Investigation of the Physical, Chemical Characteristics and Microbial Contamination of the Indoor Swimming Pools

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the physical, chemical and microbiological contamination of indoor swimming pools. Methods: Pool water specimens were collected using a plastic polypropylene sterilized bottle. The physical and chemical qualities of the waters were analyzed in terms of temperature, turbidity, pH, and free residual chlorine, with the standard methods for the examination of water. Bacteriological (routine methods) and parasitological (molecular methods) tests were carried out on pools water. Results: The mean temperature, pH, and residual chlorine of the indoor pools were 31.2 °C, 7.6 and 1.5 mg/L, respectively. Turbidity was not observed in any of the pools. The pH and temperature values were in standard ranges in 92.3% and 15.4% of the waters of swimming pools, respectively. The prevalence rates of bacterial and amoebic contaminations of the water in the swimming pools were 53.8% and 46.2%, respectively. One pool (7.7%) was contaminated with both bacteria and amoeba. Streptococcus viridans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Cryptosporidium and Bacillus spp. were isolated from the pool waters. Conclusion: In this study, some microorganisms were identified from the water pools. Effective management of swimming pools and proper control of the physical, chemical and microbiological property of water pools can produce the healthy recreational activity.