Stop Peeing In The Pool

Most swimmers know the famous Ryan Lochte quote about peeing in the pool. You might often hear the idea that peeing in the pool, even if gross, in the moment, isn’t actually anything to worry about because the chlorine in the pool will break it down or otherwise take care of it. Though, that this isn’t the case at all. Urine in the pool is there to stay, and the truth is even grosser than you probably think.

According to a 2019 study, it not only appears that half of American adults use the pool as an alternative to bathing, but a staggering 40% of those surveyed also willingly admitted to peeing in the pool as adults. With the possibility of even more doing so without wanting to admit it.

Urine is the waste product your body is getting rid of, compounds such as hormones, blood, ammonia, creatinine, dissolved ions, and other inorganic and organic materials. Do you really want to be swimming around in that? Did you know that urine naturally contains bacteria, which may or may not be harmful, adds additional strain to the chlorine the pool is treated with.

When chlorine comes into contact with all of the things people bring into the pool, whether its bacteria, pee, sweat, or even poop, it produces a chemical reaction. This reaction uses up chlorine in the pool, decreasing the amount that can keep the pool sterile, and creating chemical irritants as a byproduct called chloramines. In fact, it is probably the smell of chloramines that you associate with the smell of the pool or chlorine. Though a clean pool shouldn’t have this chemical smell, and the stronger the smell, the higher the amount of chloramines, and urine, and other nasty things. Chloramines, and other ‘disinfection byproducts’ produced from chlorine coming into contact with your body’s waste products are actually what is responsible for irritating your eyes and making them red, affecting the air quality around the pool, and even irritating your skin as well.