A national survey reveals what millions of swimmers are really doing in America’s pools — and it’s not always hygienic. From rinsing sandals to using pool water as a foot bath, the findings raise serious concerns about pool cleanliness and the role of swimmer behavior.
The 2025 Healthy Pools survey reveals that half of swimmers (48%) say they regularly use pools to rinse dirt or sand from their bare feet or sandals,, essentially turning the pool into a communal foot bath.
That includes 33% of swimmers (and 48% of frequent swimmers) who regularly rinse their sandals in pool water. Additionally, 39% regularly dip their bare feet in the pool to wash off dirt or sand, a number that rises to 53% among frequent swimmers.
These habits persist even though 72% of Americans understand that chlorine’s primary purpose is to kill germs. But chlorine’s effectiveness can be reduced when overwhelmed by dirt, sand, and other contaminants introduced by swimmers.
In response, the American Chemistry Council and Pool & Hot Tub Alliance are teaming up to raise awareness through the Healthy Pools campaign, helping swimmers understand how their own behavior impacts pool safety.
“This isn’t just gross. It’s dangerous,” said Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and Vice President at the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. “You may be tempted to dip your feet or flip-flops in the water, but take the extra step to find the nearest shower on the pool deck and rinse off there instead. That can make a big difference in keeping pools safe and healthy.”
Additional concerning behaviors reported in the national survey include:
As peak summer swimming season kicks into high gear, campaign partners are reminding swimmers that water quality depends not just on chemicals, but on all of us doing our part too.
“Swimmers often don’t realize how much influence they have on water quality,” said Sabeena Hickman, President and CEO of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. “Simple actions like showering before you swim, skipping snacks in the water, and washing your swimsuit with soap go a long way to keep everyone safe.”
Despite widespread awareness of chlorine’s germ-fighting role, the survey found significant public misunderstandings among Americans about pool chemistry:
“Swimmer hygiene directly impacts water quality,” said LeaAnne Forest, spokesperson for the Chlorine Panel of the American Chemistry Council. “Chlorine is highly effective, but can’t do its job if swimmers overload the water with dirt, oil, and other contaminants. Clean swimmers mean clean pools.”
To reduce the spread of germs and ease the burden on pool chemistry, the Healthy Pools campaign encourages swimmers to follow a few simple habits:
Organizations interested in helping more children learn to swim can also apply to participate in the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance’s Step Into Swim™ program at StepIntoSwim.org.
Methodology: Sachs Media conducted the 2025 Healthy Pools survey on behalf of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. The survey interviewed 2,000 American adults online from June 26-30, 2025, intending to measure public knowledge and behavior related to swimming pools and public health. Results are nationally representative based on age, race, gender, region, and household income, with a margin of error of ±2.2% at the 95% confidence level.
This study defines a “swimmer” as an adult who has swum in a pool (public, private, hotel, gym, or water park) at least once in the past year. A “frequent swimmer” has swum at least 10 times in the past year. Behavior considered “regular” occurred during at least three of a swimmer’s last 10 visits to a pool.