ABSTRACT
This work aimed at determining the effect of excessive number of bathers on the water quality of swimming pools, and developing a model for health risk among public swimming pools. This model provides a useful tool for setting standards for the water quality into public swimming pools. Severe water deterioration was monitored for public swimming pools in a recreational area. The contamination of water was due to the high bather loads and the applied low chlorine dose. A significant correlation between the fecal coliform density, MPN per 100 ml, and the bather loads was found. Water was contaminated rapidly by increasing of bather load. The response of water treatment was delayed for two hours until a significant reduction of fecal coliform count started. The bather loads should be restricted to 15 bathers per 100 sq.m. Of the water surface. Otherwise, any restoration process of water quality in similar public swimming pools should be based on increasing the chlorine dose. To overcome the complaints of bathers about high chlorine dose, water tank just ahead of the chlorinator followed by small water aerator are needed. Also, the increasing of public awareness, about the use of feet bathers and shower facilities, is essential. To adapt the bathers' height and their swimming capabilities, the water depth of 50% of the water surface area should be ranged between 100 to 150 cm