A swimming pool in the backyard brings a lot of benefits. Swimming is one of the best cardiovascular exercises there is. You can also relax, lounging on the pool deck or take a dip when you want to cool off. Children can play water games and have fun.
But do you know that your innocuous swimming pool might become a breeding ground for pathogens if you do not take care? If you use such a pool there is a high risk that you may suffer from from diarrhea, ear, nose or eye infections. You may even contact skin infections.
Apart from cleaning the water pool water and sanitizing it with chlorine, another way to ensure that pathogens do not get into the water is to take a shower before you enter the pool.
You might say that you took a shower just in the morning. But you might have also used the bathroom in the interval. You may have also sweated or traveled outside.
During tests of public swimming pools, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that 58% of the pools tested positive for Escherichia Coli. Virulent strains of this bacteria can cause urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis, stomach ulcers, food poisoning, and even neonatal meningitis.
Another nasty pathogen Cryptosporidium can live in chlorinated water for up to 10 days. If you swallow these bacteria from pool water, you may fall seriously ill. The irony is, these bacteria are mostly introduced into the pool by human beings themselves.
The role of chlorine in killing pathogens
You would be surprised to know that chlorine does not kill bacteria right away. Most of the bacteria that can cause disease will be killed by Chlorine inside of an hour, but only if the pH and chlorine level are optimal. This is also one of the reasons for hot tub rash- an improperly maintained water environment.
So, the best way to prevent these pathogens from entering a pool is to take a shower before you get in. Showering will also wash off skin creams, sunblock and sweat. The benefit is, the water filtration system in your pool will have less work to do and you may actually be able to get by with less chlorine. The chlorine will also not have to work as much, which means it will stay in the pool for a longer time.
Note that if you get out of the pool to visit the bathroom, take a shower again before getting back into the pool. Under no circumstances, should pool water be swallowed.