water health indices in kerman swimming pools, in 2011

background: contamination of swimming pools’ water can lead to the transfer of different diseases to humans. the aim of this study was to investigate the quality of water in kerman swimming pools. methods: in this cross-sectional study, sampling from swimming pools was performed before and after swimming, every week. total number of samples collected was 150 samples. samples were investigated in regard to the residual chlorine, ph, orp (oxygen reduction potential), temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total coliform, fecal coliform, heterotrophic plate count, fecal streptococcus, aurous staphylococcus and pseudomonas aeruginosa. results: according to the obtained results, the residual chlorine in 12.3% of samples and ph in 26.7% samples were less than the standard level. turbidity in 41.3% of cases and temperature in 33.2% of cases were above the standard rates. orp of 27.4% samples was lower than the standard level. in none of the pools fecal coliform, fecal streptococcus and staphylococcus were above the threshold levels. the total coliform in 100%, heterotrophic plate count (hpc) in 14.6% and pseudomonas aeruginosa in 31.4% were more than the standard values. there was a significant reverse relationship between the residual chlorine and the studied organisms. conclusion: although most swimming pools in kerman showed no incidence of microbial contamination and had the standard physico-chemical properties, ph and turbidity; still continuous monitoring and notification for improvement is necessary.