Summer Safety: Swimming Pool Water Problems
Summer Safety: Swimming Pool Water Problems
If you have your own pool at home, you should
If you’re interested, look into alternatives to chlorine for your own pool, or at least ways to reduce the amount you use. Alternative pool-cleaning methods include ultraviolet light, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium iodine.
What’s the downside? Many of these methods have not been independently tested, so no one knows how well they work. Certainly, don’t just assume that anything called a “natural” alternative to chlorine is preferable.
One way to avoid the conundrum of the unsanitary versus over-chlorinated swimming pool is to swim in natural bodies of water. But there can still be risks of environmental toxins or chemical toxicants. How do you know if the water in the ocean, or lake, or pond, or swimming hole that your kids are splashing around in is actually safe?
It’s not easy to figure out on your own, but Sonya Lunder, MPH, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C., suggests starting with a phone call. “Call the local department of health,” she says. “They should be keeping an eye on local water quality issues and should give you some guidance.”
The Environmental Protection Agency has some general tips for safe swimming.
Summer Safety: Protecting Your Family from Environmental Health Risks
Swimming Pools continued...
If you have your own pool at home, you should
- Make sure indoor pools have good ventilation -- just opening the windows and doors can make a big difference in air quality.
- Keep your pool free of leaves and insects.
- If you use chlorine, make sure not to use more than necessary.
If you’re interested, look into alternatives to chlorine for your own pool, or at least ways to reduce the amount you use. Alternative pool-cleaning methods include ultraviolet light, hydrogen peroxide, and potassium iodine.
What’s the downside? Many of these methods have not been independently tested, so no one knows how well they work. Certainly, don’t just assume that anything called a “natural” alternative to chlorine is preferable.
Beaches
One way to avoid the conundrum of the unsanitary versus over-chlorinated swimming pool is to swim in natural bodies of water. But there can still be risks of environmental toxins or chemical toxicants. How do you know if the water in the ocean, or lake, or pond, or swimming hole that your kids are splashing around in is actually safe?
It’s not easy to figure out on your own, but Sonya Lunder, MPH, a senior analyst at the Environmental Working Group in Washington, D.C., suggests starting with a phone call. “Call the local department of health,” she says. “They should be keeping an eye on local water quality issues and should give you some guidance.”
The Environmental Protection Agency has some general tips for safe swimming.
- Don’t swim after a heavy rain – rains can cause waste water to seep into lakes and oceans
- This should be obvious, but if you see trash in the water, or if it smells bad, don’t go in
- Stay away from potential sources of pollution, like pipes or runoff ditches
- Don’t swallow the water -- and with very small children, try to keep their heads above water.
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