Microbiological and Physiochemical Analysis of Swimming pool Waters in the Isle of Tenerife

Abstract

Background: A microbiological and physiochemical analysis has been made from 60 samples of water from two swimming pools in Santa Cruz de Tenerife inorder to know the hygienic condition and to establish the most adequate microbiologycal indicators. The water of the two swimning pools has a different origin: sea water (Swimming pool B) and public supply (Swimming pool A), and so, different processings are used. Methods: The analitical methodology was based on the Spanish current day regulations for the control of drinkable waters for public use, as well as on the methods the Ameritan Public Health Association recommends. Results: There have been found differences between one swimming pool and the other, depending basically on the water characteristics and the processings used to treat it; there exists a greater microbiological contamination in the samples from the swimming pool B. It has been proved that medium R2A is better than medium P.C.A. to recount total mesophilic Aerobes in both swimming pools. Conclusions: The isolation of ST. aureus species in samples from the swimming pool B makes of it a possible microbiological indicator for the hygienic control of swimming pool waters of marine origin. Likewise, the presente of mycobacterium species in samples of the swimming pool A confirms its resistance to concentrations of growth inhibitors of free chlorine.