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High levels of ammonia and body waste detected in Singapore’s public pools

High levels of ammonia and body waste detected in Singapore’s public pools
January 4, 2018

A survey of 10 of Singapore’s 24 public swimming pools has revealed high levels of ammonia and other substances in the water.

The water quality survey, conducted by the Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Life Sciences and Chemical Technology for Channel NewsAsia's Why It Matters current affairs television program, found significant levels of ammonia (a by-product of urine) and other substances.

Conducted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic Lecturer Sathananthan Selvadurai, water samples were collected from swimming pools at Toa Payoh, Bukit Batok, Clementi, Yishun, Bedok, Jurong East, Bishan, Choa Chu Kang, Hougang and Ang Mo Kio.

Ammonia was found in all of the samples, although the levels varied among the pools.

Cautioning that too much ammonia, for example, can react with chemicals in the pool to cause respiratory problems and eye irritation, Sathananthan advised “the main sources of ammonia in swimming pools are brought by swimmers: urine, body waste and also mucus liquid.

“These are the main contaminants, which contribute to the increase in ammonia concentration.”

Singapore’s Environmental Public Health Act requires swimming pool operators to meet hygiene conditions before their pools can be used by the public.

Tampines Swimming Complex Senior Lifeguard Derrick Yeo, who ensures that the pool meets the safety requirements set by the National Environmental Agency (NEA), said water samples from public pools like at Tampines are regularly sent for testing for bacteria and germs.

The process includes arranging for the pool water to be analysed by accredited laboratories for chemical and bacteriological quality at least monthly. And these test results must be submitted to the NEA, according to its website.

Yeo told Why It Matters “we have passed the test all this while … conditions so far are acceptable.

“(However) if, for example, more people are urinating in the pool, those conditions might change.”

At Tampines Swimming Complex, a team of divers spend at least six hours every week scrubbing the tiles of the floor to prevent the growth of algae, which could otherwise become a breeding ground for bacteria.

Commenting on super chlorination, when a large amount of chlorine is added to the pool in order to destroy germs, Sathananthan added “for public pools, it’s difficult to do this because they (the operators) need to close off the pool, which is inconvenient for the public.”

In 2017, Canadian researchers found high levels of urine in public swimming pools across Canada.

Image: Tampines Swimming Complex.

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2nd March 2017 - CANADIAN RESEARCHERS FIND SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF URINE IN PUBLIC POOLS 

25th January 2017 - NSW HEALTH RELEASES NEW RESOURCES IN ‘CLEAN POOLS FOR HEALTHY SWIMMING’ CAMPAIGN 

14th June 2016 - OCBC AQUATIC CENTRE AT THE HEART OF SINGAPORE’S AQUATIC COMMUNITY 

8th February 2016 - NEW GUIDE TO SWIMMING POOL MAINTENANCE AND FILTRATION SYSTEMS

19th January 2016 - RECREATION SA URGES SWIMMERS TO PRACTICE GOOD PERSONAL HYGIENE AMID RECORD CRYPTOSPORIDIUM LEVELS

23rd December 2015 - POOL MANAGERS NEED TO BE AWARE OF WATERBORNE BUGS THROUGH SUMMER 

26th March 2015 - SERIAL DEFECATOR CAUSES WEEKLY CLOSURES OF SOUTHLAND AQUATIC CENTRE

29th January 2015 - NSW HEALTH LAUNCHES ‘CLEAN POOLS FOR HEALTHY SWIMMING’ CAMPAIGN

20th December 2014 - STUDY FINDS TOXIC BYPRODUCT FROM URINATING IN SWIMMING POOLS 

26th November 2013 - ONE IN FOUR POMS PEE IN PUBLIC POOLS 

8th May 2012 - FAECAL CONTAMINATION IN SWIMMING POOLS LINKED TO RISE IN GASTRO BUGS

3rd August 2011 - SINGAPORE’S NATIONAL WATER SAFETY PROGRAM INTRODUCES OPEN WATER MODULE


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