Bacteriological and Physicochemical Quality of Swimming Pools in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Swimming pool is a water body that has been created artificially for swimming. It has been used to do for different activities like recreational activity, sport and rehabilitative treatment. In spite of its importance to human, it has been recognized as disease transmission channel in the world. In Ethiopia, there is a scarcity of information on the microbial load of swimming pools. So, a cross-sectional study was carried out from December to February, 2012 to 2013 to assess the bacteriological and physicochemical quality of swimming pools in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. A total of 81 water samples from three swimming pools were collected and used for examination of total coliforms, fecal coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria, temperature, pH, residual chlorine and turbidity. From total of 81 pool water samples, 72% and 74% were unacceptable to WHO standard of bacteriological and physicochemical limits respectively. For total coliforms 68 (84%), for heterotrophic plate count 65 (80%), for faecal coliform 61 (75%), for turbidity 64 (79%), for pH 61 (75%) and temperature 63 (78%) were above WHO standard. Residual chlorine of all pool water samples (100%) was less than WHO standard. The result indicates that there was poor pool water treatment because majority of pool water samples were not fulfilled WHO standard. So, there is needed to implement pool safety guideline measures by responsible health authority for protection of swimmers' health.

Physicochemical and bacteriological quality of swimming pools water in Kombolcha Town, Northeastern Ethiopia

“…In this study, only (36.7%) of swimming pool water samples showed temperature values in line with the WHO recommended values (21°C–32°C). The two studies in Ethiopia showed similar result with our findings ( 22 , 23 ). Contrary to the current finding, temperature measurements of all swimming pool water samples were within the WHO standard in Nigeria ( 33 ).…”

“…In this finding, 37.8% of the pool water samples showed a pH value within the WHO recommended limit of 7.2–7.8. The result was similar with the study in Ethiopia, and Nigeria ( 23 , 30 ) where, only 25, and 33% of the swimming pool water samples showed pH value within the WHO recommended limit. However, the finding was different from the other study in Ethiopia in which most (58.4%) of the samples had a pH value within the WHO recommended limit ( 31 ).…”

“…Comparative result was reported in Uganda, where 68% of the swimming pool water samples had higher (>500 CFU/mL) HPC ( 40 ). The finding was also supported by other studies conducted in Bahir Dar ( 23 ) that revealed 80% of samples having HPC counts higher than the WHO recommended limit. However, the result was different from another finding in Ethiopia, where only (26.7%) of samples deviated from the WHO recommended HPC ( 31 ).…”

“…High counts of fecal coliforms were also recorded in 68% of samples in Bahir Dar ( 23 ). Additionally, in Nigeria, all pool water samples were polluted with fecal coliforms ( 39 ).…”

“…The total bacterial, coliform, and Escherichia coli counts of the pool water samples were high ( 21 ). Studies in Ethiopia also revealed that swimming pool water was highly polluted and did not meet the WHO standards for swimming pools ( 22 , 23 ).…”