RIO DE JANEIRO -- More pool water is turning green at the Olympics.
The Olympic diving pool in Rio turned green Tuesday turning greener throughout the day. At first, Rio officials said they were not sure of the reason. They continually reiterated that there was no risk health to the athletes.
It was obvious that the green color was as a result of algae growing in pool. Algae grows in pools when the chlorine levels fall below a certain point. Rio officials said it was happening because of the sweltering heat mixed with a lack of wind. But still, they weren't entirely sure why their regular maintenance was not fixing the problem.
As competition began Wednesday, the water polo pool, which is located directly next to the diving pool, was turning a light shade of green. The diving pool remains bright green.
FINA, the international governing body of swimming, diving, water polo, synchronized swimming and open water swimming, released a statement Wednesday stating they had determined the cause.
"FINA can confirm that the reason for the unusual water colour observed during the Rio 2016 diving competitions is that the water tanks ran out some of the chemicals used in the water treatment process," the statement said.
While the cause has finally been revealed, it has not stopped the problem from spreading.
A spokesperson in Rio said that the maintenance crew worked with an independent group to evaluate their maintenance schedule and water treatment. The spokesperson said the crew probably needed to take into consideration that more athletes in the pool would affect the water unlike previous tests conducted before the games began had revealed.
They believe they have done what is appropriate to fix the issue, and they believe the water should turn back to blue by the end of Wednesday.
Athletes have continued to compete in the pools while officials repeatedly reassure there is no health risk in either pool, but they do have some hesitance.
Some experts are not so sure the swimmers should be swimming in the green water.
“It is one thing that they are saying there is no threat to the divers, but what does that mean?” Ralph Riley, an expert from the London-based Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group told our news partner USA TODAY Sports. “If it has gone green and that is because there is not enough disinfectant there would be some kind of implied risk. If not, then you would have to consider algae.”
Rio says otherwise.
"The FINA Sport Medicine Committee conducted tests on the water quality and concluded that there was no risk to the health and safety of the athletes, and no reason for the competition to be affected."
