Science, Tech, Math › Science Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools? Share Flipboard Email Print Marriott Science Chemistry Basics Chemical Laws Molecules Periodic Table Projects & Experiments Scientific Method Biochemistry Physical Chemistry Medical Chemistry Chemistry In Everyday Life Famous Chemists Activities for Kids Abbreviations & Acronyms Biology Physics Geology Astronomy Weather & Climate By Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D. Facebook Twitter Chemistry Expert Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on September 30, 2022 Have you ever wondered whether there really is such a chemical as a pool urine detector or pool urine indicator dye? Such a dye supposedly clouds or colors the water or produces a color when someone urinates in a swimming pool, as we've seen in movies and on TV. But does a urine indicator really exist? Is There Truth to the Rumor? No. There is no chemical which changes color when someone urinates in a swimming pool. There are dyes which could cloud, change color, or produce a color in response to urine, but these chemicals would also be activated by other compounds, producing embarrassing false-positives. Though there is no such thing as a urine-detecting dye, you can purchase signs that prey upon the misconception that a urine indicator exists. The signs, which warn the pool is being monitored with a chemical "wee alert," are believed to be an effective deterrent against urination in a pool, particularly with adult swimmers. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools?" ThoughtCo, Sep. 30, 2022, thoughtco.com/pool-urine-indicator-dye-myth-609419. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2022, September 30). Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/pool-urine-indicator-dye-myth-609419 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Is There a Urine Detector for Swimming Pools?" ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/pool-urine-indicator-dye-myth-609419 (accessed June 3, 2023). copy citation