Studies on the Sanitation of Swimming Pools

Abstract

The present investigation was undertaken to inquire into the sanitary conditions existing in swimming pools, and to study methods of improving these pools if defective, without altering too greatly their equipments or modes of administration. In addition to this, it has been our purpose to determine as accurately as possible, standards in construction, equipment, and management which we think should be required of such establishments in the future. The problem of the sanitary swimming pool has assumed considerable importance. The dangers of bathing in polluted water have been pointed out by many authors, and numerous plans for overcoming these dangers have been suggested. Many municipalities have established public baths and swimming pools. Swimming pools have been installed by private individuals, as well as by colleges and universities, secondary and elementary schools, clubs, steamship companies, and Turkish and Russian bathing establishments. National and international associations1 have been formed, to promote the movement. The increased interest taken in the sanitary condition of the pools is an indication of their growing popularity, and therefore of the practical importance of the subject. That the swimming pool is actually a medium for the transmission of disease, has been well pointed out by Atkin2 who divides diseases communicable from pool into three classes: (1), intestinal, (2) eye and ear, and (3) venereal. We follow his classification in the succeeding paragraphs.