Assessment of Behavioral Contributors to Microbial Water Quality in Public Swimming Pools in Atlanta, GA Pubblico
Shack, Shanita LaShay (2016)
Published
Abstract
Background: There has been a large increase in recreational water illness outbreaks over the last twenty years. Several studies show a need for improved maintenance of public swimming pools and a need for improved swimmer hygiene.
Objective: 1) To compare microbial water quality indicators from pool surface samples to those in pool bulk water samples; 2) To identify pool staff practices that influence pool water quality; and 3) To identify swimmer behaviors that influence pool water quality.
Methods: Data was used from a pilot study conducted between July 2002 and August 2002 at 26 public swimming pools in Atlanta, Georgia. Surveys were administered to pool staff to collect information on operation practices and swimmer behaviors. Pool surface and bulk water samples were collected to analyze for total coliforms, heterotrophic bacteria (HPC) on high-nutrient agar (PCA) and low-nutrient agar (R2A), Staphylococcus spp., and P. aeruginosa. Correlation analysis was used to assess the association between surface microbial levels and bulk water microbial levels. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between pool staff practices and pool microbial levels. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association between swimmer behaviors and pool microbial levels.
Results: A significant association was found between bulk water Staphylococcus spp. and surface Staphylococcus and between bulk water Staphylococcus spp. and surface HPC-PCA (p<0.05). A significant positive association was found between pool vacuuming rate (days between vacuuming events) and bulk water HPC-PCA (p=0.048). A significant positive association was found between pool staff often seeing swim diapers in the pool and surface P. aeruginosa (p=0.045).
Conclusion: The correlation between bacteria from the pool surface and bulk water suggests that pool surface sampling may be a suitable practice for testing pool water quality. The positive association between pool vacuuming rate and pool microbial levels indicates that pool staff should increase pool vacuuming. The positive association between observed swimmer behaviors and pool microbial levels indicates that pool water can be improved by reducing contamination from swimmers. Pool operators should require pre-swim showers to reduce pool contamination and provide foot sprays to minimize transfer of dirt into the pool.
Table of Contents
Chapter I. Literature Review 1
Chapter II. Manuscript 25
1. Introduction 25
2. Methods 30
Data collection 30
Statistical analysis 33
3. Results 36
Descriptive statistics 37
Correlation analysis 39
Multiple linear regression analysis 43
4. Discussion 50
Major findings 50
Limitations 54
Future steps 56
Chapter III. Conclusions and Recommendations 56
References 60
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