Municipal water systems are tricky. It's next to impossible not to use them, and they can be risky, considering you may be showering with bacteria-laden water that harms folks with compromised immune systems. Unfortunately, the risk of illness may be more widespread for many children and adults using public swimming pools, according to a CDC report.
Based on a review of more than 120,000 routine public pool inspections conducted in 13 states two years ago, 12 percent of pools (some 13,500) were closed immediately due to serious health violations, of which most were related to faulty disinfectant (12,917) or pH levels (10,148). And, nearly 74,000 of those pool inspections identified at least one violation.
The variety of pool systems cited most often by the CDC for safety violations (those that were shut down or had disinfectant problems) may surprise you:
1. Child care facility pools: 17.2 percent
2. Hotel/motel pools: 15.3 percent
3. Kiddie/wading pools: 13.5 percent
4. Interactive fountains: 12.6 percent
5. Apartment/condo pools: 12.4 percent
Learn more about diseases that can harm your gut, skin, ears and respiratory system and how to avoid them by reviewing CDC data on recreational water illness.
|
Receive Daily Health Updates from CNCA
|
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Vol. 59, No. 19, pp. 582-587, May 21, 2010
healthfinder.gov May 20, 2010
CDC Online Newsroom May 20, 2010