Microbiological Quality of Recreation Waters: A Case Study at Oba Community in Anambra State

Abstract

Swimming pool water users can be exposed to a range of disease-causing microorganisms and pose public health concerns. This study was aimed at assessing the microbiological quality of swimming pool waters from Oba community in Anambra State. Three swimming pool water samples including control sample were collected from different swimming pools situated at Oba community in Anambra State and transported at once to the Microbiology laboratory for microbiological analyses. The results of the total heterotrophic bacterial counts of the water samples from control sample water to swimming pool sample waters ranged from 0.21×10⁴ CFU /ml to 5.5×10⁴ CFU/ml, total coliform count ranged from 0.00×10⁴ CFU /ml to 3.4×10⁴ CFU/ml and total fungal count ranged from 0.00×10⁴ CFU /ml to 2.7×10⁴ CFU/ml. From the results, the microbial counts of the swimming pool water was higher, compared to that of the control water sample. The microbial isolates included bacteria and fungi as follows; Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Escherichia spp, Aspergillus spp. and Mucor spp. From the results, Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. frequently occurred in the samples. This study therefore revealed the potential health risk associated with use of swimming pool recreational water facilities without adequate treatment.