I wanted to write about this because I get asked this question many times per season and the very simple answer is IT DOESN’T EXIST!!!!!
Yes this magical urine detection chemical does not turn the water a certain color when someone urinates (pees) in your swimming pool. I’m not sure where the myth started but from my own experiences I would have to say that it could have started with the popular Nickelodeon show Pete & Pete. I distinctly remember a moment in the show where someone pees in a public pool and water turns a different color indicating that urine has entered the swimming pool and outing the person who did it.
It’s a hilarious concept and it would be great if it were actually invented but something tells me that this chemical would screw with the rest of the swimming pool chemicals. Although this doesn’t mean you still can’t tell your kids that you added it to the pool to scare them into never peeing in your swimming pool
But here is some added information; if someone does decide to urinate in your swimming pool or does any other kind of excretion then here is what you need to do. Make sure that the pool is clean first, meaning if you can get it out, then GET IT OUT (gross I know). Then you need to make sure the pool is clear of people and you need to shock your pool. If you are using chlorine then double up the dose and run the pool overnight. It doesn’t matter what kind of swimming pool sanitizer you use, up the shocking dosage and destroy what has entered your pool so that it’s clean for the next time you use it.
