Microbial Qualities of Swimming Pools in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Twenty different swimming pools in Lagos, Nigeria, were investigated for their microbial qualities. Water samples from the swimming pools were serially diluted and dilution factors of up to 10-8 were cultured on the appropriate agar media. The pour plate technique was adopted using standard plate count agar for the determination of the total heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts. Bacterial and fungal isolates were identified using standard methods. Bacterial isolates include Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium perfringens, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Staphylococcus epidermidis, while fungal isolates were Penicillium sp, Rhizopus sp, Aspergillus versicolor, Fusarium sp, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Mucor sp, Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger and Absidia sp. The mean heterotrophic bacterial count ranged from 3.0x106 cfu/ml which occurred in sample R, to 6.6x107 cfu/ml in sample Q while the mean coliform count ranged from a nil count/100 ml to 1.7 x 107 cfu/100 ml (sample S). Fungal counts ranged from a nil count/ml to 2.0x107 cfu/100 ml in sample F. In conclusion, the presence of high levels of coliform and fecal coliform bacteria (E. coli) revelaed that the swimming pools have not met the World Health Organization (WHO) standard for recreational waters. The swimming pools constitute a serious public health hazard, thus necessitating urgent and effective intervention.