Periodic 2013 inspections of public pools, hot tubs, and spas in Arizona, California, Florida, New York, and Texas revealed over 80 % had at least one health or safety violation. One of every eight of those venues had to be closed immediately because of a serious threat to public health. Kiddie pools had the highest proportion of violations that led to closures and shut down immediately following an inspection.

The most common violations were related to improper pH and faulty disinfectant concentrations. When pool water’s pH is too high, the disinfecting power of chlorine diminishes, allowing germs to proliferate. Chlorine also loses effectiveness as a sanitizing agent in higher temperatures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends swimmers be proactive and bring their own test strips and test for common parameters before entering the water. Test strips offer a quick and easy screening method that everyone can use.