Public Swimming Pools Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Towards Cryptosporidium Among Public Swimming Pool Patrons and Staff in Western Australia.

There is a dearth of research conducted on the Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of swimming pool patrons and staff to determine their understanding of the importance of Cryptosporidium and its transmission in swimming pools. We conducted a KAP survey of public swimming pool patrons (n = 380) and staff (n = 40) attending five public swimming pools in Western Australia (WA). Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Cryptosporidium varied between patrons and staff but were generally limited. Only 26.1% and 25.0% of patrons and staff had heard of Cryptosporidium, while 17.4% and 10.0% knew that it causes diarrhoea, respectively. Thirty-one percent of patrons were aware of their pool policy concerning gastroenteritis and Cryptosporidium, compared to 62.5% of staff. Less than 50% of patrons demonstrated awareness of how features within the pool environment were relevant to the control of Cryptosporidium. Only about a third of patrons (35%) and staff (37.5%) were aware that showering before swimming reduced the risk of gastroenteritis. Raising awareness about hygiene-related practices through the delivery of targeted health education messages to the general public is essential to reduce the burden of Cryptosporidium infections in aquatic environments.

A numerical analysis on the performance of DHW storage tanks with immersed PCM cylinders

• Original model to investigate the performance of storage tanks with solar coil and PCM. • Simulation of storage tanks that serve a public swimming pool. • Simulation of storage tanks' operation in different working conditions. Thermal energy storage tanks have a fundamental role in the preparation and simultaneous distribution of domestic hot water. These tanks are supplied with thermal energy via classical means, based on electrical energy and fuel combustion, and via renewable energy sources. This study investigates the possibility of reducing the storage tank’s accumulation volume by employing phase change materials to store high densities of thermal energy at constant temperatures. A mathematical model was developed to simulate the operation of storage tanks equipped with immersed solar coil, also taking into account the addition of phase change materials encapsulated in cylindrical containers. The mathematical model was validated based on literature data. The simulation program also determines the temperature of the primary heat transfer fluids, prepared by a solar collector system and a flat plate heat exchanger coupled with a gaseous fuel boiler. The program was used to study the performance of storage tanks that serve a public swimming pool, a type of building that is characterized by a high demand of domestic hot water. To the best knowledge of the authors, this scenario was not reported in the literature. The study revealed that the nominal volume of the storage tanks can be reduced by 25% in comparison to the classic alternative, by using phase change materials as thermal storage. Also, the tanks equipped with phase change material achieved a reduction of fuel consumption and CO 2 emissions by (5.00-11.97) % in comparison to the classic solution.

High occurrence of Acanthamoeba spp. in the water samples of public swimming pools from Kerman Province, Iran

Acanthamoeba spp. is a free-living amoeba that can cause major infections in humans, including keratitis and granulomatous encephalitis. Thus, water resources play an important role in transmitting Acanthamoeba spp. infection to humans. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of Acanthamoeba spp. in public swimming pools from three cities of Kerman Province, southeastern Iran. Eighty water samples of 20 public indoor swimming pools were taken from Kerman, Jiroft, and Kahnauj cities. Water temperature (°C), pH, and free chlorine concentration (ppm) were measured. Filtration and cultivation were applied on non-nutrient agar medium. The polymerase chain reaction was applied by using the genus-specific primers (JDP1 and JDP2) on positive samples; these primers can amplify the 423-551 bp fragment. Eighteen of the 20 swimming pools (including 32/80; 40% samples) were contaminated with Acanthamoeba spp. All swimming pools of Jiroft and Kahnauj and 88.2% of swimming pools in Kerman were contaminated. As such, all 32 Acanthamoeba isolates were amplified using the JDP primer pairs. Two genotypes, T3 and T4, were also identified. The present research is the first to report Acanthamoeba spp. in public swimming pools from Kerman Province. Due to high occurrence of this protozoan, it is recommended to use warning signs around swimming pools to create awareness of this infection.

Water loss in swimming pool filter backwashing processes in the Balearic Islands (Spain)

Abstract Swimming pools are a major contributor to water consumption in our community. However, the high water loss associated with filter cleaning is unknown. In this work, we investigate the current procedures for filter backwashing in public swimming pools by questionnaires to owners and managers. Then, we use the collected data to estimate their environmental and economic costs. Besides, we measure several parameters in the field during the process performed in four representative swimming pools. The investigation revealed that the water loss associated with filter cleaning in public swimming pools rises to 5.5 million m3 water per year, which represents an expense of 13.96 million €. Based on our results, the followed protocols were inappropriate in most cases, indicating that even the required water amount would be higher. The most suitable parameters for filter backwashing monitoring were combined chlorine, ammonium, turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The necessity for specific strategies and legislation for the management of these installations, the treatment of the generated wastewater, as the implementation of different technological solutions to reduce water loss are discussed.

Microbial water quality of public swimming pool in the district of Bragança

Abstract Background The poor water quality of recreational and rehabilitation pools, has been correlated to insufficient disinfection or human contamination, and can be a vehicle for transmitting diseases to users. Because people with different characteristics attend public swimming pools with different purposes, the pool water quality control is essential to minimize hazards related to unsafe water. Methods This study was based on data collection of 144 samples between 2018 and 2020 in therapeutic and recreational pools (indoor and outdoor) in the Bragança district. The proportion of the number of bathers were estimated, as well as the microbial parameters: Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, total Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus coagulase-positive and mesophilic microbial count. Results The E. coli, enterococci and mesophilic microbial count were not found in any sample. Unsafe pool water was mainly contaminated by both photogenic P. aeruginosa (6.3%) and total Sthaphylococcus (10.4%). Levels of P. aeruginosa in therapeutic pools was greater than in recreational pools (indoor and outdoor) (10.5% vs 6.8% and 4.5%, respectively), while total Sthaphylococcus was absent in therapeutic pools and represent 13.6% and 10.6% of positivity in indoor and outdoor swimming pools, respectively. The bathers number medium of therapeutic, indoor and outdoor pools was 4.8, 3.4 and 6.9, respectively. Conclusions Overall, the results endorse the good water quality of these swimming pools, mainly by the absent of faecally-derived bacteria. The presence of P. aeruginosa in therapeutic pools can be explained by the type of users, while the high number of bathers may promote the growth of some microorganisms, particularly in outdoor pools.

Performance assessment of solar chimney coupled with earth-to-air heat exchanger: A passive alternative for an indoor swimming pool ventilation in hot-arid climate

Due to the 40% share of buildings in global energy consumption, shifting to energy-efficient methods in this sector can significantly decelerate energy crisis, global warming, and their consequences. Hot-arid climate regions annually receive a significant amount of solar energy, which can be used as a substitute for fossil fuel-based sources in ventilation systems. In this paper, the potential of a typical public indoor swimming pool to harness solar energy is assessed by generating separate models based on the present active ventilation system and a proposed passive one. The passive system consists of a solar chimney coupled with an earth-to-air heat exchanger. CFD analysis of flow and energy fields, validated with field measurements, is carried out through numerical simulations using the SIMPLE algorithm and solar ray tracing module on the design days of May to September 2019 based on weather data. The distribution of key parameters; including temperature, velocity, humidity, and CHCl3 concentration; is studied. The passive system generally outperforms the active one in terms of removing airborne contaminants and excess moisture while saving energy. On the most critical design day, more than 45% of temperature data, 78% of velocity data, 93% of relative humidity data, and 100% of CHCl3 mass fraction data lay in the standard ranges. Also, mass fractions of chloroform and water vapor averagely decreased by 60% and 11% in the breathing zone, still in the standard range of the relative humidity, and air changes per hour increased up to 174%.

‘A Fine Solidarity in the Life of the Countryside’: The Ashbees and Sport in the Cotswolds, 1902–1907

Between 1902 and 1907, C.R. and Janet Ashbee ran the Guild of Handicraft from Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire, a manufacturing and trade experiment underpinned by utopian ideas. They used sport in the life of the Guild and the wider town in various ways, including the construction of a public swimming pool, the promotion of sports days, and the compilation of sporting songs, while their writings – both public and private – on sport revealed underlying assumptions about a sporting culture that diverged from both the commercial and amateur models of sport that were predominant in Edwardian Britain. This model for sport, based on balance, solidarity, community bonds, and health, was evident in all of their interventions in sport. This article, based on the Ashbees’ published and unpublished writings, along with Guild and other archives and newspaper reports, explores this sporting culture.

Hospitable Non-verbal Staff Behaviour as a Means to Create Value to Customers

Background and aim: Service providers need to be competent in the provision of hospitality. However, the question is, how to operationalize the experience of hospitality? Existing literature shows limited concrete service characteristics that lead to a hospitable experience in service environments. This article presents user-centred research into human-related aspects that influence the hospitality experience of guests. Methods/methodology: Four case studies were performed in a public swimming pool and a catering setting. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, in three of the four cases, regular customers of the organizations were approached by email and asked to rate the importance of behaviours related to hospitable service. In the case of the public swimming pool, part of the data was collected prior to closing of the pool, allowing data collection via survey, on site or via email, depending on visitors’ preferences. Results: The results show which non-verbal employee characteristics contribute to the distinctive factors of hospitality, especially observable behaviour. The factors ‘modest appearance’ and ‘representative appearance’ seem to be of medium importance, and the factor ‘paralanguage’ seems to be the least important factor. Practical implications: This article shows that it is possible to identify concrete characteristics of employee behaviour that people associate with hospitality.

Statistical analysis for the relation of water quality parameters in public pools in Medellin, Colombia

ABSTRACT The quality of water in swimming pools must not pose risks to the health of users. Medellín has more than 1,000 public swimming pools, regularly inspected by the Health department of the city of Medellin. Monitoring of microbiological and physicochemical analyses of pool water was carried out. The results obtained were analysed statistically to determine the correlation between the different parameters of water quality. We used a logistic regression model, for modelling the microbiological and physicochemical parameters, concluding that the microorganisms Escherichia Coli, Coliforms, Pseudomonas and Heterotrophs are explained by redox potential, Chlorine, Temperature, Electric conductivity, Hardness, and Aluminium.

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE OF PEDIATRIC DROWNING FIRST AID AMONG PARENTS IN HAIL POPULATION, SAUDI ARABIA

Background: Around the world, drowning is one of the top three causes of death from unintentional injury, and children at the highest risk. Aim: Our study aims to assess the parents knowledge, attitude and practice towards pediatric drowning risks, causes and first aid. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study was conducted on males and females parents at any age in Hail, Saudi Arabia, Through a self-administrated online questionnaire which divided into two sections: demographic information (age, gender, marital state and education level) and information about pediatric drowning (risk factors, causes, the riskiest place that could cause drowning, previous drowning accidents, swimming supervision, Pediatric drowning First Aid steps) Result: Our study included 406 male and female parents. The majority were females (81.7%). The level of knowledge about drowning first aid among the participants was moderate (with a mean of 8.14±2.57). (76.1%) of participants chose lack of supervision as a risk factor of drowning. The majority of the participants (77.8%) chose children not knowing how to swim as the cause of drowning. (87.7%) of the participants agreed that the public swimming pool is the riskiest place that could cause drowning. Most of the participants (74.9%) havent had any previous drownings.

Evaluation of the occurrence of pathogenic free-living amoeba and bacteria in 20 public indoor swimming pool facilities.

Recently, indoor swimming pool activities have increased to promote health‐enhancing physical activities, which require establishing suitable protocols for disinfection and water quality control. Normally, the assessment of the microbial quality of the water in the pools only considers the presence of different bacteria. However, other less frequent but more resistant pathogens, such as free‐living amoebas (FLA), are not contemplated in both existing recommendation and research activities. FLA represent a relevant human health risk, not only due to their pathogenicity but also due to the ability to act as vehicles of other pathogens, such as bacteria. Therefore, this work aimed to study the physicochemical characteristics and the occurrence of potentially pathogenic FLA and bacteria in water samples from 20 public indoor swimming facilities in Northern Portugal. Our results showed that some swimming pools presented levels of pH, free chlorine, and conductivity out of the recommended limits. Pathogenic FLA species were detected in two of the facilities under study, where we also report the presence of both, FLA and pathogenic bacteria. Our findings evidence the need to assess the occurrence of FLA and their existence in the same environmental niche as pathogenic bacteria in swimming pool facilities worldwide and to establish recommendations to safeguard the health of the users.

Monitoring and Predicting Water Quality in Swimming Pools

Water quality in public swimming pools affects human health. While changing the water too soon is wasteful, postponing changing the dirty water is not hygiene. In this paper, we propose an Internet of Things-based wireless system to monitor and predict water quality in public swimming pools. Our system utilizes an Arduino Uno, an ESP8266 ESP-01 WiFi module, a DS18B20 temperature sensor, a pH sensor, and a turbidity sensor. We predict the water quality using a data mining prediction model, namely the decision tree Iterative Dichotomiser 3 algorithm. We show by experiment that our sensor node and the wireless monitoring system work correctly. We also show by simulation using Weka that we can get 100% accuracy with a kappa statistical value of 1 and 0% error rate.

Microbial and Molecular Screening of Swimmers Associated with Conjunctivitis from Public Swimming Pools in Erbil Province

Public swimming pools, if not treated well could work as a reservoir of many microorganisms that cause infections among swimmers. Conjunctivitis is one of those common infections that resulted from microbial and non-microbial agents, microbial conjunctivitis caused by viral (mainly Human adenovirus HAdVs) and bacterial infections. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of microbial causative agents of swimming pool conjunctivitis and evaluating the swimming pools in terms of health and the extent of contamination in Erbil province. Eighty-eight specimens were isolated and identified from the swimmers showing signs and symptoms of swimming pool conjunctivitis from different public swimming pools in Erbil city from January to the end of February 2020. Sample identified using bacteriological methods, serology test, and nested PCR for detection of HAdVs. The swimmers samples consisted of 60 males and 28 females, and they were aged between 16-56 years. The obtained results showed that, out of 88 samples, 36 (40.91%) detected as a viral infection and 29 (32.95%) as bacterial infection, while, 23 (26.13%) showed no growth (non-microbial infection). Frequency of swimming pool conjunctivitis among male and female was 60 (68.2%) and 28 (31.8%) respectively. Depending on the obtained results, it can be concluded that conjunctivitis could result from viral, bacterial, and non-microbial agents, a viral infection is the main cause followed by a bacterial infection, also public swimming pools are not a safe place and swimmers are subjected to infection by different pathogens.

Monitoring of chlorine decay in public swimming pools in Medellín (Colombia).

The present work shows the evaluation of the decay of free residual chlorine in several public swimming pools in the city of Medellín, observing that a decrease in residual chlorine does occur. Some factors accelerate the decrease in the concentration of free residual chlorine in recreational water, such as the number of bathers in the pool, the pH, and the temperature of the water. For this reason, the concentration of the disinfectant rapidly decreases to an extent that the health of swimmers could be put at risk. The Authority of Health of Medellín carries out inspection, surveillance and quality control activities of water for recreational use. These purposes of these include guaranteeing the reduction of risk factors to the health of the users of said pools.

Mobile phone use and social interactions among caregivers can reduce their ability to provide constant supervision to children at Australian public swimming pools.

Caregivers have a crucial role to play in keeping children safe at public swimming pool facilities, with the most common factor contributing to childhood drowning being a lapse in adult supervision. A mixed methods approach was used to collect observations (n=301) and interviews (n=10) with caregivers of children aged 0-10years at two public swimming pool facilities located in the Perth metropolitan area, Western Australia (WA). Of the 449 children observed, children aged 6-10years were significantly less likely to be provided with ideal supervision (26%) compared to younger children aged 0-5years (62%). Of the caregivers who were using their mobile phone while supervising children (n=100, 22% of children observed), none provided ideal supervision. Overall supervision levels among caregivers differed with gender, with only 44% (n=74) of female caregivers providing ideal supervision, compared to 72% (n=96) of male caregivers. The 10 interviews revealed several themes, including the following: caregivers' perceptions of their supervision responsibilities; barriers to supervision; and awareness and perceptions of a communications campaign designed by the Royal Life Saving WA Branch, known as Watch Around Water (WAW). Caregiver supervision at public swimming pools remains an important issue, particularly the use of mobile phones and its deleterious impact on supervision. The WAW program plays an integral role in educating caregivers of supervision responsibilities. Furthermore, this study adds to the limited evaluation of the WAW program, and thus will help guide future improvements to ensure caregiver supervision is consistent. SO WHAT?: Further research is needed to create strategies to reduce mobile phone use among caregivers, in order to provide safer swimming environments.

Compliance of bathers to showering before swimming in a public pool in Toronto, Ontario

Bathers at public swimming pools should shower prior to entering the pool deck to remove organic material (e.g., sweat, lotions, fecal matter) that can increase the risk of recreational water illness and the formation of disinfection by-products. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate bathers’ pre-swimming showering practices. We conducted a cross-sectional study of bathers aged 18 years or older at a public swimming pool in Toronto, Ontario, to evaluate their showering habits. An in-person questionnaire was administered in October and November 2019. Bivariate associations were examined between selected variables and participants’ self-reported showering frequency prior to swimming (often or always vs. never, rarely, or sometimes). A total of 110 bathers agreed to participate. Most participants (63%) were aged 18–34, 56% identified as male, and 78.2% reported always or often showering before swimming. Of these individuals, only 34% reported using soap when showering. Participants that identified as male (vs. female) and an ethnicity other than white were more likely to report often or always showering, as were those that reported reading the pool rules and that observed other bathers taking a shower. Additional efforts are needed to educate bathers about the importance of showering prior to swimming in public pools.

Warm Water Pool System Simulation: Design and Manufacture

Human development and national competitivenes is one of the flagship programs from The Indonesian Government. Bali as one of the best tourist destination in the world is required to have an international standard tourism infrastructure. A swimming pool in a tourism accomodation is a standard facility in a tourist infrastructure. There are several types of swimming pools i.e. public swimming pools and private pools. During its development and demand, private pools develop into swimming pools with additional facilities such as warm water, which is often called a jacuzzi. Another additional facility is added pressure to the water in completing massage, fragrance and foam. The swimming pool is one of facilitity designed to hold water to allow swimming or other recreational activities. Pools can be built in the ground or on the ground as a free construction or as a part of structure and also with a common feature or a free style design. In-ground pools are the most common pools made and constructed from materials such as concrete, natural stone, metal, plastic, or fiberglass. To support comfort and satisfaction when using the swimming pool, the adequate water level in the swimming pool will be maintained by system with several supporting devices such as pumps, dirt filters and maintained at a certain level. Other things that support water quality include temperature, water turbidity, color, odor, pH, chlorine content etc.

Toxoplasmagondii oocysts, Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts in outdoor swimming pools in Brazil.

The accidental ingestion of treated recreational water is an important transmission route of waterborne protozoa worldwide. The present study aimed to provide the first evaluation of swimming pools in Brazil, analysing the presence of pathogenic protozoa (Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp.) by parasitological and molecular methods. A total of 57 samples were collected from 21 public swimming pools, either directly from the pool or filter backwash water and concentrated using the membrane filtration technique. Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were visualized by direct immunofluorescence assay after purification by immunomagnetic separation. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were detected by autofluorescence visualization using the supernatant discarded during the purification step as a sample. Positive samples were submitted to molecular analysis. The molecular markers were used: SSU-rRNA, tpi, gdh and bg, for Giardia DNA amplification, and 18S rRNA gene fragment amplification was used for the Cryptosporidium oocysts. The 529-bp repeat element (REP529) fragment and the 35-fold repetitive B1 gene were employed as a target for T.gondii. Amplified products were submitted to sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Giardia cysts were detected in 19.0% and Cryptosporidium oocysts in 9.5% of swimming pools. In one swimming pool (4.7%), both protozoa were detected on at least one occasion. Structures similar to T.gondii oocysts were detected in 33.3% of the samples, ranging from one to 23 per slide. Giardia was confirmed by DNA amplification in three swimming pools; Giardia duodenalis Assemblage A was identified by the phylogenetic positioning of the β-giardin gene. Toxoplasma gondii DNA was detected in 14.2% of swimming pools. The present study represents the first report of the occurrence of T.gondii oocysts in swimming pools. Recreational activity in swimming pools contaminated by chlorine-resistant protozoa can represent a high risk of infection for bathers and swimmers.

Physical activity during COVID-19 quarantine.

The World Health Organization recommends that children and adolescents aged 5-17 should engage in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity a day. Physical activity is defined as bodily movement performed by skeletal muscles that demand energy expenditure. The physical benefits of this include musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health, a healthy body weight and neuromuscular awareness, for coordination and controlling movement. The psychological benefits include managing anxiety and building self-esteem, which are both important for children's psycho-social development (1).

Presence of Disinfection Byproducts in Public Swimming Pools in Medellín, Colombia.

The quality of water in swimming pools is essential to avoid risks to the health of users. Medellín has more than 1000 public swimming pools, which are supervised by the Medellín Health Authority to monitor and ensure compliance with relevant regulations. The Health Authority has financed several studies related to the quality of drinking and recreational water in Medellín in order to protect consumers and users. One such study involves the evaluation of the presence of disinfection byproducts (DBP). The best known DBPs resulting from disinfection with chlorine are trihalomethanes (THMs) and halogenated acetic acids (HAAs), as well as other minorities such as chloramines or halophenols (HPs). DBPs pose a greater risk in swimming pool water because there is a greater possibility of ingestion, since exposure occurs through several routes at the same time (direct ingestion of water, inhalation of volatile or aerosol solutes, dermal contact and absorption through skin). In the present work, high concentrations of THMs and HAAs were detected in the public swimming pools selected in the study, but the presence of HPs was not detected in the pools.