City of Burbank: Lower the Pool temperature at Verdugo Aquatic Facility

Since Verdugo Aquatic Facility has begun covering the swimming pool at night in an effort to conserve water, the pool temperature has soared dangerously high. As a parent of a child who trains regularly at Verdugo Aquatic Facility and as someone who swims there regularly myself, I am very concerned about the health risks associated with training in such conditions.

Since the new measures have come into effect, my daughter has begun complaining of nausea and feeling unwell during her 2 hour-long training sessions. A number of people we have spoken to have also raised serious concerns about the water temperature.

According to Ken Kamler, a doctor and author who explores survival in extreme circumstances, the body dissipates heat through the skin during swims. When that water is warm, it's hard for your body to get rid of the heat. This can lead to "spasms, muscles not firing properly, which could have fatal effects”. A person can get heart arrhythmia because the organ can't pump efficiently or lung failure as the muscles are unable to function properly. This could lead to swallowing water and drowning. Swimming in warm water can trigger nausea, vomiting and light-headedness.

Furthermore, USA Swimming has issued guidelines that water temperatures need to be 82 degree water (and lower) for:
- Competitive swim team training
- Adult aerobic lap swimming
- High intensity vertical water exercise

While I appreciate the need to conserve water, the temperature needs to be lowered, either by uncovering the pool at night or by installing water coolers.