Pools are Much Dirtier than Expected, New Study Reveals

According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report pools are much dirtier than expected.

Almost 80 percent of public swimming pools and hot tubs inspected in five U.S. states in 2013 had health or safety violations raising big concern for public health.

“This is particularly troubling because children who are still learning their toiletry skills are more likely to contaminate the water, and more likely to swallow the water, both of which can lead to diarrheal illness," Michael Beach, the CDC’s associate director for healthy water, said during a telephone conference with Reuters.

In one of every eight pools investigated, the violations were so bad that the pools were ordered close right away, the U.S. health agency said. 20 per cent of children’s wading pools looked into was closed right away, according to the study.

"Young children who are still learning their toileting skills are more likely to contaminate the water. They're more likely to swallow the water. Both of which can lead to outbreaks of diarrheal illness," Beach said.

Most contamination of public pools and hot tubs results from people swimming while suffering from diarrhea, Beach said.

"Somebody who is ill with diarrhea has a release in the pool, and then it's a very common occurrence to swallow pool water while you're swimming," he said.

With Healthy and Safe Swimming Week beginning May 23, the CDC noted correctly sanitized water should have a:

- free chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm in pools and at least 3 ppm in hot tubs/spas.

- free bromine concentration of at least 3 ppm in pools and at least 4 ppm in hot tubs/spas.

- pH value between 7.2 and 7.8.

In 2009, swimming was the fourth most popular sports in the country, according to the US Census Bureau. And for children between the ages of seven and 17, it was the most popular sports activity. About 40 million people over the age of seven went swimming at least six times that year.