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.
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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.
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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.
