Here's What May Be Lurking Inside Your Swimming Pool
There is nothing like taking a dive into a cool and refreshing swimming pool. As your body fully submerges underneath the weight of the clear blue water, it feels as if life's troubles are miles away. An afternoon spent in a swimming pool is the sign of a good day. And as much as we truly don't want to ruin your next BBQ and swim party extravaganza, we feel it's necessary to warn you of what could be lurking inside that swimming pool.
According to Time, microbes from sweat, dirt, and poop get dropped into the pool every time we do a cannon ball in the deep end. Now, chlorine does wonders to kill off these potentially harmful bacteria. But it can take a few days. In fact, if you can really smell the chemicals in a swimming pool, it doesn't mean that the pool is extra clean. It likely means the chemicals are working overtime to kill off the germs. And though pool chemicals like chlorine may be doing their best to keep the harmful germs away, oftentimes they can be just as dangerous. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 3,000 to 5,000 visits to emergency departments happen every year in the U.S. due to the mishandling of pool chemicals.
It's not just number two that taints a swimming pool's water
Another lurking liquid in your swimming pool may be the fault of all your backyard swimming pool party guests. Ernest Blatchley III, an environmental engineer at Purdue University who spent 20 years studying swimming pool chemistry, delivers some rather icky news via WebMD: "It's fair to assume that any pool that has people in it, also has urine in it." He adds, "What we have found is that the average swimmer leaves about roughly the equivalent of a shot glass (1 to 2 ounces) of urine in the pool."
Still want to take a refreshing dip, but without getting yourself or others potentially sick? Time recommends showering before you dive in. Avoid taking big gulps of swimming pool water into your mouth, and skip the pool if you're suffering a bout of diarrhea. Swimming pools can be a great way to beat the heat and forget about life's troubles for an afternoon. Just stay cautious so you can keep splashing around without getting sick afterward.