Pool water quality and prevalence of microbes in filter backwash from metro-Atlanta swimming pools

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Water Health
• Personal Author:
  Murphy, Jennifer L. ; Hlavsa, Michele C. ; Carter, Brittany C. ; Miller, Candace ; Jothikumar, Narayanan ; Gerth, Taryn R. ; Beach, Michael J. ; Hill, Vincent R.
• Description:
  During the 2012 summer swim season, aquatic venue data and filter backwash samples were collected from 127 metro-Atlanta pools. Last-recorded water chemistry measures indicated 98% (157/161) of samples were from pools with ≥1 mg/L residual chlorine without stabilized chlorine or ≥2 mg/L with stabilized chlorine and 89% (144/161) had pH readings 7.2-7.8. These water quality parameters are consistent with the 2016 Model Aquatic Health Code (2nd edition) recommendations. We used previously validated real-time polymerase chain reaction assays for detection of seven enteric microbes, including Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. E. coli was detected in 58% (93/161) of samples, signifying that swimmers likely introduced fecal material into pool water. P. aeruginosa was detected in 59% (95/161) of samples, indicating contamination from swimmers or biofilm growth on surfaces. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia duodenalis were each detected in approximately 1% of samples. These findings indicate the need for aquatics staff, state and local environmental health practitioners, and swimmers to each take steps to minimize the risk of transmission of infectious pathogens.
• Subjects:
  Biofilms Chlorine Cryptosporidium Escherichia Coli Feces Giardia Lamblia Humans Hydrogen-Ion Concentration Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Seasons Swimming Pools Water Microbiology Water Quality

  More +
• Keywords:
  Cryptosporidium Spp. Filter Backwash Giardia Duodenalis Swimming Pools
• Source:
  J Water Health. 16(1):87-92
• Pubmed ID:
  29424722
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC11005073
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  Georgia
• Volume:
  16
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:61ac41ba5028c56b13beab6727aa2f8d5b56f4790100e109111b5209dba60541
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/154163/cdc_154163_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 64.79 KB ]