National Swimming Pool Foundation issues advice on reducing pool urination

Responding to a widely reported North American study on urine levels in public swimming pools, the US-based National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) has issued recommendations to improve water and air quality by reducing in-pool urination.

The NSPF guidance suggests that a few small changes by coaches, parents and facility managers can prevent in-pool urination by swimmers – with such changes being in the best interests of swimmers, parents, teachers and coaches as they are the ones who are exposed to the water and breathing the air.

The guidance suggests:

First, encourage showers and bathroom breaks before entering the water. It is important to recognise that being submerged in water stimulates the body to create more urine. There are other simple ways for coaches, parents, and facility managers to reduce urine in the pool.

Swim coaches/teacher should require a bathroom break 30 to 60 minutes into the practice. For example, it takes about 40 minutes in the water for a person to feel the need to urinate. A short break that borders this time frame will reduce peeing in the pool.

Parents should schedule an ‘out of pool’ time for a snack, sunscreen, and a bathroom break every 30-60 minutes.

Facility managers should consider two ways to prevent urnie in the pool.

First, schedule short breaks to encourage people to exit the water. For example, a 10-minute ‘adult only’ swim time or an out-of-pool activity every hour encourages people to exit the pool and use the bathroom.

Second, post signage that suggests using the bathroom and showering before getting into the pool.

The NSPF goes on to say that because one report raises fears of urine in the pool, people of all ages should continue to enjoy the wonder of water.

Immersion and water activity can reduce lower-back pain, blood pressure, and arthritis symptoms, and improve mental and physical health.

Image: Prince Alfred Park Pool. Courtesy of City of Sydney.

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