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2007-02-19 2:08 PM

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Subject: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
I recently began swimming regularly at the only indoor pool in town (belongs to the local university). It is pretty dirty/cloudy, and I see at least one large hairball per swim. The other day I was swimming in the last lane on the far side and saw three or four hairballs. Little kids and old folks use the pool for swimming lessons and, this was sort of the kicker, today there was some beetle/roach type number floating upside on the open area (passed on the way to lap section). I'm not normally much of a complainer but this seems borderline un-hygenic (is that a word?).

Is this relatively normal and I should not worry about it given all the chemicals that are supposed to kill stuff off, or is this beyound average "grimy pool" status? This is my first whack at regularly swimming in a pool so I don't have a frame of reference. Many thanks.

Edited by Homer J 2007-02-19 2:08 PM


2007-02-19 2:12 PM
in reply to: #695829

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
I don't know what the others will say, but i rarely see dead bugs in outdoor pools...even pools that belong to my lazy friends. The hairballs would be enough to get me to an out of town pool. I personally wouldnt swim there, but it's your call. You might want to bring up your concerns to the pool staff or athletic department of the University, I'm sure they don't want their team swimming in it.
2007-02-19 2:30 PM
in reply to: #695829

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Thanks, that's sort of what I figured. Bummer. Nearest indoor pool I can find is 40+ miles away; looks like at least until the weather breaks this place is my only option.
2007-02-19 2:33 PM
in reply to: #695829

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

Homer J - It is pretty dirty/cloudy, and I see at least one large hairball per swim.

well, judging from your avatar pic... 

seriously, I've been in a number of pools, and have never seen a hairball, nor a roach.  If it were me, I'd probably look for another pool. 

2007-02-19 2:35 PM
in reply to: #695829

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Our university has two pools where I'll do my swim workouts and both are kept very clean. There is the occasional random floating debris object, but I have a pool of my own (much much smaller of course) and completely understand how difficult it is too keep it clean. However, neither my pool nor the ones I swim in have any water clarity problems. The chemical levels in the water should be good enough to kill most everything, but I would definitely bring it up to the attention of the pool staff/manager.
2007-02-19 3:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Which University is it?


2007-02-19 3:08 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
markg72 - 2007-02-19 3:03 PM

Which University is it?


University of Mississippi aka Ole Miss.....let the [deserved] Mississippi jokes begin......
2007-02-19 3:29 PM
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2007-02-19 3:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

yuck!! reminds me of the pool i went to during my internship in spain... there weren't any hairballs (no one was allowed to get in the water without a swim cap) but there were tons of bandaids and other stuff i wasn't able to identify on the ground of the pool...

roaches i've seen at the pool in my high school... it was next to a bakery so there was nothing they could have done about it...

well 40+ miles sucks... are you sure there isn't a gym somewhere closer that has a pool? even if it's a smaller one - anything's better than hairballs and old geezers

2007-02-19 3:45 PM
in reply to: #695989

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
surfwallace - 2007-02-19 3:29 PM

Nothing wrong with being from Mississippi, however on the joke front: I wasn't aware Ole Miss had a swim team. I knew they weren't very good in an awesome conference...so I looked up the 2007 conference championship results. They had no swimmer in a final. They didn't even have a relay compete.

On your pool, I have swam in some of the filthiest places on earth and can say that you will be fine.


Not from here and actually love it....just used to being proactively defensive about M-I-crooked-letter etc. Also, I'm not sure they do have a swim team. I heard a rumor that whomever built the (very expensive) pool was off on the Olympic dimensions by a small amount and it's therefore unable to be used for competitions. No idea if that's accurate.
2007-02-19 3:58 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Pretty discusting. Call the health department and they will make them clean it or they will have to shut it down untill they have it clean.


2007-02-19 4:03 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

I wasn't going to post this here for fear of freaking anyone out, but the topic is so relevant.

I went to the local pool for a lunch swim.  The water, lockerrooms everything always sparkling clean.

I am 30 minutes into it and I hear the lifegaurd's wistle through my bubbling.  With urgency, she was instructing us to get out of the pool.  It turns out the pool was "fouled" by one of the 5-7 yrs old's on the other half of the pool, "Caddy Shack" Style.

Since I take down a days supply of water per swim, that was Too Gross.

As for your pool, someone is not doing something right or the filtration system needs to be checked.  Is it an old pool?

 

 

2007-02-19 4:07 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
I had the same problem with the local gym here in San Diego. Although I didn't find any bugs I would see hair and other little things floating around. They were also knocking down some lockers that were right by the pool and all the dust and dirt would float into the pool. I finally had enough of it, and wrote a nasty gram to their corporate office. (It's a pretty well know gym name) After about a month nothing happened. It took almost 2 months after my nasty gram until I finally saw someone clean out the pool, and it started to smell like cholorine. This was the first and last time I ever saw them. I'm very picky when it comes to were I swim and the facilities I go to. I don't care if I have to drive 20 miles away to swim somewhere where I feel like it is taken care of and the facility is clean. Needless to say I know have to drive 15 miles/25 minute drive to get to a pool of my liking. Although in reality it's not that far, the other pool I use to swim at was less than 2 miles away. My 2 cents.
2007-02-19 4:25 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Bike 40mi, swim, and bike 40mi back. Doesn't sound so bad!!
2007-02-19 4:50 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Is this really any worse than the conditions of an open water swim?
2007-02-19 5:26 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
thats pretty gross, although TROGDOR is right.

burninating CANADA!!!!!!!!

sam


2007-02-19 5:57 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

Homer J - 2007-02-19 2:08 PM
markg72 - 2007-02-19 3:03 PM Which University is it?
University of Mississippi aka Ole Miss.....let the [deserved] Mississippi jokes begin......

LOL. 

2007-02-19 6:06 PM
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2007-02-19 7:18 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
Anyone ever see what a diaper looks like when it comes apart? Was swimming outside a Globogym one night and I kept seeing these "fibers" floating everywhere. I was swimming 100 in a lane and then going to the next lane to break up the monotony(Globogym pools are wide open at 2 AM). I made it to the other side of the pool before I found the shell of the diaper on the bottom. I figured I had already been exposed to whatever microscopic death was lurking and continued on to 1500....albeit with maximum concentration on minimal water intake!! It didn't make me sick later either. Think about it though, where do you guys think fish, turtles,snakes, ducks go potty?

Edited by mdg2003 2007-02-19 7:18 PM
2007-02-19 7:19 PM
in reply to: #695829

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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
I agree with Trogdor. Your pool sounds no less clean than the open water swims I do. The pool I go to gets heavy use and I do see an occassional hair clump. Probably from one of those old lady water aerobics people.
2007-02-19 9:40 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

Hairballs?  Cloudiness?

Ewww... that is by definition TOO GROSS!

Yuck.



2007-02-19 9:48 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

The difference is, you're paying to use this pool (I'm assuming) and there is a responsibility to the patrons to keep it clean. There are also laws regarding the cleanliness, chemical balance, etc. of public pools. A complaint is completely warranted. Also, a pool is a much more concentrated body of water than a lake. There is a built in "filtration" that takes place in lakes, and when the conditions warrant it, public health officials will not allow swimmers. The pool's filtration system must be controlled by people.

It is completely unacceptable and unhealthy. Human waste carries a lot of bacteria, some of which is deadly.

Now if only we could convince the water aerobics ladies to shower before they get into the pool. It grosses me out because as soon as they start climbing in, the entire pool smells like cheap perfume. On the good side, I never lose track of time or end up late for work. It's like a scentual alarm! 

2007-02-19 11:44 PM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?
OK, Judgeing by the title of the post alone, I didn't even have to read the text. That's too gross.

The only think I can suggested besides bringing up the filth-factor to the pool manager and working your way all the way up to teh health department if things dont' get cleaned, is to try to swim first thing in the morning when the water is still and junk hasn't been stirred up much.
2007-02-20 5:48 AM
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Subject: RE: Pool question: how gross is too gross?

Do I think it will harm you?  No.

Do I think it's 'normal'?  No.  I go to two pools - one at a gym, one at a college.  The college also has family swim, water aerobics for the oldsters, 'kid times' for little kids, etc.  Never saw anything like that at either.

 

2007-02-20 6:10 AM
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