I know USMS has this somewhere but.....I'm looking for an article, etc about what the water temperature should be for fitness swimming. Some of the ladies at my hospital-based health club are petitioning for the lap pool temp to go up to +84 degrees! It has been kept at 81-82 degrees which is ok. They want the water temp if they could up to 86 degrees! Can you direct me as to where I could find documentation that it isn't conducive to actively exercise in that warm of water? Also isn't there a higher cost for chemicals, etc? We fitness swimmers need help!:frustrated: Thanks.
I loved telling this to the old ladies at the summer clubs when they were b & m'ing about me keeing the heater at 80 in a cool, late June:
Dear, If you wanted a bath, your house should have a tub. Make sure you shower before entering the pool, please.
Needless to say, I may have irked one or two of them :thhbbb:
But they all thanked me come Mid-July, our water was still refreshingly cool despite no rain and constant 95+
Former Member
Gloria,
Many others may find some different statistics for your question, but what I found at the American Red Cross is:
78 degrees for Fitness Swimmers
82 degrees for Recreational swimming
86 degrees for water therapy
It seems that some fitness swimmers (lap swimmers, masters, etc.) may overheat beyond 80 degrees which can lead to dehydration if they swim for more than an hour or so. But, again, because all of us have different body temperatures, some are happy with it and some are not.
Donna
Former Member
When we taught babies 90 degrees.
In open water swims I preferred water under 70, better still mid 60s.
Our training pool was kept at 76 degrees. Cool for just standimg around but warm enough if you are working out hard.
If you wear a swimming cap the water should be cooler and without a swim cap you can swim in warmer water.
FINA rules specify 25-28 degrees for competition (77-82 degrees F).
I find training in 84 water is more difficult, but hardly dangerous. You get much above 85 and it gets pretty tough. I would think the low 80s is a good tradeoff for the serious lap swimmers and the noodlers.
Former Member
I swim at the YMCA and there are two locations in town that have lanes for lap swimming. One of the pools is strickly lap swimming and they keep the water at 82 F. The other pool is called a "mult-use" pool and the water temperature is normally 86F but can vary between 84 - 90F. It is amazing how much of a difference 4 degrees water temperature can make you feel during and after your workout. The warmer pool is located close to where I work and during the week I swim there over lunch time. I use the cooler pool on the weekend. Someone told me that a 1 degree difference in water temperature equates to about a 4 degree difference in air temperature, in how it effects our body functions. If this is true, it's like running on a 70F today compared to 86F. After swimming in the 86F pool, I have to drink lots of water to keep my body hydrated.
Former Member
I swim at a pool that they always keep at 84 and up, which is way to warm but doable. This summer it hit 97! That is an awful experience. The water aerobics ladies loved it. The heater finally gave out and it dropped to 78 and they cancelled the classes. We swimmers however loved it. my vote would be 78-76.
The geothermal system that heats our city pool went down over the weekend. I just got done working out in 72 degree water. It's normally kept around 82-84. I sometimes complain that that is too warm. I won't be complaining for a while. At least the showers were hot. :)
