Even though we’re officially now in Autumn, the summer heat still likes to linger during March.

The warmer weather sees many of us donning on our swimsuit and heading to the pool for a swim.

That cool water can trigger a bladder (or two if swimming with others) and before you know it, you have to jump out of the pool to go to the toilet.

Or do you?

A research team sampled 31 different hot tubs and pools and their studies found urine in every single one. The study measured the amount of acesulfame potassium or Ace-K found in the pools. Ace-K is an artificial sweetener used in a number of products including diet soft drink, yoghurt and candy. When it passes through our bodies, it remains unchanged.

By conducting this study on the amount of Ace-K found in the pools, it was worked out that 8 gallons (around 30 litres) of urine were found in an 110,000 gallon (378,500 litres) pool.

Even though it doesn’t sound like a lot, the hot tubs had a different story. Despite holding a smaller volume of water, tubs would hold three times the concentration of urine, worse than a swimming pool.

Yuck!

Lindsay Blackstock, a graduate student at the University of Alberta, Edmonton said:

“We want to use this study to promote public education on appropriate swimming hygiene practices. We should all be considerate of others and make sure to exit the pool to use the restroom when nature calls.”

The results have also prompted pool owners to test for urine to ensure it is kept at a hygenic level. How does one prevent urine going into the pool, we’re not sure. But maybe someone needs to invent a product that is often threatened to children, where a coloured cloud will appear around them if they pee. The public humiliation might prevent the pee going in the pool. What do you think?