Assessment of Bacteriological Quality of Public Swimming Pool Water in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Abstract

Swimming pools are important recreational resources in urban areas, contributing to physical fitness, social interaction, and mental well-being. Consequently, the objective of this study is to assess the bacteriological quality of public swimming pool water in Ile-Ife, Nigeria using standard methods. The pH and temperature of the water samples ranged from 7.1 to 7.4, and 23.6^oC to 26.5^oC respectively. Eight of the ten pools tested positive for bacterial contamination. Six different Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) were isolated, with Escherichia coli (32%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%), Salmonella subsp. (12%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. (8%), being the most prevalent. The coliform bacteria count ranged from 1.0×10² CFU/100ml to 9.8×10² CFU/100ml and the Salmonella count ranged from 1.0 x 10² CFU/100ml to 3.0 x 10² CFU/100ml. Most of the GNB isolates were resistant to commonly administered antibiotics like Augmentin (62.5%), and ampicillin (57.6%) but were totally susceptible to quinolones and carbapenem. This study highlights the significant public health threat posed by fecal contamination and the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in outdoor swimming pools in Ile-Ife, underscoring the need for improved pool maintenance and monitoring.