According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diarrhea outbreaks from dirty pool water are on the rise. While your pool can be a great way to beat the heat or relax, the lack of proper maintenance can put everyone in your household in danger of getting sick.

If you’re looking for more reasons to sign up for weekly pool services in Las Vegas, here are several ways your ill-maintained pool can get you seriously sick.

You Can Get Hot-Tub Rash

When your pool water is contaminated with a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa, you run the risk of contracting hot-tub rash. This type of skin irritation can appear as reddish, itchy spots on the skin or pus-filled blisters. 

This bacteria spreads and grows in warm, poorly maintained pools. Chemicals like chlorine should be capable of ridding your pool of rash-causing bacteria. However, pools with not enough chlorine and are constantly exposed to heat increase the chances of the bacteria spreading.

To prevent the spread of the bacteria, ensure that the pool is regularly maintained, has proper disinfectant, its pH levels checked.

You Can Get Swimmer’s Ear

Swimmer’s ear—also known as Otitis externa—is an ear infection that’s caused when dirty water gets trapped in one’s outer ear canal and causes fungus or bacteria to grow. 

Swimmer’s ear causes intense pain, swelling, and itchiness. In serious cases, pus may even pour out of the ear. This illness is more common in children than adults and may require a visit to the doctor to fully treat it.

Most people believe that simply putting chlorine is enough to eliminate any illness-causing bacteria. That’s not always the case. Depending on the size of the pool, you must you a specific amount of chlorine. If there’s not enough chlorine, bacteria and other germs can spread. 

Ensure that your pool has the right chemistry balance, which is around 0.00013 ounces of chlorine per gallon of pool water. If you feel that the pool hasn’t been properly maintained, do not let anyone swim in it until it’s properly cleaned.

You Can Get Diarrhea 

Diarrhea is the most common illness that anyone can get from both public and private swimming pools. That’s because there’s a wide range of germs that can contaminate pool water. Some of these are:

• Cryptosporidium 
• E. coli
• Giardia
• Norovirus
• Shigella

Among these germs, cryptosporidium or crypto is probably the most common cause of pool-related diarrhea. It’s capable of staying alive for days, even on properly treated swimming pools. The chances of getting crypto increase as more people are using the same pool. 

If you are holding a private pool party, encourage your guests to take a show first before going in the pool. It’s also vital that you remind any guests experiencing stomach issues to stay out of the pool. After a successful pool party, ensure that your pool gets properly cleaned first before using it.

Always Keep Your Swimming Pool Clean

Having a private pool may be leagues better than swimming in a public one, but that doesn’t mean you should underestimate the importance of regularly maintaining. Consider signing up for a weekly pool service to help you check and clean your swimming pool regularly.

Having a dirty and contaminated pool can make you seriously sick. Make sure you are swimming in the cleanest pool possible through proper maintenance.  City Wide Pool Service offers professional pool and spa maintenance services that you can rely on. If you are interested in knowing more about our pool maintenance process, contact us today. Our team would be happy to explain our 7-Step Process on maintaining your pool.