Although swimming pools are excellent sources of entertainment, these spectacular features require regular maintenance. Maintaining a pool helps you attain crystal clear pool water. Indisputably, commercial or public pools require more maintenance due to frequent usage. Thus, all public pool owners should ensure their pool is safe and clean for use. As a swimmer, you have to ensure that the pool is safe for use. You can do this by checking when last the pool got inspected.

Generally, local authorities close thousands of pools that don’t meet all safety and health regulations every year. Based on previous statistics, more than 75% of public pools violated one or two safety measures issued by the state. Therefore, it is essential to keep your pool in good shape. Request for frequent inspections by your local authorities before the situation gets out of hand.

Cryptosporidium

Over the years, swimming pools have become a major cause of diseases. Swimming pools often contain a harmful parasite called cryptosporidium. Cryptosporidium can survive in swimming pools even in the presence of chlorine. Luckily, there are specific techniques you can incorporate to get rid of this harmful parasite in your pool.

Removal of Cryptosporidium

One of the best ways to removing cryptosporidium is to foster maximum filtration. Nevertheless, note that you cannot get rid of these harmful parasites in one filtration. It would be best if you kept passing the pool water through the filter severally.

Also, as you do this, consider closing the pool until you filter all the water present in the pool. Ultraviolet pool sanitation systems are usually ideal in removing these harmful parasites. Conducting a pool shock also goes a long way in removing cryptosporidium.

Outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidium is the pathogen responsible for causing cryptosporidiosis. This harmful parasite is the leading cause of diarrhea connected to swimming pools. Although you can get cryptosporidiosis in other settings like farms, swimming in infected pools is common.

Preventing cryptosporidiosis

As public pool owners, it is essential to inform swimmers to avoid swimming if they have diarrhea. Also, swimmers should avoid swimming if they had diarrhea in the last 48 hours. Failure to do this would only lead to an increase in cryptosporidium in your pool. Advise them to come back when their symptoms stop for the safety of everyone.

Other safety measures you need to observe in the pool include:

• Advise parents to take their children to the toilet before they start swimming. Also, parents should consider giving their children frequent toilet breaks to prevent them from contaminating the pool.
• For small children, parents should use swimming diapers to prevent fecal leakages into the pool. Additionally, parents should wash their hands after changing the baby’s diapers. They should also dispose of their baby’s diapers appropriately.
• As a public pool owner, it would be best to formulate a strategy for handling fecal accidents that occur in your swimming pool.

Note that cryptosporidium is more common in shallow pools. Thus, ensure you observe maximum hygiene if you have a shallow pool. You can also reduce the risk of contamination by making sure your pool contractor observes all pool construction guidelines.

Water Main Contimation

Water companies report that at times, cryptosporidium may get into the water without their knowledge. Therefore, they advise boiling water before use or using an effective disinfectant agent to sanitize the water. If you are a pool owner, use the right sanitizing chemicals to kill all microorganisms in the pool water. Nevertheless, ensure you get advice from your water supplier on how to sanitize your pool water.

According to a previous survey done in 2013, the most cryptosporidium-contaminated swimming pools in Arizona, New York, and California were baby pools. The local authorities of the respective areas ordered the closure of these swimming pools. The most common problems were inaccurate water chemistry, less safety equipment, and low chlorine levels when inspecting these swimming pools. Note that low chlorine levels and high pH are usually connected. So, your pool might be having low chlorine levels due to high pH. A good percentage of pools violated pool safety regulations. Even worse, some of these violations were not minor.

Associate Director for Healthy Water, Michael Beach, says that these results are incredibly concerning. He says that all pool professionals should do their best to protect the public. On the flip side, swimmers should ensure the pool receives regular pool inspections from time to time.

The bottom line

It is sad to know that many public pools are not passing health inspections. As a result, most public pools are not safe for swimmers. All pool owners should ensure their pools undergo a frequent pool inspection. This way, they’ll keep their pool in good condition. Swimmers, on the other hand, should confirm whether the public pool is free from contaminants. Additionally, they should practice maximum hygiene while swimming in the pool.

The 2022 National Water Safety Conference will take place April 11-14, 2022 in-person at the Worthington Renaissance Hotel in Fort Worth, TX and online at watersafetyconference.com.

This is your opportunity to view incredible speakers, live sessions, trainings, seminars, town hall meetings, and interactive Q&A sessions with actual professionals.

You’ll have the chance to connect with water safety suppliers, vendors, and Families United to Prevent Drowning members through the Virtual Exhibit Hall. Participate in the fun for a chance to win prizes and contests.

Virtual Exhibitors:

Last Chance to Submit Presentations for 2022 National Water Safety Conference

Applications for conference speakers are due September 30, 2021. By October 15, 2021, the selected Speaker will be notified.

A swimming pool indisputably offers numerous hours of relaxation and entertainment. However, experts report that swimming pools are dangerous features. Think about it. These spectacular features contain chlorine, an irritant to the skin and eyes. Also, they contain slippery surfaces and electric equipment. Did you know that lightning and pools don’t mix? Therefore, you should be careful when using pools.

Once you notice anything unusual with your pool, leave the pool and seek help from a pool professional. Generally, there are specific safety measures you need to observe when using a pool.

Is it dangerous to swim when there’s a storm?

Whenever you hear lightning or thunder while in the pool, leave the pool immediately. Seeing raindrops fall into the pool may not be a big deal to most swimmers. But you have to stay alert and beware of upcoming storms. So, it would be best to leave the pool once it starts raining. Storms can cause electrocution to anyone in the pool.

The pool professionals at Sunsational Swim School say, “You should never swim during a thunderstorm; doing this is too dangerous.” “Remember, water is a good conductor of electricity. So, when lightning strikes the pool, it could lead to severe electrocution. Always vacate the pool immediately you see the signs of an incoming storm.”

Some experts like Ron Holle say that swimming pools are very small; thus, lightning is less likely to strike them directly. Nevertheless, keep in mind that pools encompass broad areas. Underground electric cables near the pools can lead to electrocution.

Unfortunately, swimmers can also become a channel for electric current to flow. When your body is wet, you offer the ideal path for electric current to flow. Ray Brosnan, a plumbing professional, reported that electric current will always find and travel to the ground through a path with minimal resistance once lightning strikes. And this leads to severe electrocution. Ultimately, it is clear to see that lightning and pools don’t mix.

How do you know a storm is near?

Usually, it is challenging to predict the occurrence of a storm. So, to be safe, get out of the pool immediately it starts raining. Lightning always strikes without notice, even when the storm is far away. The majority of pool owners always think lightning is far away simply because there are no signs of a storm. And this is wrong since lightning catches you unaware.

On the flip side, pool owners can always hear thunder from far away. However, it depends on your area. In Regions with many obstacles or too much noise, you may not be able to hear thunder. Also, note that it’s hard to notice lightning during the day when there’s light. However, during clear nights, you can see lightning from 80 miles away.

Pool Troopers professionals report, “Once you hear the sound of thunder, lightning is always on the corner.” But in some instances, lightning can strike out of nowhere. Thus, it would be best to be cautious at all times. Always leave the pool immediately you see any signs of a storm. In fact, leave the pool immediately rain starts dropping. Look for a safe space to relace and wait for the storm to seize. Alternatively, head home and watch your favorite movie or read your book.

Is it safe to wait by the poolside?

Waiting for the storm to seize while sited under the pergola or lounging chair is not a good idea. These chills spots have exposed sides that could put you in danger of electrocution. Some buildings contain metal sheds, carports, beach shacks that may not make them safe during a storm. All in all, it would be best if you avoided all outdoor spaces. Contrary to popular belief, porches are also not safe chill spots during a storm.

Since lightning and pools do not mix, look for an indoor shelter during a storm. Once you get a safe indoor space, avoid staying close to the doors, windows, and walls. In particular concrete walls and floors easily conduct electricity since they contain metal decking. Metal is a good conductor of electricity. Thus, lightning travels fast across the metal decking.

One of the best places you can use to shield yourself is inside your car. In case you can’t seem to find an indoor space, consider waiting in your car. You don’t necessarily have to leave the pool and go home. Storms are likely to last for approximately 30 minutes. So, you can continue swimming once half an hour us gone. Pool professionals usually recommend waiting approximately 30 minutes before going back into the pool.

The bottom line: Lightning and pools are enemies

Ultimately, it is safe to conclude that lightning and pools don’t mix. When lightning strikes pools, it can lead to electrocution. Usually, electric current looks for the path with the least resistance to flow. Your body serves as the ideal electrical path when you are wet. So, always leave the pool once you see signs of an upcoming storm. Look for a safe spot to shelter yourself as you wait for the storm to subside.