engleski

Microbiological and chemical indicators of water quality in indoor hotel swimming pools before and after training of swimming pool operators

The present study was undertaken in order to determine the quality of indoor pool waters in hotels along the Croatian coast. We wanted to assess the risks of exposure to microbial and chemical contaminants and find out if the education of pool operators in use a quality assurance system, that we developed, influences hygienic conditions and water quality in swimming pools or not. The samples were analysed for free chlorine, pH and several microbiological indicators according to standard laboratory methodologies. In taken 1329 samples 276 were found to be unacceptable either by chemical (148) or microbiological parameters (128). After education, the proportion of unacceptable samples dropped by 23.5%, mostly on behalf of free chlorine values. According to our results, most of microbiologically unacceptable samples had chlorine levels within recommended range but their pH values were too high. Free chlorine level bellow 0.2 mg/L was found in 106 (82.8%) microbiologically unacceptable samples suggesting the need for maintaining the lower limit at least above 0.2 mg/L in order to reduce microbial risks to more acceptable level. This measure combined with education of pool operators might result in reduced health risks in pool waters.

chemical indicators; health risks; microbiological indicators; swimming pool operators education; swimming pools; water quality

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