Evaluation of the Bacteriological Quality of Outdoor Public Swimming Pools in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract:Fifteen outdoor public swimming pools in Awka, Nigeria were assessed bacteriologically before and after use by bathers to determine their suitability for bathing purposes. The total bacterial, total coliform, faecal coliform, Staphylococcal and Pseudomonas counts were carried out using standard methods. The total bacterial count before and after use respectively was 10-160 cfu/ml and 100-280 cfu/ml; total coliform count, 3-87cfu/100ml and 40-120 cfu/100ml; Staphylococcal count, 0-70 cfu/ml and 0-169 cfu/ml while faecal coliforms and Pseudomonas were not detected in the samples. The bacteria were identified as klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, klebsiella oxytoca, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus licheniformis Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Klebsiella pneumoniae was detected in majority of the samples before and after use while Bacillus licheniformis, Citrobacter freundii and Salmonella typhi were each detected in one sample only before and after use. Klebsiella pneumoniae also had the highest occurence of 25.0% and 17.1% before and after use while Bacillus licheniformis had the lowest occurrence of 4.8% and 7.3% before and after use. None of the pools met the World Health Organization standard for coliforms therefore adequate and frequent treatment as well as regular bacteriological analyses of such pools are recommended.