Forget Urine This Is Actually The Grossest Thing In Pool Water

Who doesn’t love a cool dip in a swimming pool on a hot summer day? Well, recent news may make you think twice before you take a gulp of even the cleanest pool water. Between parasites and human waste, pools are apparently teeming with icky things you can’t see.

A new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found an uptick in outbreaks caused by Cryptosporidium (“Crypto”) linked to American swimming pools and water playgrounds. Crypto infection is caused by ingesting the parasites that carry it. Most people ingest the parasites by drinking contaminated water, eating uncooked food, coming in contact with a person who is already infected, or swimming in a contaminated pool and accidentally swallowing the water. According to Mayo Clinic, symptoms of Crypto include diarrhea, fever, lack of appetite, weight loss, and vomiting.

In its report, the CDC says there were at least 32 outbreaks linked to the parasites last year. That number is about double the number of outbreaks reported in 2014.

“To help protect your family and friends from Crypto and other diarrhea-causing germs, do not swim or let your kids swim if sick with diarrhea,” Michele Hlavsa, chief of the CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program, said in a statement. “Protect yourself from getting sick by not swallowing the water in which you swim.”

And parasites aren’t the only thing you need to worry about swallowing in your pool water. You know that strong smell of chlorine? And how, sometimes, after a couple of hours of swimming your eyes are red and irritated? Well, it’s not the chlorine causing the smell and irritation — it’s actually human waste. When chlorine combines with urine, the chlorine smell becomes more pronounced and the water begins to irritate the eyes, nose, and sometimes skin.

“Chlorine and other disinfectants are added to a swimming pool to destroy germs,” Hlasva said in a statement accompanying a 2015 fact sheet.”Peeing in a pool depletes chlorine and actually produces an irritant that makes people’s eyes turn red.”

Basically, people are gross and so are pools. So try not to swallow the water and, if you do, be on the lookout for some pretty gnarly symptoms. The earlier you identify the symptoms and get to a doctor, the better you’ll fare in the end.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.