Sanitary Conditions of Public Swimming Pools in Amman, Jordan

Abstract

This study was carried out in the summer of 2005 and investigated all of active public swimming pools (85 out of 93) in Amman, the capital of Jordan. The aim of this study was to find out if these swimming pools are in compliance with Jordanian Standards for Swimming Pools Water (JS 1562/2004). The pools were surveyed against the water microbial quality and other physicochemical parameters indicated in the standards. Two samples from each pool were collected for microbial analysis and pools monitoring were carried out during the afternoon of the weekends when the pools are most heavily used. The results indicated overall poor compliance with the standards. Compliance of the pools water to the microbial parameters was 56.5%, for residual chlorine 49.4%, for pH 87.7%, water temperature 48.8%, and bathing load 70.6%. The results also indicated that water microbial quality deteriorated with time. Multivariate analysis showed significant association of water contamination with time of sample collection, residual chlorine, water temperature and load of swimmers. The poor compliance was attributed to lack of proper disinfection, staff training, proper maintenance, and timely inspection.

Determinants of Bacterial Contamination in Pools, Spas, and Wading Pools: Should Chlorine Standards Be Revised?

“…Other factors also have been implicated including time of sampling, water temperature, and load of swimmers (Rabi, Khader, Alkafajei, & Aqoulah, 2008). Two previous authors have failed to find any association between bacterial contamination and the pH of the water in swimming pools (Esterman et al, 1984;Rabi et al, 2008). The current research confirmed this lack of association.…”

“…Previous research has demonstrated an association between bacterial contamination and the chlorine level in the pools. Other factors also have been implicated including time of sampling, water temperature, and load of swimmers (Rabi, Khader, Alkafajei, & Aqoulah, 2008). Two previous authors have failed to find any association between bacterial contamination and the pH of the water in swimming pools (Esterman et al, 1984;Rabi et al, 2008).…”

Determination of Bacterial Quality of Water in Randomly Selected Swimming Pools in Kampala City, Uganda

“…This coupled with the probability of soil contamination from rainfall runoff and bacterial biofilm formation along the pipelines or other organic matters could be responsible for the contamination. Swimming pool contamination as a result of high bather density and organic matter contamination is common especially in poorly maintained pools [40,41]. If swimming pools adhered to the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation guidelines, there would be minimal microbial contamination.…”

“…If swimming pools adhered to the National Water and Sewerage Cooperation guidelines, there would be minimal microbial contamination. Studies by previous researchers have shown that swimming pools in major hotels and cities in developed nations have low microbial contamination, ranging from 0 to 25% (38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43). However, the results from the swimming pools in Kampala indicate absolutely very high microbial contamination with heterotrophic bacteria.…”

Health Implications of some Public Swimming Pools located in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

“…In very soft and poorly buffered waters with an alkalinity of less than about 40 mg of calcium carbonate per litre, pH will be more susceptible to wide fluctuations. In well buffered waters, pH is much less likely to reach extreme values, but the significance of high or low pH for skin reactions and eye irritation will be greater [14]. The temperature of the study areas ranged between 23.7℃ and 26.5℃.…”