Imagine a world where a simple dye could expose those who dare to urinate in pools. The water would transform into a vibrant cloud, revealing the guilty culprits. It sounds like something out of a movie, doesn’t it? But alas, such a dye does not exist. If it did, we would have surely witnessed the chaos it would cause in kiddies’ paddling pools.
However, this myth has spread far and wide, serving as a deterrent for mischievous kids who might consider relieving themselves in the pool. According to the National Swimming Pool Foundation, a whopping 50 percent of people believed in this myth, making it the most common pool misconception of all time.
But why haven’t we invented such a dye? The answer lies in the complexity of creating a chemical that reacts exclusively to urine without being affected by other organic compounds in the pool water. Furthermore, as Snopes points out, if you tell a child that pool water will change color when they pee, they’ll likely be tempted to test it out themselves.
While the image of children fleeing from a technicolor paddling pool tainted with urine is undeniably amusing, the reality is that urine in pools is no laughing matter. Chlorine is added to pools to combat germs, but when urine (or even worse, feces) enters the equation, the chlorine’s effectiveness is compromised. As a biological warfare expert discovered in Las Vegas, pools can be truly filthy.
In a pool safety release by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it was highlighted that urine weakens the power of chlorine, allowing more germs to thrive and infect swimmers. That strong chlorine smell you sometimes encounter at a pool? It’s a sign that the chlorine is hard at work breaking down contaminants, including urine. So, next time you’re at the pool, consider wearing goggles to protect your eyes from the real culprit behind redness and irritation.
So, while urinating in a pool won’t result in a colorful cloud of shame, it does make the swimming experience less enjoyable for everyone involved. Let’s be cool and refrain from peeing in the pool.
