common sense and by becoming familiar with the recommendations of the CDC you can swim safely and stay healthy all summer long!

***Nikki has been plumbing designer for Larson Binkley Inc. in Overland Park, KS since 1993. She currently holds the position of department manager and loves helping clients find solutions to their plumbing needs. Plumbing might be often overlooked but it is never under used. :)

http://www.larsonbinkley.com/