As long as there have been swimming pools, there have been myths, urban legends and even downright lies passed down through the generations. Misinformation can lead to wrong ideas, mistakes and poor choices.
Let’s examine six popular pool myths and why they’re not true.
Myth #1: Chlorine Will Turn Your Hair Green
It’s actually copper sulfate, added to many pools to combat algae, that binds to your hair’s proteins and causes a green colouring. However, chlorine can make your hair dry and brittle, so it’s better to limit your hair’s contact to heavily chlorinated pool water.
Myth #2: Chlorine Causes the Pool to Smell
Actually, the opposite is true. If the pool is properly disinfected, it has no strong chemical smell. It’s not actually the chlorine that is causing the smell. Toxic chloramines are formed during the reaction of chlorine with sweat, urine and body oils and that’s what is actually causing the smell.
Instead of being an indicator of clean water, the smell probably indicates the need for more chemicals to be added. The faint odor of chlorine is okay, but a very strong smell is not.
Myth #3: There Are Pool Chemicals That Reveal Urine in Pool Water
No manufacturer has yet succeeded in creating a chemical additive that surrounds a pool pee-er with coloured proof of his indiscretion. You may, however, see the yellow urine colour. Not to worry; proper levels of chlorine, combined with a mineral sanitizer, will cancel any potential for contamination.
Of course, the best and most sanitary thing to do is to get out of the pool and use the proper facilities.
Myth #4: Chlorine Kills Every Bad Thing in the Pool
While chlorine kills some bacteria and can help to prevent the spread of some waterborne diseases, it doesn’t effectively kill recreational water illnesses (RWI’s) like cryptosporidium at the levels usually found in a public swimming pool. Cryptosporidium is a common RWI that can cause severe gastrointestinal illness.
Myth #5: Chlorine Gives People Red Eyes
Irritated, itchy red eyes are often blamed on an excess of chlorine in a pool but that’s almost never the case. The actual culprit is chloramines, which is a by-product of chlorine. As previously mentioned chloramines result from an improperly chlorinated pool.
Myth #6: You Must Wait an Hour after Eating to go Swimming
The idea that swimming on a full stomach will lead to cramping and drowning seems to have come from an outdated scouting manual from the early 20th century, but there is no scientific evidence to support this. Getting a cramp while swimming can happen any time so it’s best to only swim in depths you’re comfortable in. And, of course, children should always be supervised while they’re in the pool.