Why Dirty Pools Will Make You Sick

Wondering why dirty pools will make you sick? Have you ever been sick after swimming? If yes, it must have been due to contaminated water in the swimming pool.

A 2018 report conducted by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that about 27, 000 people contract sicknesses from swimming pools and other aqua recreation places.

Well, swimming in the cool water during sunny days offers simple pleasure. But do you know that if you swim in dirty pools, you can contract sickness? Here are five reasons why contaminated water can make you sick.

Why Dirty Pools Will Make You Sick? –
Dirty Pools are Breeding Site for Parasites

According to a 2014 study conducted by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 220 different parasites live in dirty pool water, hot tubs, and playgrounds. Parasites contribute to about 45 percent of disease outbreak as a result of swimming in dirty pools.

Therefore, when parasites contaminate the water, you only need to swallow a tiny amount of water when swimming to get infected. Unfortunately, it is not possible to avoid taking some water when swimming.

In any case, some parasites enter your body through other openings like eyes and nose. Therefore, pool cleaning and maintenance is essential as it eliminates parasites and bacteria that breed in dirty pool water.

Human Poop in the Pool water

But swimmers don’t poop in the swimming pool water? Well, that’s true! But do you know that human beings have about 0.15 grams of poop on their buttocks? Yes, this is according to the CDC.

When the swimmer is swimming, the poop gently washes off, contaminating the water with germs. We know that pool water contains chlorine, which is supposed to kill all bacteria.

It is true, but germs from fecal matters are protected by fecal matter from being exposed to chlorine. Therefore, they don’t die, and they can infect swimmers. If you swim in dirty pools for an extended period, you can contract various sicknesses, including Hepatitis A.

Legionnaire Bacteria can infest dirty Swimming Pools.

Legionnaire bacterium is a kind of bacteria that causes various diseases such as pneumonia and related diseases. This bacteria is naturally found in natural lakes and streams but can also develop in the swimming pools and hot tubs, which have contaminated water.

Therefore, it is advisable to clean swimming pools regularly. Also, those who own public swimming pool should spray disinfectants every day.

If you ever feel symptoms such as fever, coughing, shortness of breath, chills, and diarrhea after swimming, you should see your doctor as you might have been infected by legionnaire bacterium.

Dirty Pools have Trichloramine and Cyanogen chloride.

You know well that most swimmers urinate in the swimming pools as they swim. Well, this is dangerous for your health. Urine creates a combination of cyanogen and trichloramine chloride, which are highly toxic chemicals.

If you continuously swim in swimming pools with urine excretes, you will likely suffer from lung problems and heart central nervous system. This is according to a study conducted by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to know whether swimmers are urinating in the swimming waters where you want to swim. Therefore, it is advisable to conduct pool cleaning and maintenance regularly to remove toxic chlorides caused by human urine.

Dirty Pool Water Contains Fungi

Pool bathers have various fungi infections, which they pass to pool water when swimming. Therefore, swimming in contaminated pool water can make you contract athlete’s foot and human papillomavirus.

If you contract fungi infection, you will develop plantar warts in your skin and also be exposed to other dangers. The pool patrons should adhere to the aquatic guidelines to avoid spreading fungi to bare feet of pool bathers.

When you think that the pool water is not disinfected properly, it is advisable to be more careful. Well, you can avoid swimming in such pools altogether instead of getting sick.

Why Dirty Pools Will Make You Sick – Conclusion

As discussed above, pool bathers can get various diseases from swimming in a dirty swimming pool. A dirty swimming pool is a home for bacteria, fungi, and parasites, all disease-causing pathogens.

Perhaps you should consider swimming first at any time you want to swim. If this is not possible, you should always ensure that you swim inadequately disinfected water. In so doing, you will be free from diseases that swimmers get from swimming in dirty pools.

Instead of getting sick, it is better to forego swimming if you feel the water is polluted.