[Vision2020] Pool Water Quality

[Wayne Price]

A much more serious problem than second hand smoke and the council  
thinks it's funny!


Pollutants in swimming pools

The water in public swimming pools containsmicroorganismsand unwanted  
substances, which derive from the skin and excretion products of  
swimmers. Swimmers cause many pollutants to enter the water, such as  
bacteria from saliva, excretion products, pollution from swimwear,  
skin tissue, sebum, sweat, nose and throat saliva, hairs, cosmetics  
andammonia(NH3). Vouching for clean swimming pool water through  
constant refreshment is often too expensive. Furthermore, this does  
not solve the problem of pollutants that remain on swimming pool  
walls. The water is recicled, causing pollutant and pathogen  
concentrations to increase. Microorganisms will multiply and this  
causes the risks of contagion to increase.

Dissolved pollutants

Swimming pool water contains dissolved pollutants, such as urine and  
sweat and other excretion products of swimmers. Sweat and urine  
largely consist of water, ammonia and ureum. These substances also  
contain kreatine, kreatinine and amino acids. The components of sweat  
and urine are not harmful for human health. However, when these  
products react withdisinfectantsin the water, such aschlorine,  
unwanted reaction products can be formed which consist mainly  
ofchloramines.
The water can contain dissolved pollutants that derive from  
disinfectants and cleansing agents that are used to clean swimming  
pools. Dissolved pollutants are largely removed byoxidation. This  
means that pollutants are decomposed by chemicals. Substances that are  
not or partly decomposed during the oxidation process and oxidation  
products are removed from the circulation system by gradual  
refreshment of swimming pool water.

Health effects of swimming pool pollutants

Swimmers are susceptive to pathogenic microorganisms in swimming pool  
water. As a result of cooling and water uptake, the resistance of the  
mucous membranes of swimmers can weaken, causing them to become more  
susceptive to pathogens in swimming pool water and air, and even to  
pathogens that are present in their own bodies. Microorganisms that  
enter the water through excretion by swimmers can cause a large  
variety of conditions. Most pathogenic microorganisms cause diarrhoea  
or skin rashes. Certain microorganisms can cause serious symptoms,  
such as paralysis, brain inflammation, heart inflammation, jaundice,  
fevers, vomiting, diarrhoea and respirational or eye infections.
Pathogenic mciroorganisms that can be found in swimming pool water are  
bacteria, viruses and parasitic protozoa. Young children, elderly  
people and people with damaged immune systems are more susceptive to  
infections caused by these species and will fall ill more easily.  
People that have an untreated form of cancer may also suffer from  
lower resistance to waterborne diseases. Not every person that is  
infected will fall ill, but hen or she can still cause contagion of  
other people.
In developing countries, the number of people with damaged immune  
systems is increasing, as a result of an increase in the number of  
AIDS patients in the last 20 years.
Read more:http://www.lenntech.com/water-disinfection/swimming-pool-pollution.htm#ixzz0M224zJYa
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