Can public pools cause bacterial ear infections?

A type of ear infection that affects the ear canal, called swimmer's ear, can be caused by a bacterial infection that sets in because the ear canal remains too damp, allowing bacteria to breed. Swimmer's ear can set in no matter what kind of pool you swim in if you don't clean and dry your ears properly afterward. That being said, swimming in polluted or dirty water can increase your risk for swimmer's ear, so try to choose your swimming pools wisely.