Last Thursday at my local YMCA, I almost couldn't complete my workout because I could not control my coughing towards the end. I have been swimming at this Y without any issues for a year. Yesterday (Tuesday), I had the same thing happen. I swam outdoors on Sunday, and had no issues. I ran this morning outdoors and had no issues. This is twice now that this particular Y has caused me to stop swimming because of coughing in the past week. The lifeguards say the water levels are fine.
I hear others complaining of high pH levels in this saline pools which produces higher chlorine levels. I am not a chemist, so I am only repeating what I have heard.
Are there any respitory issues that I could be subjecting myself to by swimming this poorly ventilated pool?
Parents
Former Member
The dilemma for some pool operators is that pools are usually more comfortable as warm environments and the humidity is a natural factor if the building is sealed. Energy can be saved if less outside air is brought in, since the outside air in cooler months must be warmed-up via some heat source. The building code requires a minimum amount of fresh air be introduced constantly based on the type of use in the facility. Heat resident in the warm, humid indoor air is sometimes captured through a dehumidifcation process and recycled back into the pool water, saving energy pretty effectively. Air circulation is usually not so hot in a pool since the grilles are best located away from wet areas, which allows the nasty gasses to settle down at the water level. If the air is forced from above with enough umph to get it to the water level, draftiness becomes a potential complaint. Condensation on virtually every surface might occur if there is not enough moisture control and not enough air circulation, so moldy issues are ripe even if all the surfaces are concrete/tile/metal/plaster. At the best competitive venues the designers have gone to great lengths to fit all of the puzzle pieces together. At the local lap or training pool it can be hit or miss. Operationally, management and recommissioning become key since the integrated systems will eventually go out-of-tune and can be mis-tuned by folks that might just not care as much as we do.
blah, blah, blah - I, too, hate a mid-set coughing fit and wonder about long-term effects.
The dilemma for some pool operators is that pools are usually more comfortable as warm environments and the humidity is a natural factor if the building is sealed. Energy can be saved if less outside air is brought in, since the outside air in cooler months must be warmed-up via some heat source. The building code requires a minimum amount of fresh air be introduced constantly based on the type of use in the facility. Heat resident in the warm, humid indoor air is sometimes captured through a dehumidifcation process and recycled back into the pool water, saving energy pretty effectively. Air circulation is usually not so hot in a pool since the grilles are best located away from wet areas, which allows the nasty gasses to settle down at the water level. If the air is forced from above with enough umph to get it to the water level, draftiness becomes a potential complaint. Condensation on virtually every surface might occur if there is not enough moisture control and not enough air circulation, so moldy issues are ripe even if all the surfaces are concrete/tile/metal/plaster. At the best competitive venues the designers have gone to great lengths to fit all of the puzzle pieces together. At the local lap or training pool it can be hit or miss. Operationally, management and recommissioning become key since the integrated systems will eventually go out-of-tune and can be mis-tuned by folks that might just not care as much as we do.
blah, blah, blah - I, too, hate a mid-set coughing fit and wonder about long-term effects.
