What’s in YOUR swimming pool?
A new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows many public pools are unhealthy. “We found that about 1 in 8 public pool inspections resulted in the pool being closed immediately.”
The CDC’s Michele Hlavsa says water gets dirty from swimmers urinating in the pool, from fecal matter, suntan lotion, and inadequate chlorination.
Hlavsah suggests consumers be their own advocates. “They can check the water quality themselves. They can take test strips and measure the chlorine level and PH level.”
Improperly chlorinated pools can lead to illnesses like diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, and ear and skin infections. Hlavsa urges swimmers to minimize the amount of pool water you swallow, and don’t swim if you have diarrhea.
She says pools are like giant community bath tubs. She suggests people shower before entering the pool, to avoid bringing contaminants into the water. If the odor of chlorine is strong, she says it’s not the chlorine you’re smelling. “A smelly pool is an unhealthy pool.”
To assess pool code compliance, the CDC analyzed data from 121,000 routine pool inspections of 15 state and local agencies from 2008.
When heading two one of Wisconsin’s many public pools, just remember the triple-As of healthy swimming: Awareness, Action and Advocacy.