A new study released on Wednesday (March 1) out of the University of Alberta found a surprisingly high amout of urine in swimming pools.

Researchers at the U of A took over 250 samples from 31 pools and hot tubs from two undisclosed Canadian cities. They found that in a 830,000 litre pool there was about 75 litres of urine.

Greg Lockert, Manager of Genesis Place, said that while he found the number surprisingly high, it isn't a shock that contaminants get into water.

"This was about urine. There's other things, when you look at people with deodorent, hairsprays, gels, all that kind of stuff all plays into it. That's why there is chemicals used in aquatics based operations."

Lockert said they are diligent about keeping the water at Genesis Place clean. While is wasn't intimately aquainted with the details of their filtration system, he was able to give a summary.

"I don't know a lot of the technical side of it, but we use a two-part system here at Genesis Place, an ultraviolet system as well as a chlorine chemical-based system."

Besides chemicals, the water is passed over ultraviolet lights that are similar to the sun's rays, which kill bacteria and growths. The water is also filtered through sand.

Lockert said that the testing done by Alberta Health Services is rigorous, and has been in place for a long time.

"The system that's been in place through Alberta Health hasn't changed much in the last ten or fifteen years in how they test and perform tests on water."

Lockert also said that the health benefits of swimming far outweigh the risk of contamination.

 

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