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Originally Answered: Is it okay to drink swimming pool water? Common diseases?
Is it okay to drink pool water is a concern of many swimmers when they "accidentally" drink it. If pool water is not cleaned regularly and properly, it can potentially contain many harmful bacteria and chemicals. So is it okay to drink pool water? What should you do if you drink it? Let's find the most detailed answer through the article below.
What does swimming pool water contain?
In the hot summer, swimming is an ideal sport, and the swimming pool is a place that cannot be missed. So is the water in the swimming pool safe? What ingredients does it contain?
- Bacteria:
Dirt and bacteria are the factors that cause swimming pool water to become polluted. Bacteria can arise from the feces of many animals, from algae cells that exist in rainwater. In addition, they can also be affected by cosmetics, sweat, swimming pool wastewater, or other substances.
- Chlorine: This is a chemical used to add to swimming pools for the purpose of disinfecting and killing bacteria.
- Sodium carbonate, Sodium bicarbonate: Helps balance pH
So, swimming pool water contains bacteria and many different types of treatment chemicals. So is it okay to drink swimming pool water ? Let us find out!
Is it okay to drink pool water? Drinking too much affects your health
Answer: Is it okay to drink swimming pool water?
According to experts: Each person can drink 15ml of water after each swimming session without affecting their health. Because, drinking pool water is inevitable when swimming. However, this is only true if the pool has a guaranteed water source.
If you drink pool water with an “unsafe” water source, it can affect your health. Depending on the amount of water you drink plus the quality of the water, the severity will vary.
Common diseases if you drink too much swimming pool water
Swimming pool water is not clean, contains bacteria, chemicals, ... affecting health. So is it okay to drink swimming pool water ? If you drink too much swimming pool water, it causes some typical common diseases:
- Diarrhea: If you drink pool water containing Cryptosporidium, it will cause typical diarrhea symptoms at the pool. And some other diseases such as stomach pain and vomiting.
- Meningococcal disease: This is a dangerous disease with initial symptoms of pharyngitis, then causing sepsis, and finally meningitis.
- Asthma: Caused by chlorine in swimming pool water entering the body.
- Acute enteritis, gastritis
Common diseases when drinking too much swimming pool water
Why is swimming pool water unsafe?
Not cleaned regularly
Swimming pool water that is not cleaned regularly contains many harmful bacteria. Especially with outdoor pools: Bacteria arise when fallen leaves and bird droppings exist in untreated water.
Substandard water treatment
Swimming pool water treatment is not guaranteed due to not investing in a weekly water filtration system or due to an old water filtration system. In addition, due to the high density of swimming pool use, the filter tank has a small operating capacity.
Substandard swimming pool water filtration system
Pool treatment with chemicals is not guaranteed or done properly. The amount of residual chemicals, especially chlorine, causes skin irritation and affects the health of swimmers if ingested.
Remedies if drinking swimming pool water
Through the above analysis, we have helped you answer the question: is it okay to drink swimming pool water ? If you drink too much swimming pool water, it can affect your health. So what should you do when drinking swimming pool water?
You should drink more water after drinking pool water.
How to handle:
If you accidentally drink pool water, stay calm and follow these steps:
- Drink small amounts: After leaving the pool, replenish your body with water to ensure increased excretion.
- Drink large amounts of water: Add more water to your body, and monitor your health to see if there are any changes in your body. If you experience symptoms such as stomach discomfort, dizziness, nausea, etc., go to the nearest medical facility for treatment.
Measures to minimize the impact of swimming pool water
To limit drinking too much pool water, avoid affecting your health! You need to equip yourself with good swimming skills, choose a swimming pool with a quality water source that ensures the following factors:
- Water color: A safe swimming pool has a natural blue water color, allowing you to clearly see the bottom of the pool. The pool water is not cloudy or has any other special blue color.
- Odor: If the water smells too strong of chlorine, the pool contains excess chlorine that exceeds the allowable threshold. The pool water is not safe.
- Usage density: If the number of swimmers is too large, the water filtration system may not be guaranteed, overloaded or weak. At that time, the water quality will hardly meet the requirements.
In short, through this article you have the answer to the question: is it okay to drink swimming pool water ? If you drink too much and the swimming pool water is not guaranteed, it will have a certain impact on your health. Therefore, in addition to equipping yourself with good swimming skills, you need to make sure to choose a quality swimming pool to avoid negative effects on your health.
