Evaluation of biological and physico-chemical quality of public swimming pools, Hamadan (Iran)

Abstract

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine the types of fungal contamination and evaluation the fecal Streptococcus, total coliform and some physical and chemical parameters of swimming pool waters in Hamadan (Iran) Materials and Methods: In this study, biological and physico-chemical quality were evaluated. Bacterial and fungal contamination of four public indoor swimming pools was evaluated by standard total coliforms fermentation and using membrane filtration and carpet and swab sampling method with a month interval. In addition, physical and chemical parameters such as residual chlorine, temperature and pH were measured. Results: Results showed that the mean±SD water temperature, pH and residual chlorine were 29.3±1.3, 7.38±0.5 and 0.84±0.5 mg/L, respectively. Total count was 1.8±7.7 MPN/100ml and its maximum and minimum were 43 and 0 MPN/100ml, respectively. Fecal streptococcus count was 0.3±1.6 MPN/100ml and its maximum and minimum were 9 and 9 MPN/100ml, respectively. In the environment of pools, fungi were isolated in order of Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp., Aspergillus.niger spp., Rhodotorula spp and Phoma spp. In the collected water sample, no fungal growths were seen. In the studied pools, the microbial and fungi contamination showed significant and insignificant difference, respectively. Conclusion: As results showed the residual chlorine in pools water was lower than standard level and as regard to microbial contamination in pool water, it can be concluded that the disinfection system has been impaired.