Catching a cold at the public pool?

Question

I love swimming but I'm wondering if using my local pool is just asking to pick up germs that will lead to a cold or flu? Is it better to swim in a chlorinated pool or an ozone filtered one? or does it make no difference?

Answer 1

depends on if there was someone that was sick on the pool. but i think that you can....

Answer 2

There are two kinds of chlorine found in pool/spa water: free (able to destroy microorganisms) and combined (unable to destroy microorganisms). Public pools and spas should have a free residual chlorine level of a minimum of 1.0 parts per million (ppm) if cyanuric acid is not used, and 1.5 ppm if a cyanuric acid is used. There should always be an operable automatic chlorinator when the pool and/or spa is open. The automatic chlorinator can be adjusted to maintain a safe level of chlorine. Chlorine should not exceed 5.0 ppm.

Ozone oxidizes soap, deodorant, hair spray, cologne, makeup, perfume, body lotion, hand cream, sun tan lotion, saliva and urine. In addition, ozone kills all pathogenic bacteria, germs and viruses. Ozone frees up the combined chlorine, thus leaving the chlorine free to provide a residue. It ultimately enhances the performance of chlorine and bromine.

Less chlorine or bromine will be needed to maintain a residual. Commonly, ozone reduces chlorine or bromine use by 60 - 90 percent. The quality of water will be dramatically better with the combination of ozone and chlorine or the combination of ozone and bromine than with chlorine and bromine alone.

Answer 3

I would swim in a pool with chlorine.. But my local pool is very clean, just make sure its clean before you get in it..

Answer 4

Done properly and professionally, both chlorine and ozone do very good jobs of disinfecting and sanitizing pool water.  

Colds and Flu pathogens are airborne and not carried/transmitted in pool water.  You get those from other people.  A poorly maintained pool can carry other bad germs, however, some quite serious.  If your public swimming pool is properly maintained there is almost no chance of contracting any disease from the water.