Bacteriological Examination of Swimming Pools in Recreational Centers in Abuja and Its Public Health Implications

Public swimming pools, while important for recreation and sport, can serve as transmission vehicles for a variety of microbial pathogens when chlorination and maintenance standards are suboptimal. This study conducted bacteriological examination of water samples from commercial swimming pools across five recreational centers in the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, in the North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A total of 75 water samples were collected at varied pool depths and analyzed using membrane filtration and standard bacteriological culture techniques. Total coliform count, fecal coliform count, Pseudomonas aeruginosa enumeration, and Staphylococcus aureus detection were performed. Chlorine residual and pH were measured concurrently at each sampling point. Sixty percent of sampled pools had total coliform counts exceeding WHO guidelines for recreational water quality. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was detected in 46.7 percent of samples. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 33.3 percent of pools. Pools with inadequate chlorination (residual chlorine below 1 ppm) had the highest contamination rates. The study identifies significant microbiological risks in Abuja recreational pools and recommends mandatory pool operator licensing, standardized water quality testing at defined intervals, and enhanced chlorination monitoring by the FCT Environmental Protection Board. Keywords: swimming pools, bacteriological quality, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Abuja, recreational water.