Application of Water Quality Index in Assessment of Swimming Pools Water Quality in Hotels in Emerging Africa Littoral Metropolis of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria

Abstract

Swimming pools in guest houses and hotels in many cities in sub-Saharan Africa have been labelled ‘beautiful irritation’ or hazard zones for public health issues due to the unwholesomeness of water. Pollution in swimming pools is therefore, not uncommon and it is a serious public health issue both at the global, regional, national and local levels. This study focused on application of water quality index in assessment of swimming pools water quality in hotels in emerging Africa littoral metropolis of Warri, Delta State, Nigeria. It used stratified random sampling technique to select five hotels with swimming pool in Warri for assessment. Temperature, pH, turbidity, free (residual) chlorine, total heterotrophic bacteria, total heterotrophic fungi, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus tested in the laboratory using scientific method of sampling. Water quality index (WQI) was computed using Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index (WAWQI) to evaluate in general, the quality of water in each of the five sampled swimming pools. A five-point scale (excellent, good, poor, very poor and unsuitable) was used to rank each swimming pool quality. Result showed that Wellington Hotel had the value of 2.52 and considered excellent in terms of water quality index value. Also, Brook View and Best Western Plus Hotels were classified as good water based on water quality index values of 36.9 and 39.9 respectively while BB swimming pool was ranked poor due to water quality index of 51.4. In contrast, Oasis Place Hotel swimming pool was declared unsuitable for recreational purpose due to a water quality index of 102.1. The study recommended routine and periodic surveillance of swimming pools and other recreational water sources to guarantee optimum health and wellbeing of users.