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Cold plunges and ice baths are appearing everywhere—from fitness centers and recovery facilities to wellness clinics, athletic programs, and luxury spas. But colder water does not automatically mean cleaner or safer water.
In this episode of the Talking Pools Podcast, Natalie Hood is joined by Dewey Case, Technical Director for the Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code and Aquatics Coordinator for Williamson County Parks and Recreation in Tennessee.
Dewey helped assemble the experts behind the new CMAHC Cold Water Venue Guidance. Together, he and Natalie separate cold-plunge facts from social-media fiction and explain why these increasingly popular venues require far more attention than a tub, a garden hose, and several bags of ice.
They discuss why bacteria can survive in cold water, how lower temperatures can slow sanitizer performance, and why even a single user introduces sweat, body oils, cosmetics, urea, and microorganisms into the water. They also examine the much greater contamination burden created when a commercial system serves dozens—or potentially hundreds—of users each week.
The conversation covers the risks associated with poorly maintained systems, including biofilm, Pseudomonas, swimmer’s ear, and the possibility of transferring gastrointestinal pathogens. They also explain why dunking your head into questionable cold-plunge water may be a particularly bad idea.
In This Episode
- Why cold water does not sanitize itselfThe truth about bacteria and pathogens in cold plungesWhy “I’m the only person using it” does not eliminate water-quality concernsWhat sweat, cosmetics, clothing, and body oils add to the waterWhy users should shower before enteringThe risks of head submersion in poorly maintained waterHow biofilm and Pseudomonas can develop inside plumbing and on surfacesWhy commercial cold plunges are not simply oversized bathtubsHow high bather loads change filtration, sanitation, and maintenance demandsWhy cold-water chemistry can be more challenging than spa chemistryHow low temperatures affect chemical dissolution and disinfectionThe purpose of the new CMAHC Cold Water Venue GuidanceWhy proper operation, cleaning, and maintenance make cold-water immersion safer
As Dewey explains, a home cold plunge used by one person and a recirculating commercial venue serving hundreds of bathers are not the same thing. When the bather load changes, the operational practices must change with it.
This episode is essential listening for pool professionals, aquatic operators, health officials, inspectors, facility managers, designers, builders, fitness-center owners, and anyone responsible for operating a commercial cold-water venue.
She Swims So They Can
Natalie is preparing to swim more than 21 miles across three open-water swimming marathons as part of the Tennessee Triple Crown Open Water Swim Challenge. Her campaign, She Swims So They Can, benefits Every Child a Swimmer and helps provide children with access to lifesaving swim lessons.
Her scheduled swims are:
- September 13, 2026September 20, 2026October 3, 2026
Donations will be accepted through October 3, 2026.
To learn more, donate, purchase official fundraising apparel, or explore sponsorship opportunities, visit Natalie’s Facebook or Instagram pages. Companies interested in sponsoring the campaign may contact Natalie directly at nhood@thegritgame.com.
Every contribution helps—and every share expands the campaign’s reach.
Special thanks to campaign sponsors Revved Up Apparel, H2flow Controls, Tenjam, and the Talking Pools Podcast.
#TalkingPoolsPodcast #ColdPlunge #ColdWaterImmersion #IceBath #AquaticSafety #WaterQuality #PoolOperator #PoolProfessional #CMAHC #MAHC #PublicHealth #Aquatics #Pseudomonas #WaterChemistry
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