[Hygienic aspects of wash water reclamation systems]

The quality of reclaimed wash water and the composition of used wash water can be best determined by pH, oxygen chemical index, electric conductivity and chlorides that show individual variations but are sex-independent. Wash water contained mostly staphylococci and small amounts of sarcines, diplococci and micrococci. The use of washing and disinfecting agents may significantly modify the microbial characteristics of wash water, reducing noticeably its microbial content and increasing the content of organic substances and chlorides due to chemicals they include and due to more effective removal of sebaceous secretion. It is indicated that chemical components of washing and disinfecting agents that produce organic contaminants should be given special attention when developing a wash water reclamation system.