Do you use the ship pools? Hot tubs?

[Deckhandoug]

Contrary to popular belief, chlorine does not kill all germs instantly. There are germs today that are very tolerant to chlorine and were not known to cause human disease until recently. Once these germs get in the pool, it can take anywhere from minutes to days for chlorine to kill them. Swallowing just a little water that contains these germs can make you sick.

Recreational water illnesses (RWIs) are caused by germs spread by swallowing, breathing in mists or aerosols of, or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers, or oceans. RWIs can also be caused by chemicals in the water or chemicals that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems.

 

RWIs include a wide variety of infections, including gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic, and wound infections. The most commonly reported RWI is diarrhea. Diarrheal illnesses are caused by germs such as Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium), Giardia, Shigella, norovirus and E. coli O157:H7.

 

In the past two decades, there has been a substantial increase in the number of RWI outbreaks associated with swimming. Crypto, which can stay alive for days even in well-maintained pools, has become the leading cause of swimming pool-related outbreaks of diarrheal illness. From 2004 to 2008, reported Crypto cases increased over 200% (from 3,411 cases in 2004 to 10,500 cases in 2008) (1).

 

Although Crypto is tolerant to chlorine, most germs are not. Keeping chlorine at recommended levels is essential to maintain a healthy pool. However, a 2010 study found that 1 in 8 public pool inspections resulted in pools being closed immediately due to serious code violations such as improper chlorine levels (2).

[Deckhandoug]

Love the pools.

 

As to peeing in the pool. The average pool is approximately 1000 gallons. The average amount of pee is 200ml (after a couple of beers). Doing the math. One person peeing in a 1000 gallon pool would contribute .00000528% of the fluid to the pool. multiply by 100 people peeing in the pool and you are still only contributing to .0000528% of the pools volume. Probably more than that is spilled on the deck as people get in and out of the pool or even the amount evaporating in the sun.

 

And this is based on a 1000 gallon pool. Some are substantially bigger. And Cruise Lines (and Margaritaville type places) do regular sanitation checks on the pools. If the ecoli is high, they close and drain the pool. (and power wash it, too)

 

 

Now anyone got any figures about how much fecal material is released into the water by "passing gas". The immune system works best by building antibodies to fight specific 'germs'. You cannot build those antibodies without exposure to those germs.

 

Wonder why they even invented the sanitary water system if swimming in feces was so healthy:rolleyes:

 

So, you've established how much urine is acceptable to you, what is the fecal quantity?

[Deckhandoug]

Just wondering, do those of you that won't use a pool on the ship, swim in lakes or the ocean? DO you think that those are free from germs or bacteria?

If so , What planet?

 

Beaches, rivers and lakes are often closed due to high E coli levels and other pollutants so people can't swim in them and get sick.

 

This occurs in educated and civilized areas of planet Earth.