Proper swimming pool maintenance can
be a difficult and time-consuming task. The chemical balance of the water
has to be monitored carefully to make sure that it does not become fouled
with algae or bacteria. Either of these will make the water smell and
look unpleasant and can be a serious health hazard. The water must also
be kept clear of debris such as fallen leaves and sticks, as these encourage
fouling and become very slippery and dangerous as they start to decompose,
regular swimming pool maintenance shoul prevent this. Most people keep
their swimming pool either covered over or drained entirely during the
months of the year in which it is not in use, as this is the easiest way
to keep it sanitary (draining however can be a serious safety hazard with
deeper swimming pools and re-filling can be fairly expensive in areas
where water is scarce). Public and competitive swimming pools are therefore
often, especially in colder climates, indoor pools—covered with a roof
and heated—to enable their use all year round.
Only swimming pools and spas that contain filtrated and disinfected water
can be considered safe places to swim. Poor swimming pool maintenance
may lead to low levels of disinfectants and clogged filters that may place
swimmers at risk for diseases and infections. The only way to ensure proper
sanitation is to test the swimming pool water with a pool water test kit
and fresh reagents.
Disease prevention should be a part of every water quality management
program for swimming pool maintenance operators, just like the prevention
of drowning, injuries, and sunburn. People are less likely to be exposed
to polluted water at swimming pools and spas that are monitored regularly
and audited for health hazards. The swimming pool water has to be continuously
disinfected by disinfectants so that the concentrations set by standards
are maintained throughout the pool water, and also the pH, the clarity
and the total alkalinity of the water has to be maintained in accordance
with the requirements set by standards.
The education of parents of small children and other people with regard
to good hygienic behavior at swimming pools is also important for improving
health safety at swimming pools and spas. People should also be cautioned
about swimming in pools if they are suffering from gastroenteritis or
other illnesses where viral pathogens might be transmitted from swimmer
to swimmer via pool water.
Since most swimmers are exposed to pathogens by swallowing the water,
people will be less likely to get sick if they swim without submerging
their head.
Generally, a well maintained swimming pool will have no smell or taste,
be scrupulously clean, and have crystal clear water. Most people would
not want to swim in a pool that appears dirty even if germs were under
control. A swimming pool pump circulates water through a strainer and
filter to remove dirt and other suspended particles.
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