Swimming Pool Information: Public Pools

Public pools are often found as part of a larger leisure centre or recreational complex. These centers often have more than one pool, e.g. an indoor heated pool, an outdoor saltwater or unheated chlorinated pool, a shallower 'children's pool', and a paddling pool for toddlers and infants. There may also be a sauna area. In the swimming pool area and/or in the sauna area there may be one or more spa pools or jacuzzis.

If a swimming pool (sometimes combined with facilities for allied sports and activities, such as a diving tank) is located in a separate building, the building is called a "natatorium".

Many public swimming pools are rectangles either 25 m or 50 m long, but a backyard pool can be any size and shape desired. There are also very elaborate pools, with artificial waterfalls, fountains, splash pads, wave machines, varying depths of water, bridges, and island bars; they may belong to a hotel or holiday resort.

There are often lockers for clothing and other belongings. The lockers generally require a coin to be inserted as deposit or payment outright. Also there are often showers ready for use after a person has finished swimming.