Paul A. Romsky Jr. - Pool Water Temperature

The following is how I qunatify outdoor pool water tmeprature for a 90° F day at 60% humidity. This is based on 50 years of personal experience and emperical measurements

Water Temperature:

<70° F Too Cool very cold when entering, acute shock, not safe - hypothermia may result

70° F cold when entering, deep shock, body adapts in 60 seconds, refreshing for 5 minutes,
  youngsters in perfect health with high activity levels only

71° F moderately cold when entering, sharp shock, body adapts in 55 seconds, refreshing for 15 minutes,
  youngsters in perfect health with high activity levels

72° F moderately cold when entering, sharp shock, body adapts in 50 seconds, refreshing for 15 minutes,
  youngsters in good health with high activity levels

73° F extermely cool when entering, shocking, body adapts in 45 seconds, refreshing for about 20 minutes,
  good for youngsters in good health with high activity levels

74° F

75° F very cool when entering, moderate shock, body adpats in 40 seconds, refreshing for about 25 minutes,
  ok for high non-athletic activity

76° F

77° F very cool when entering, moderate shock, body adpats in 30 seconds, refreshing for about 30 minutes,
  best for heavy athletic activity

78° F

79° F

80° F cool when entring, slightly shocking, body adpats in 15 seconds, refreshing for about 45 minutes
  with athletic activity

81° F

82° F Mild coolness when entering, very slightly shocking, body adapts in 10 seconds, refreshing for about 50 minutes
  with moderate activity

83° F Ideal - Mild coolness when entering but not shocking, body adapts in 5 seconds, refreshing for any length of time
  with moderate activity

84° F slight coolness when entering, body adapts in 4 seconds, refreshing for about 50 minutes

85° F slight coolness when entering, body adapts in 3 seconds, refreshing for about 45 minutes

86° F very slight coolness when entering, body adapts in 3 seconds, refreshing for about 40 minutes

87° F very slight coolness when entering, body adapts in about 2 seconds, refreshing for about 30 minutes

88° F extermely light coolness when entering, body adapts in 1 second, refreshing for about 20 minutes

89° F almost no temperature change felt when entering, body adapts instantly, refreshing for 15 minutes

90° F exteremly slight warmness when entering, body adpats in 1 second, refreshing for 5 minutes

>90° F Too Warm - very slight warmness when entering, body adapts in 2 seconds, sit or float only - no activity
  else body may overheat, not refreshing


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