07/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/18/2024 14:41
It's been a hot summer and there's no better way to beat the heat in Sacramento County than by heading to the water to cool off. Whether it's our lakes and rivers, or a public swimming pool or water park, you should be aware of healthy swimming behaviors.
Swimming is fun and has great health benefits from the physical activity, but it is important to know that the water we swim in is rarely germ-free. Every natural water body can be a conduit for pollution, trash, bacteria, algae and microorganisms, and even when swimming pool chemicals are well maintained, bacteria and microorganisms can still be present.
Know How to Enjoy Public Waterways
Throughout the heat of summer, the water flows will begin to slow and warm in our lakes, streams and rivers - this creates prime conditions for the development of potentially harmful bacteria, algae and microorganisms.
Because bacteria, algae and microorganisms can be present, anyone enjoying public waterways should always follow healthy swimming habits:
Stay Healthy this Pool Season
Have you ever been to a pool and gotten a whiff of a strong chemical smell, and thought, "Wow, there's a lot of chlorine in that pool?" It's actually the result of organic matter such as dirt, sweat, urine or worse that reacts with the chlorine and reduces its effectiveness to kill germs.
Even when the concentration of pool chemicals is well maintained, germs aren't instantly killed and every year there are illness outbreaks related to recreational water.
Protect the health of you, your family and friends with a few steps to keep germs out of the pool:
The County's Environmental Health Division is responsible for the enforcement of state and local health codes and provides permits and yearly inspection for more than 2,200 public, commercial and multi-family residence pools, spas and waterparks throughout Sacramento County.
So, before you head to our lakes and rivers, jump into the pool, splash at a water park or hop into that hot tub, be sure to make a healthy splash that shares the fun and not the germs.