Community Corner

Poop in the Pools? Probably

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it's likely that there's fecal matter in public pools across the country.

Summer is just around the corner and what could be more refreshing than a dip in your local pool?

Just don't open your mouth.

In a recently released study, the CDC found E.coli in more than half of the public pool filters tested for genetic material. 

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Although the researchers did not find the toxin-producing strain of E. coli that can cause diarrhea, cramps and—sometimes—kidney failure, the bacteria they did find is normally found in human intestines and feces. 

What that means, in case it’s unclear, is that “swimmers frequently contaminate pool water when they have a fecal incident in the water or when feces rinse off of their bodies because they do not shower thoroughly before getting into the water.”

Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In addition to 58 percent of the pools testing positive for E.coli, the study also found that more than 50 percent of the filters had the rash and ear-infection-causing bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa. 

Swimming is a great way to stay healthy, Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program, said in a statement. “However, pool users should be aware of how to prevent infections while swimming.

Remember, chlorine and other disinfectants don’t kill germs instantly. That’s why it’s important for swimmers to protect themselves by not swallowing the water they swim in and to protect others by keeping feces and germs out of the pool by taking a pre-swim shower and not swimming when ill with diarrhea.

Good advice.

The study sampled 161 public pool filters in the metro-Atlanta area, so its results really cannot be generalized any further than that.

However, according to an abstract accompanying the study, “[O]utbreaks of acute gastrointestinal illness throughout the United States suggests that swimmers frequently introduce fecal material and pathogens into recreational water throughout the country.” 

Want to help keep your pool feces-free? Here are recommendations for healthy, safe swimming from the CDC:

Do not swallow the water you swim in.

Keep clean:

  • Do not swim when you have diarrhea.
  • Shower with soap before you start swimming.
  • Take a rinse shower before you get back into the water.
  • Take bathroom breaks every 60 minutes.
  • Wash your hands with soap after using the toilet or changing diapers.

Check the chlorine and pH levels before getting into the water: 

  • Pools: Proper chlorine (1–3 mg/L or parts per million [ppm]) and pH (7.2–7.8) levels maximize germ-killing power.
  • Most superstores, hardware stores, and pool-supply stores sell pool test strips.

Parents, keep your kids clean:

  • Take children on bathroom breaks every 60 minutes or check diapers every 30–60 minutes.
  • Change diapers in the bathroom or diaper-changing area and not at poolside where germs can rinse into the water.

Read more about safe swimming from the CDC.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here