No Peeing in the Pool

At the Townhomes at River Club, there is a pool for residents to use. By the pool there are restrooms for people at the pool to use that also have showers. These restrooms are an example of public health for users of the pool and people that are hanging out outdoors at River Club. The restrooms are an example of public health because they are available to prevent people from peeing in the pool, making it more sanitary for everyone else. The showers also allow people to rinse off quickly before or after swimming in the pool. There is a volleyball court by the pool, so the showers are perfect for people to rinse off the sand before jumping in the pool and getting sand and all of the other critters that live in sand, inside the pool. 
These restrooms are convenient in order for people to not have to walk back to their apartment to go to the bathroom, or on the contrary, being too lazy to walk to their apartment and peeing in the pool. According to Everyday Health, "20 percent of American adults say they don't leave the water when they need to urinate — and those are just the people who admit to it. If that's not gross enough, a whopping 70 percent don't shower before they dive in." If people pee in the pool, the chlorine tries to absorb the bacteria, leaving less chlorine available to kill other germs. A pool without the right balance of chlorine breeds harmful bugs and viruses that can actually make people sick. Pools are actually supposed to not smell of chlorine, because the stronger smell of chlorine means that the chlorine is being heavily absorbed which is a warning sign for a bacteria filled pool.
We chose this example because we think it is something people should be more aware of and should be more widespread. We spend hot summer days by the pool studying or reading, and go in to cool down but it is rare to actually be thinking of who else has been in the pool before us and their cleanliness. Every pool should have restrooms by it to promote people using them instead of going in the pool and peeing or being extremely dirty. It is important that people consider this public health example because it really is much more sanitary and can have health effects. Almost everyone can probably agree that they would rather be in a pool that is urine-free, sand-free and free of other germs so they don’t feel like they are swimming in something disgusting. It’s important for people to realize that low levels of chlorine can cause serious infections or disease and restrooms by pools are a great way to contribute to public health! 

Bianca Beran
Edvina Kuburas
Macy Sirmans