OLATHE, Kan. — One way to stay out of the heat this summer is to jump in the pool.
But if you're wondering how clean the water is, you might be surprised: A new study shows people are not only using the pool to swim, but also as a bathtub.
According to the study, more than half of Americans use swimming pools as a substitute for bathing or to rinse off after strenuous activity. Experts from the Water Quality and Health Council, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance conducted the survey.
"They expect the pool to do what the shower was supposed to do and rinse everything off," said Steve Vogelsang, environmental health specialist with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
Among the thousands of adults interviewed for the study, 40 percent also admitted to urinating in the pool.
"You'd like to say that you're surprised that it happened, but not so much," Vogelsang said.
At this time of year, Vogelsang is making sure pools are ready to open for the season. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, he will inspect 635 pools in Johnson County. Vogelsang said he looks at the pool deck, safety signs and water quality, among other items.
At least one routine inspection is done on pools every year, he said.
"We will not issue a permit to operate for this year unless we know that they've corrected any issues that they had from last year," Vogelsang said.
While there are still pools that need to make changes before opening, those issues are nothing like ones that he's heard about in western Kansas.
"An inspector I know out there went to a pool inspection and actually saw somebody in the pool, taking a bath,” Vogelsang said.
Pool chemicals do not eliminate the need to shower before diving in. If you don't shower beforehand, the chlorine has to work harder to keep the pool clean and can be less effective at handling other germs in the water.
