Everybody into the pool, but beware of all that E. coli

More than half of the public pools tested in a new study had bacterial evidence that someone may have pooped in the pool.

Federal investigators worked with local officials last summer to collect samples from pool filters at 161 pools in metro Atlanta.

Among the 161 samples, 93 - 58 percent - had Escherichia coli, a bacterium that lives in the digestive tract of humans and warm-blooded animals.

Swimmers likely delivered some of it into the water by failing to take a thorough, soapy shower before entering the pool.

Pools in private clubs were less likely to have E. coli in their filters, but investigators still found it in 49 percent of cases. Municipal pools had the highest incidence of E. coli, 70 percent, followed by water parks, at 66 percent.

Though poor maintenance was a factor, swimmers shoulder some blame. Stay out of the water when sick with diarrhea; shower off with soap before entering the pool; take bathroom breaks every 60 minutes; and rinse off again before getting back into the pool. - Los Angeles Times