Swimming pool

Swimming pools can be built on residential and community lots by using Build Mode. Sims can drown in a swimming pool if they run low on energy, so make sure there is a pool ladder nearby.

Swimming builds Body/Athletic skill. In The Sims 2 and The Sims 3, it also keeps Sims fit. With The Sims 2: FreeTime, swimming increases enthusiasm in Fitness. If The Sims 2: Seasons is installed, outdoor pools are considered to be heated, and are available in all seasons.

Sims (except those with the Hydrophobic trait) enjoy swimming, and it refills their fun motive.

Prior to Nightlife, building a pool in The Sims 2 was extremely cumbersome. Extensions to the pool needed to be a minimum of 2 squares and all pools needed to be rectangular. Nightlife fixed the problem regarding pool construction.

Advanced building features

 * Diving board
 * Slide
 * Diagonal pool construction
 * Curved pool construction
 * Paint pool walls
 * Pools on any floor
 * Pool bar
 * Pool waterfall
 * Water color

The Sims 4
Swimming pools did not initially appear in The Sims 4 base game, but were added in Patch 7.

In The Sims 4, Sims can sit at the edge of the pool. If a Sim swims for too long, they will get the "Pulled Muscle" moodlet, or, if the Sim is an Elder, get the "Dangerously Tired" moodlet and possibly die.

Water color
Patch ??? added the ability to change a pool's water color.

Trivia

 * In The Sims 2, Sims not controlled by the player can increase their fitness level by swimming. However, their body shape flags and chemistry traits will not change unless they are made selectable with testingcheatsenabled or a cheat object such as the InSimenator or Sim Blender, or the flags and traits are changed with SimPE.
 * In The Sims 3, a Sim with the Childish or Insane trait can fish in pools.
 * In The Sims 3: Late Night and The Sims 4: Get Together, Sims can go skinny dipping in swimming pools.
 * If a Sim dies by fire, their ghost may swim in a pool if one is near their grave or urn.
 * In The Sims and The Sims 2, removing the pool ladder will prevent Sims from getting in and out of the pool. In The Sims 3 and The Sims 4, Sims can get in and out without the need of a ladder, but can be prevented from doing so by building walls around the pool.