pH 7.2–7.8 and a free available chlorine concentration of at least 2 ppm in pools. CDC recommends not using cyanuric acid or chlorine products with cyanuric acid in hot tubs/spas.
But Coronavirus isn’t the only thing swimming in local community pools should be worried about.
Local and private pool outbreaks of diarrhea-causing cryptosporidium have increased 13% each year. There were 7,465 cases of crypto infection reported from 2009 through 2017, with an even larger number being reported in 2019.
The number of outbreaks reached 444 by June 2019, according to the CDC.
The CDC says another 493 outbreaks of some kind of bacteria, parasite, or chemical between 2000 and 2014 were associated with recreational facilities, including pools, hot tubs, and playgrounds, and caused 27,219 cases and eight deaths.
Most of those deaths were caused by bacteria or other pathogens, and 6% by chemicals.
Of the outbreaks caused by bacteria and viruses, 58% were caused by cryptosporidium, which causes diarrhea that can last for up to 3 weeks.
Thirteen percent were from pseudomonas, which causes hot tub rash and swimmer’s ear. Another 16% came from legionella, which causes Legionnaire’s disease and a milder illness with flu-like symptoms known as Pontiac fever.