Lots of Poo In The Water – Public Pools Are Very Dirty. Have A Great Summer

The warm weather have finally graced the Albany region and that means it's time to take a dip in the pool while the sun is blazing. But before you do that, you might want to consider something - the is VERY dirty in public pools.

Studies show that the genetic material from E.coli is found many public pool. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) studied many pools in the summer of 2012 in Atlanta, GA and found that 58% of them had the bacteria. Thankfully from the E. Coli pools, none of the strains of the bacteria found could cause illness but if you are a germ-a-fob, then you will think twice before entering another public pool again.

According to the CDC, the study shows that humans frequently introduce fecal matter to pools. Those germs can spread to others using the pool if there is a large amount present in the pool. Researchers also found in 59% of pools the genetic material for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes skin rashes as well as ear infections.

The researchers conducted their study by collecting water samples at the pools' filter, so the contamination could be very minimal throughout the whole pool. Michele Hlavsa, head of the CDC's Healthy Swimming Program, told Yahoo News "Chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly." She continued "It’s important that swimmers shower before getting in a pool, not swallow the water they swim in, and avoid swimming when they have diarrhea."

And this is why I don't like swimming in public pools, it's like rolling the dice - you never know what another person may have brought in with them.