Q: Does everyone pee in the pool?
A: Surprisingly, yes — a lot more people pee in pools than most would like to admit.
Studies and surveys consistently show that a significant percentage of people (including adults) have urinated in a swimming pool at some point. For example:
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A 2017 survey by the Water Quality and Health Council found that about 40% of adults in the United States admitted to peeing in a pool.
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Elite swimmers have openly acknowledged that they routinely urinate in pools during long training sessions. Olympic gold medallist Michael Phelps famously said, "It's kind of expected in the pool."
Why Do People Pee in Pools?
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Convenience: Some swimmers simply don't want to leave the pool to find a washroom.
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Misconceptions: Some people believe that chlorine "kills everything," including urine, which isn't entirely true.
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Normalised Behaviour: In competitive swimming circles, it’s often an accepted (though unsanitary) practice.
Does Chlorine Neutralize Urine?
Chlorine doesn’t "destroy" pee instantly. Instead:
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Urine contains urea, which reacts with chlorine to form chloramines—these are actually the compounds that cause the strong "chlorine smell" and can irritate your eyes, skin, and respiratory system.
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The more urine (and sweat) in the pool, the more chloramines are produced, which can degrade air and water quality.
Is it Dangerous?
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Occasional exposure isn’t likely to cause serious harm, but consistently high levels of urine (especially in busy public pools) can contribute to:
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Eye and skin irritation
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Breathing problems, particularly in indoor pools
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A generally unhygienic swimming environment
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Bottom Line:
While not everyone pees in the pool, a surprisingly large number of people do. It’s gross, it’s inconsiderate, and while chlorine helps, it doesn’t fully fix the problem.
And no—there’s no magical “pee-detecting dye.” That’s a myth parents often use to scare kids into behaving.
So the next time you’re swimming, it’s probably best to just assume it’s happened and shower before and after.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model
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