By Sushant Agarwal
Published on | Jul 24, 2025
Love that strong chlorine smell at the pool? It’s not cleanliness — it’s a sign of pee, sweat, and other residues reacting with chlorine.
Chlorinated pools aren’t germ-free—pathogens like Cryptosporidium and Pseudomonas can survive for days, causing rashes and stomach bugs.
Cryptosporidium can survive in chlorinated pools for 10 days. Just a tiny bit of infected poop can sicken dozens of swimmers.
Chlorine kills many pathogens — but not instantly, and not all of them. Viruses, bacteria, and parasites can linger long enough to make you sick.
From 2015 to 2019, over 200 U.S. pool outbreaks sickened 3,600+ people. Most cases were mild, but some led to serious illness.
Swimmers add sweat, pee, body oils, and skin cells to pools. These react with chlorine to form chloramines, which can irritate skin, eyes, and lungs.
Always shower before swimming. This washes away dirt and oils that reduce chlorine’s power. A quick one-minute rinse can make a big difference.
Had diarrhea recently or have an open wound? Skip the pool—germs can linger even after symptoms fade and may spread to others.
Take bathroom breaks, change diapers away from the pool, avoid swallowing water, dry your ears, and shower again after swimming.
Swimming is fun, healthy, and refreshing — and with a few simple habits, you can avoid infections and enjoy the water safely all summer long.