Why is Swimming Pool Sanitation Important?

Swimming pool sanitation refers to the process of keeping the swimming pool free from dirt, pathogens, and chemicals. It is needed to maintain the clarity of the water and to avoid the spread of diseases.

Swimming pool is a great place for leisure, relaxation, and bonding with our loved ones. It is a perfect venue to have fun and to relieve stress from school and work. Exciting and tempting as it is, if not properly sanitized, it can be a source of some infectious waterborne diseases which we do not want to get while are enjoying ourselves swimming in a pool. Thus, it is very important to maintain swimming pool sanitation.

Maintain the visual clarity of water

Having a cloudy water in a swimming pool could suggest the lack of swimming pool sanitation. It can be caused by suspended particulate matter in the water. Suspended particulates can be contamination coming from different carriers such as humans, the environment, or from growing microorganisms from the pool itself. Keeping the water clear would require proper filtration and the use of necessary pool sanitizers.

Keeping the water as clear as possible in a swimming pool does not only make it more attractive but also it could indicate that the pool is properly sanitized and clean. Thus, making it more soothing for the bathers.

Avoid contracting infectious waterborne diseases

Most of the people who constantly dipped themselves in a swimming pool have no idea that they can get infected with some diseases if the pool is not properly sanitized. This may sound disgusting, but hear this. A recent study from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that on average, each swimmer carries about 0.14 gm of fecal matter and can be washed off to the pool; for children the amount is most likely higher.

Infectious waterborne diseases that can be contracted by exposure of pool contaminants would include diarrhea, swimmer’s ear and various skin infections. Swimming freely without proper swimming pool sanitation and maintenance is comparable to immersing oneself into a large communal bath tub with the neighbors.

Eradicating those germs that can cause sickness to swimmers is the goal of swimming pool sanitation. Contamination can be minimized by a proper swimmer hygiene practices such as showering before and after swimming, and not letting children with intestinal disorders swim. However, effective swimming pool sanitation such as making use of pool sanitizers is still needed to address contaminants in pool water because it is inevitable to prevent introduction of pool contaminants, either pathogenic or non-pathogenic, into swimming pools.

Pool Maintenance

Disinfecting the pool from pathogenic microorganisms can be done through the use of pool sanitizers (e.g. chlorine-based or bromine-based) or by subjecting pool water to ultra-violet (UV) light.

Many pool owners used chlorine-based sanitizers in killing waterborne germs that can make the bathers sick because of its staying power. It serves as a reliable fast acting residual that results in effective and efficient pathogen control which can last past the time of application.

Chlorine and pH levels are being used to determine water quality and sanitation for most of the pool owners. However, recent study reported that pH and chlorine residual are considered poor indicators for swimming pool sanitation.

In the past few years, there is already a new indicator being used for measuring water quality. It is called as oxidation reduction potential. Some swimming pool owners are already using this more accurate indicator to check the water’s sanitation.

Why is swimming pool sanitation so important?

Nowadays, swimming pools are becoming more popular to people who wants to unwind, relax and enjoy their time. To keep them safe from a potential health problems, pool owners must be vigilant in monitoring water balance (adequate sanitizer levels, pH, total alkalinity, and calcium hardness).

The more assured the bathers are with regard to the safety of the pool, the more fun and excitement they will be. Swimming pool is a great place to have fun and relax, however it could also be a threat when it is poorly maintained. It is about time to keep our swimming pools as clean and safe as possible.