Key takeaways
- Swimming pools harbor germs like Cryptosporidium, E. coli, and Legionella that can cause stomach illnesses, ear infections, skin rashes, and respiratory problems. Showering before and after entering the water can help.
- A strong chemical smell at a pool actually signals that it’s dirty, not clean, because the odor comes from chlorine breaking down after reacting with bodily waste and contaminants. Use portable test strips to check chlorine and pH levels before swimming.
- Stay out of the pool for two full weeks after experiencing diarrhea, as the body can continue shedding parasites even after symptoms stop. Never urinate in the water, and avoid swallowing pool water to protect yourself and others.
Outdoor swimming pools are a summer tradition. But do you know what you’re getting into?
All the sweat, dirt, oil, and products like deodorant and hair goop diminish the chlorine-based disinfectant’s power so it’s less effective at keeping the water clean. That leaves swimmers more vulnerable to germs that can cause infection, illness, and irritation.
But you don’t have to resign yourself or your children to sitting on beach towels all season. Summer can still be a big splash if you take a few basic hygiene tips, follow proper swimmer etiquette, and stay on the lookout for funky pool problems.
Being a good pool citizen involves a lot more than not cannonballing near the sunbathers.
Whether at a hotel, waterpark, backyard oasis, or community center, your responsibility as a pool patron is to avoid introducing germs or grime into the water. Plus, there are ways to protect yourself from bacteria.
Some good pool rules
- Shower before and after getting in the pool.
- Stay out of the pool if you’ve had diarrhea.
- Don’t pee or poop in the pool.
- Use swim diapers or pants for little ones.
- Take breaks every hour.
- Don’t swallow pool water.
- Check the water with a portable test strip.
Even if you aren’t deliberately swallowing the water, you’re probably still ingesting more than you think. Within just 1 hour of swimming, the average swimmer consumes
Do what you can to minimize what goes into your own mouth. Also, teach kids that pool water isn’t drinkable and that they should close their mouths and plug their noses when going underwater.
Keep plenty of fresh water handy for hydration on breaks.
Shower for
Just one swimmer can introduce lots of microbes,
And soaping up after a swim can help remove any icky stuff left on the skin from a dirty pool.
According to a 2017 survey, 25% of adults say they’d swim within one hour of having diarrhea. That’s a big issue because fecal matter particles on the body get into the water — even more so if you’ve had diarrhea.
This means that germs like Cryptosporidium, which spreads via contaminated feces, can enter the water.
It’s possible to continue to shed the parasite for 2 weeks after loose stool has stopped. The Crypto parasite can live in pools with adequate chlorine levels for up to 10 days.
Urinating in the pool
Chloramines can turn into gas, which can be particularly dangerous in indoor pools as there’s reduced ventilation.
Going to the bathroom before entering the water can help prevent accidents. It’s also best to leave the pool hourly for a bathroom break,
It’s also best for anybody wearing regular diapers to wear swim diapers while in the pool. Where necessary, caregivers should check diapers hourly and change them in restrooms or locker rooms away from the pool area.
If you witness an incident in the pool, report it to staff right away.
If a pool’s chlorine or pH level is off, germs are more likely to spread. If you aren’t sure how clean a pool is, check yourself.
You can use a
While it’s not fun to think about pool germs, it helps to know how to prevent infections, what symptoms to watch for, and how to get relief if you do get a recreational water illness.
Diarrhea
An infection causes diarrhea. Diarrhea can be accompanied by symptoms such as cramping and nausea.
To help prevent diarrhea, avoid swallowing pool water.
If you suspect a diarrheal illness, it’s a good idea to check in with a doctor. Most cases will resolve on their own, but you’ll want to minimize dehydration, which
Always talk with your doctor if you have bloody stool or a high fever.
Swimmer’s ear
Swimmer’s ear is an infection in the outer ear canal. It doesn’t spread from person to person. Instead, it’s caused when water stays in the ear canal for too long, letting bacteria grow and cause problems.
Anybody can get swimmer’s ear, but it’s
To prevent swimmer’s ear, try swimming earplugs. After swimming, tip the head to drain water from the ear canal, and always dry ears with a towel.
Call your doctor if you feel like you can’t get water out of your ear or it starts to cause the symptoms above. Swimmer’s ear is usually treatable with antibiotic ear drops.
Hot tub folliculitis
Hot tub folliculitis, or hot tub rash, gets its name because it commonly appears after you’ve been in a contaminated hot tub or spa, but it can also show up after swimming in a poorly treated heated pool.
The germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes the rash, and it often appears on skin covered by your suit. Symptoms can include itchy bumps or pus-filled blisters.
To help prevent hot tub rash, avoid shaving or waxing before taking a dip, and always wash with soap and water and dry yourself thoroughly as soon as possible after being in a hot tub or pool.
If you suspect hot tub rash, your doctor may prescribe topical treatments you can apply to the skin.
Urinary tract infection
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are another culprit of swimming pool season. A UTI occurs when bacteria travel up the urethra and through the urine into the bladder.
A UTI can cause symptoms such as:
- painful urination
- increased need to urinate
- cloudy or bloody pee
- pelvic or rectal pain
To help reduce the risk of a UTI, shower after swimming and change out of wet suits or clothes as soon as possible. Drink lots of water throughout your pool adventure.
If you suspect a UTI, seek medical advice. Depending on the cause of the UTI, an antibiotic or an antifungal medication may be necessary.
Legionnaires’ disease
Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria, which you may inhale in the mist from pools or steam from hot tubs.
It can develop
- chest pain
- shortness of breath
- chills
- fever
- coughing up blood
Use portable test strips to test pools before going in.
Seek medical advice if there are concerns about Legionnaire’s disease. If there is trouble breathing or coughing up blood, seek immediate medical help.
After all this talk of pool germs and what they can do to our bodies, you might be tempted to avoid that cool dip in the pool altogether. We aren’t trying to scare you, but this unpleasant information should inspire you to stick to the hygiene tips and best practices outlined above — and encourage others to as well.
As long as you adopt proper pool etiquette, you’ll keep yourself and everyone else safe. Showering before and after entering the pool, avoiding swallowing pool water, and using pH test strips can help to protect against pool-related illnesses and infections.
Jennifer Chesak is a medical journalist for several national publications, a writing instructor, and a freelance book editor. She earned her Master of Science in journalism from Northwestern’s Medill. She’s also the managing editor for the literary magazine, Shift. Jennifer lives in Nashville but hails from North Dakota, and when she’s not writing or sticking her nose in a book, she’s usually running trails or futzing with her garden. Follow her on Instagram or Twitter.