Is swimming pool water safe to drink?

“In addition to chlorine, which is found in most pools, swallowing some pool water or getting it up your nose could expose you to E. coli, norovirus and parasites like Giardia, Cryptosporidium and Shigella,” explained Geisinger primary care physician Dr.

Can drinking pool water hurt you?

“Swallowing a small amount of pool water is usually fairly harmless, but it’s important to avoid it as much as possible due to parasites that might be lurking in the water,” explains Dr Daniel Cichi, from Doctor4U. Pool water is treated with chlorine to keep germs and bacteria at bay, making it safe to swim in.

Is pool water safe to drink after boiling?

1. Boiling. If you don’t have safe bottled water, you should boil your water to make it safe to drink. Boiling is the surest method to kill disease-causing organisms, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites.

Can swallowing pool water make your stomach hurt?

Summer is arriving and if you intend to visit a local swimming pool or that new water park, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends you should be very careful. A mouthful of swimming pool water could quickly make an healthy person sick with diarrhea, nausea, and stomach cramps.

Can drinking pool water cause vomiting?

Therefore, swimmers – and especially parents of children who enjoy swimming – should be aware of the warning signs of chlorine poisoning. Symptoms may include digestive distress similar to a stomach bug, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and prolonged coughing.

Can you drink chlorine water?

Is chlorinated water safe to drink? Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limits the amount of chlorine in drinking water to levels that are safe for human consumption. The levels of chlorine used for drinking water disinfection are unlikely to cause long-term health effects.

What should I do if my child swallows pool water?

If your child has had a near drowning, or perhaps swallowed too much water, keep a close eye out for the symptoms of secondary drowning and take them to the hospital immediately.

What happens if you drink too much pool water?

Although the amount of chlorine in a swimming pool is usually minimal, swallowing too much pool water may lead to chlorine poisoning. The concentration of chlorine in public drinking water is extremely low and not harmful to human health.

Can chlorine damage your lungs?

Chlorine gas is a toxic respiratory irritant that is considered a chemical threat agent because of the potential for release in industrial accidents or terrorist attacks. Chlorine inhalation damages the respiratory tract, including the airways and distal lung, and can result in acute lung injury.