I've searched a fair bit, excuse me if it's been answered but...I've always had a problem with excessive mucus when swimming. Once I get up to a certain level of exertion, it just flows. I've always felt a little bad about spitting in the gutters, but I can't really help it unless I interrupt my workout. If it matters, I've never once done so in the open pool. Is this terrible and disgusting? My assumption has always been that a certain level of filtration happens between these gutters and the water inlets.
Thanks!
Bottom line, your at the hand of the pool maintainers. Bacteria, protazoa, and viruses still live for some time even in a well maintained pool.
As far as spitting (Wikipedia)
"Non-fecal human shedding (e.g., from mucus, saliva, skin) in the swimming pool, spa or similar recreational-water environments is a source of potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms. Mucus, saliva and skin of infected users can directly contaminate pool or spa waters and the surfaces of objects or materials at a facility with sufficient numbers of primary pathogens (notably viruses or fungi), which can consequently lead to infections in other swimmers who come in contact with the contaminated water or surfaces."
Bottom line, your at the hand of the pool maintainers. Bacteria, protazoa, and viruses still live for some time even in a well maintained pool.
As far as spitting (Wikipedia)
"Non-fecal human shedding (e.g., from mucus, saliva, skin) in the swimming pool, spa or similar recreational-water environments is a source of potential non-enteric pathogenic organisms. Mucus, saliva and skin of infected users can directly contaminate pool or spa waters and the surfaces of objects or materials at a facility with sufficient numbers of primary pathogens (notably viruses or fungi), which can consequently lead to infections in other swimmers who come in contact with the contaminated water or surfaces."
