Jump in! Water's fine (you hope)
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On hot, sticky days, there's nothing more refreshing than jumping into a cold pool. But how can you tell if the water is clean and safe?
It's not easy, say experts in pool health and safety. Even clear, sparkling pools can harbor bacteria. And a strong chlorine smell, often followed by stinging eyes and coughing, doesn't necessarily mean swimmers are safe: It's a noxious byproduct of chlorine binding to mass amounts of urine and sweat, said Michael Beach, an epidemiologist for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
