Health 101: How safe are the public pools and fountains in NYC? Depends.

July 7, 4:29 PMNY Wellness ExaminerRoger Ziegler

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The water in the new Washington Square Fountain is cleaned
with bromine, but that doesn't mean you should let your kids
swim in it. (photo by jskrybe flickrcommons)

So you're looking for an affordable pool in NYC but you're a little concerned about the overall health for you and your family. 

Just how safe is the water in New York City's pools and public fountains?

For the most part, very safe but you may want to keep your little ones out of the new Washington Square Park fountain.

"I would advise people with small children to avoid the Washington Square Fountain," says NYC Commissioner of Parks and Recreation, Adrian Benepe.

Benepe explains that while the fountain is cleaned with bromine,  which he says is better than chlorine, it was never meant to be frolicked in. There are no lifeguards and the water quality is not checked as often as the pools or the spray fountains in the city's playgrounds.

No swimming or washing your clothes or dogs in the fountains please

In fact the Washington Square fountain is the only fountain in the city where it is legal to touch the water.

"The Washington Square fountain has a history of people using it, so we decided to preserve that tradition," says Benepe.

A much better alternative

For kids, Benepe suggests using the approximately 665 spray fountains found all through the city's parks and playgrounds and for everyone, the city's extensive network of 63 pools found throughout the five boroughs. Click here for the full list.

The spray fountain water in the playgrounds is straight drinking water, same as from you tap, non-recirculated, says Benepe.

The city pools are mostly cleaned with a combination of bromine and chlorine although more environmentally friendly ultra-violet and ozone sterilizers are used in Flushing Fresh Meadows park and a few others. All pools monitored for safety once an hour by law.

The best deal in the city?

One of the best kept secrets in the city is the parks and recreation centers. Many have year-round indoor pools, gyms, after-school programs, dance classes and more.

For $75 a YEAR, for an adult, $10 if you're over 55 and FREE if you're under 18, you can swim and work out as much as you like and it's not restricted to city residents. Anyone can join; commuters, tourists, aliens, you name it.