Is Your Public Pool Safe for Swimming?
Do you know if your local public pool safe for swimming? Maybe not after all.
A recent survey found many swimmers may be unaware of the potential health risks present in their public swimming pool. The Water Quality & Health Council’s annual Healthy Pools survey discovered that the majority of adults (63 percent) have never checked the health inspection reports for their public pool before swimming. So, what’s at risk?
The State of Public Pools
The reason these results are worrisome is due to the fact that another recent report conducted by the CDC in 2016 found that almost eighty percent public pool inspections discovered at least one health and safety rules violation. In addition, about 1 in 8 of those inspections led to a pool’s immediate closure. The Healthy Pools survey suggests these issues are due to unhealthy swimming habits, and public pool maintenance routines just can’t seem to keep up.
How to Stay Safe
What then can you do to make sure you and your family stay safe at the pool? Here are a few steps you can take:
Check the reports. The Water Quality & Health Council has compiled a helpful list of local and state health departments where you can get access to your local pool’s inspection reports. Check and see how the pool in question has done in the past to know if it is safe before you visit.
Do your own inspection. For even more peace of mind, the CDC had created this short checklist outlining how to do your own inspection at the pool. At minimum, make sure your public pool passes these tests. If you find any problems, don’t get in this time.
Build your own crystal clear pool. One course of action we suggest is to begin planning to have a pool of your own. If you’re considering this route, we would love to partner with you to help your vision come to life. Owning your own pool means you can be in control of the healthiness of the water you swim in, and that means you can know it is safe. Not to mention how much easier it is walking out your back door than driving to a public pool!
If you are considering building your own pool, contact us today for a free in-home estimate. We are committed to building quality pools for families like yours. We’ll make sure you end up with a pool you love.
