Test pool without testing kit?

Question

This is going to sound stupid, but I was wondering if there was a way to see if a pool is safe to swim in without a pool testing kit or strips (and I can't do any tricks with red cabbage)... I was debating about going swimming, so I stuck my foot into the pool to test the water temperature. As I walked back to my dorm room to get a towel and goggles, I noticed that the stains on my flip-flops were gone. Other than this paranoia of realizing my flip-flops are in prestige condition now, is there a way to determine the pools readiness?

Answer 1

Not reliably. Just because a pool looks inviting, doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to swim in. It's clear for a reason. Nothing can easily live in it to cause it to cloud over or go green. It could be acidic, it could be over chlorinated or it could be at just the right sanitizer level to let you swim and still keep the nasties at bay.

Of course, you could always try to convince someone you don't like to go for a dip first and see if they get out scratching at their eyeballs and heading for the shower.

Answer 2

no