An Investigation of the Sanitary Conditions of Water in Public Swimming Pools in Lorestan, Iran, and Its Comparison with the Current Standards of This Country

Given the increased awareness and knowledge regarding disease transmission, it has been established that specific diseases could be transmitted from contaminated swimming pools, river banks and sea shores via contact or swallowing contaminated water. The present study was conducted to examine the sanitary water indicators of the public swimming pools in Lorestan, Iran, and to compare these indicators with the current standards in Iran during the winter and summer of 2016.

In this descriptive cross-sectional study, water samples were taken from all indoor and active public swimming pools in Lorestan, Iran, consisting of a total of 20 swimming pools, during the winter and summer months. Physical parameters (including pH, temperature, and opacity), chemical parameters (including the remaining free chlorine), and microbial parameters (including total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, streptococcus aureus, fecal streptococci, and heterotroph bacteria) were examined. Sampling was performed every two weeks for six months. 120 samples in each season and 240 samples on the whole were collected following the standard sampling principles of microbiological quality control.

Our investigations indicated that the amount of remaining free chlorine was at a favorable level in 59.58% of the studied samples, pH was favorable at 67.07% of the samples, opacity was at a good level in 61.66% of the samples, and temperature was at an acceptable level in 77.08% of the samples. In none of the swimming pools, fecal streptococci and Staphylococcus aureus exceeded the standard levels. The total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal streptococci, and heterotroph bacteria were at a favorable condition in 62.91%, 73.75%, 66.25%, 91.66%, 97.49%, and 82.08% of the cases, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data showed that there was an inverse and significant relationship between bacterial populations and the remaining free chlorine levels. Moreover, there was a direct and significant relationship between bacterial populations and water opacity (p < 0.005).

According to the results, the parameters of chlorine levels, opacity, and total coliforms had the lowest correspondence with the standards, which suggests that the levels of remaining free chlorine should be continuously monitored and the pH of the water in the swimming pools should be constantly adjusted.