OBJECTIVES: In the pools of public baths it is critically important to decrease the microbiological and chemical risks to the minimum that frighten human health. This is the reason why we should ensure the microbiological and chemical parameters of pool water. The aim of the study is to characterize the water quality of public baths in Baranya County (n=28 baht, n= 151pool water) and to analyse the rate of microbiological and chemical risks between 2010 and 2016 (n=636). Furthermore we would like to analyse the effectivity of chloric disinfection in function of microbiological qualification, the pH value of water and examine the amount of bound active chlorine refers to by-products of chloric disinfection.

METHODS: Our data consist of microbiological and chemical parameters of specimens taken from public baths operating in Baranya County. The microbiological and chemical parameters of water samples were identified by an accredited laboratory. The examined parameters and the results were categorized into an optimal and a disputed group in every case. Among the chemical parameters we focused on parameters in relation with disinfection such as pH value, concentration of free active chlorine and bound active chlorine.

RESULTS: During the analysation of data between 2010 and 2016 it has been found that the microbiological parameters of water of draining-refilling pools (optimal: 67%, disputed: 33%) are worse than the microbiological parameters of water of rotating pools (optimal: 95%, disputed: 5%) which is a significant result (p=0.009). We claim that elaborating chemical data between 2010 and 2016, the chemical parameters of draining-refilling pools (optimal: 71%, disputed: 29%) are worse than the same parameters of the rotating water (optimal: 76%, disputed: 24%). This is also a highly significant result (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Illnesses caused by microbiological pathogens can be decreased by using proper chloric disinfection in pools.