Water hygiene of two swimming pools: microbial indicators

The microbiological quality of the water of two swimming pools was evaluated to determine which organisms might be the best indicators of pollution. Membrane filtration gave low numbers of the common indicators of faecal pollution but high counts of the indigenous skin bacteria. As illnesses normally contracted in a swimming pool are mostly those of the skin rather than intestinal, it is suggested that the best indicators of the hygienic condition of water in a swimming pool are staphylococci because of their resistance to disinfection, high numbers in the environment, and ease of recovery.