80% of Public Pools Are Not Clean, Study Finds

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According to a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8 in 10 public pools in the U.S. are not up to code, BabyCenter reports.iStock_000021134497_Small

The CDC reports that, out of 48,000 public pools across the country, 8 in 10 had at least one safety violation and 1 in 8 had to be closed immediately.

“Environmental health practitioners, or public health inspectors, play a very important role in protecting public health. However, almost one-third of local health departments do not regulate, inspect, or license public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds,” said Michele Hlavsa, chief of CDC’s Healthy Swimming Program. “We should all check for inspection results online or on site before using public pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds and do our own inspection before getting into the water.”

The CDC also found:
• 1 in 5 kiddie/wading pools were closed—the highest proportion of closures among all inspected venues.
• The most common violations reported were related to improper pH (15 percent), safety equipment (13 percent), and disinfectant concentration (12 percent).

So, what can you do to make sure your public pool is safe and clean?

The CDC recommends using pH level test strips before you get in the pool. A clean pool has a chlorine concentration of at least 1 ppm and at least 3 ppm in hot tubs. They also recommend having a lifeguard on duty, or at least a rescue ring with a rope or pole is available.

By The Numbers By The Numbers

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