Keep Swimming Pools Clean This Season

Facility management can work toward keeping the swimming pools they manage pee-free with signage to remind guests to take a few breaks from the fun.

The National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) has share this public service message as a reminder to help keep pool time fun time during the summer of 2018 by preventing pee in the public pools and other commercial swimming facilities. Within the last year 200 swim clubs, manufacturers, aquatic facilities, engineers, designers, builders, suppliers, educators, and industry influencers have pledged to “Preventing Pee in the Pool.” Coaches, parents, and facility management can make small changes that create a big splash. public pools

NSPF notes that scientific studies verify that urine from pool users is the largest avoidable contributor to harmful pool disinfection byproducts, the leading cause of eye, skin, and breathing irritations all too commonly associated with swimming. Preventing pee in the pool ensures more people can safely enjoy the health benefits of swimming without these harmful side effects.

If pool users take the time to shower and use the bathroom before enjoying the pool, the water and air quality will remain cleaner and safer for all pool-goers. It is important to recognize that being submerged in water stimulates the body to create more urine. There are other simple ways for coaches, parents, and facility managers to reduce pee in the pool, and NSPF advises:

  • Swim Coaches can… Give swimmers bathroom breaks every 30-60 minutes
  • Adults accompanying children can… Schedule “out of pool” snack time that give children a chance to use the restroom
  • Facility Management can… Schedule “Adult Only” swim time for 10 minutes every hour
  • And Everyone can help by… Encouraging showering and bathroom use before entering the pool, water park, or aquatic facility

Mark Weber, former USA Swimming National Team member and project manager for Paddock Construction out of Rock Hill, SC, says he actively avoided many indoor aquatic facilities because of the breathing problems he regularly suffered when swimming indoors. “In high school,” says Weber, “I dealt with what felt like chronic bronchitis due to the poor indoor air quality at my local pool. My college choice was then influenced by Florida State University’s outdoor pool. I knew I wouldn’t have to worry about terrible breathing conditions while swimming outside.”

Post college and while training to qualify for the Rio Olympics, top of Weber’s list of needs continued to be finding a facility with well-maintained indoor air quality.

Maintaining proper water and air quality benefits everyone in and around the pool, and this season everyone has a role to play. To reinforce this messaging at your swimming facility, post relevant signage in prominent locations. Campaign partner, Paddock Pools, sells posters like the one seen here.


4 COMMENTS

  1. I love the signage. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this used in community or commercial pools. Thanks for posting!

  2. Swimming pool cleaning is an important task because don’t take care of the pool is made dirty and People will not come to the dirty swimming pool for swimming. You share the information is very helpful. Thanks for sharing.

  3. I like this write up. I consistently tell my kids to not pee in the pool and to use the bathrooms when they need to. Having a healthy pool is important to me because my kids also consistently open their eyes under water. Thanks again for the quality information and suggestions.

  4. That is nice that a pool would be cleaner if people shower and use the bathroom before. Maybe it would be good for someone to get a commercial pool cleaner. That is something I would want if I owned a commercial pool.

Comments are closed.