Take a shower

Shower before you swim

Posted: Tuesday 13th January 2009

Don't make our pools the community bath

Pollution is introduced almost continuously into the water of swimming pools from the swimmers themselves.

Studies clearly show that pre-swim showering removes significant amounts of dirt and bacteria that would otherwise end up in the pool.

It's not nice to think about, but up to two-thirds of the sweat products and one third of the bacteria on our bodies are removed by showering. Showering will also remove pollutants such as mucus, dead skin, dirt and products such as hairspray, body soap, lotions, oils, deodorant and ointments. Without a shower, these pollutants end up in the pool water.

Pollutants from our bodies can transmit biological organisms such as bacteria and viruses into the pool and can quickly use up the pool disinfectant.

Pollutants combine with the chlorine in the pool water to become chloramines in the water and air. Chloramines are a much poorer disinfectant than chlorine. The production of chloramines can result in an inadequately disinfected swimming pool.

Swimming pools, which are not properly disinfected, have been proven to serve as vehicles for the transmission of human disease.

Take a cleansing shower before you enter the pool :

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