If you’ve spent time around swimming pools, local community pools in particular, we are sure you have come across people getting anxious with pool water. It is for this reason there are several myths surrounding the swimming pools. Many people fear getting into the pool water because of the belief they have about this false information.
Chlorine in the pool water turns hair green
Many people believe that the chlorine in water changes the hair color. Please note that chlorine cannot turn your hair green. The copper deposits in the water stick to the hair follicles and gives a green shade to the hair. This tint can be observed in both light and dark-colored hair, but it is easily noticeable in blonde hair. Since the follicles in the blonde/lighter hair are semi-transparent, the copper deposits attached to them shine brighter than when attached to the darker hair. So, it is actually the copper present in the water that turns your blonde hair green and not chlorine.
This myth has been around for ages. It is because people, especially with blonde hair, have a firm belief that chlorine turns their hair green, they avoid getting into local public pools. If you are one among them, trust us, it is a myth. Wear a shower cap and enjoy swimming in the waters. Live life to the fullest.
Salt pools are chlorine free
Salt pools are a lovely invention. They are outstanding pools that offer an amazing swimming experience. How? These pools are smooth and don’t leave your skin dry. But do you think the salt pools are silky because they are not disinfected with chlorine? Do you think these pools are disinfected using salt? If you believe so, you are wrong.
Salt cannot be used for disinfecting pools simply because they cannot disinfect. A salt pool gets disinfected when the salt water from the pool passes through an electrically operated generator. The salt water goes through the process of electrolysis, converting the salt content into chlorine. What do you infer? Salt pools have chlorine! But can my fibreglass pool be salt water?
A clear pool is a clean pool
Most people get this wrong. If you see a pool as clear as a crystal, it means there is no dirt or debris. But how do you know it is free of germs? Many microorganisms are not visible to the naked eye! River water looks clear, but it contains lots of germs, algae and mosses, right?
Furthermore, a pool that looks clear may not have the right chemical balance, which could make room for the growth of dangerous germs. Pool water purity can only be ensured by regular water testing and pH balancing.
Too much chlorine causes the pool “odor”
We guess you remember the chlorine smell when you went out to swim in your local pool as a child during summer? That pungent smell, huh?
A large population of swimmers thinks that a strong chlorine smell means the pool water contains too much chlorine. This is a myth.
We’ll try to make it simple for you. There are two kinds of chlorine, namely free chlorine and combined chlorine.
Free chlorine is used to kill and inactivate pathogens in the pool water. Combined chlorine is one that has already killed and inactivated pathogens, therefore unable to kill/inactivate anymore.
The pungent smell you noticed in your childhood is the same combined chlorine. It is useless and dead chlorine. If you notice a strong pungent smell, the next time you go to the pool, understand the chlorine is trying hard to neutralize the urine and other damaging elements in the pool.
Showering before entering the pool is unnecessary
This is yet another myth. Many swimmers, even to this day, believe that taking a shower before getting into the pool is unnecessary. However, note that you can contaminate the entire pool with your sweat and other particles present on your body if you enter the pool without a shower. If you are considering not taking a shower first, you might put others’ health at risk.
Pool water can’t cause illness
Have you heard of Recreational Water Illnesses? These are a range of health conditions developed because of swimming in unhygienic pools. Poorly maintained pools, impure water, unbalanced pH, dirt and bacteria are some of the many factors that may cause sickness in swimmers. Norovirus and Legionella are some of them to mention.
If you swim in an unhealthy pool, you might end up developing skin related health issues or other recreational water illnesses as mentioned in the above paragraph. Always ensure you maintain your pool at home. If you are going to a community swimming pool, make sure the water is hygienic before diving into it.
Chlorine causes a burning sensation in the eyes
Don’t blame chlorine if your eyes burn when you are swimming in the pool. The culprit is the pH level of the pool water. Your eyes’ pH stays at 7.5, so if the pool water’s pH is anything different, it is going to clash with your eyes’ pH level, causing them to get inflamed or irritated. So, the next time your eyes get itchy or dry when swimming, understand that the pool water pH isn’t in sync with your eyes’ pH.
Peeing in the swimming pool turns the pool water blue
This is senseless! Absolute myth!! There’s no chemical that can turn the pool water blue when you pee in it. Even if there was, you know it wouldn’t be used!
Now you know most of the myths surrounding swimming pools, there’s no reason to fear. Ease your mind and enjoy taking dips whenever you like. But of course, only in the well-maintained, clean and safe pools. While you should be careful about the pool water purity, you need not scratch your head on nonsensical and false pool information.
