Variability of chlorination by-product occurrence in water of indoor and outdoor swimming pools
Abstract
Swimming is one of the most popular aquatic activities. Just like natural water, public pool water may contain microbiological and chemical contaminants. The purpose of this study was to study the presence of chemical contaminants in swimming pools, in particular the presence of disinfection by-products (DBPs) such as trihalomethanes (THMs), haloacetic acids (HAAs) and inorganic chloramines (CAMi). Fifty-four outdoor and indoor swimming pools were investigated over a period of one year (monthly or bi-weekly sampling, according to the type of pool) for the occurrence of DBPs. The results showed that DBP levels in swimming pools were greater than DBP levels found in drinking water, especially for HAAs. Measured concentrations of THMs (97.9 vs 63.7 μg/L in average) and HAAs (807.6 vs 412.9 μg/L in average) were higher in outdoor pools, whereas measured concentrations of CAMi (0.1 vs 0.8 mg/L in average) were higher in indoor pools. Moreover, outdoor pools with heated water contained more DBPs than unheated pools. Finally, there was significant variability in tTHM, HAA9 and CAMi levels in pools supplied by the same municipal drinking water network, suggesting that individual pool characteristics (number of swimmers) and management strategies play a major role in DBP formation.
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Disinfection by-product concentrations in swimming pool waters are often much or even several orders of magnitude higher than the maximum contaminant levels in drinking water or swimming pool water.
“The DBP concentrations in SPWs are often much or even several orders of magnitude higher than the MCLs in DWs or SPWs (Kanan et al., 2015;Parinet et al., 2012;Simard et al., 2013;Yang et al., 2016).”
From Regulation, formation, exposure, and treatment of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool waters: A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Simard et al., 2013
Switzerland has a maximum contaminant level of trihalomethanes in swimming pool waters of 30 μg/L, and Denmark has a regulation of trihalomethanes in swimming pool waters under 25 or 50 μg/L depending on pool type.
“Switzerland has provided the MCL of THMs of 30 μg/L and Denmark has promulgated the regulation of THMs in SPWs to be under 25 or 50 μg/L depending on the pool types (Simard et al., 2013).”
From Regulation, formation, exposure, and treatment of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool waters: A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Simard et al., 2013
The lower concentration of inorganic chloramines in outdoor pools was mainly caused by solar UV photolysis and higher volatility of these compounds.
“The lower concentration of inorganic chloramines (NCl 3 for instance) in outdoor pools was mainly caused by the solar UV photolysis and higher volatility of these compounds (Simard et al., 2013).”
From Regulation, formation, exposure, and treatment of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool waters: A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Simard et al., 2013
THM and HAA concentrations in outdoor pools were higher than those in indoor pools based on two studies.
“THM and HAA concentrations in outdoor pools were higher than those in indoor pools based on two studies (Cardador and Gallego, 2011;Simard et al., 2013).”
From Regulation, formation, exposure, and treatment of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in swimming pool waters: A critical review (2018) · cites this paper as Simard et al., 2013
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Water Analysis: Emerging Contaminants and Current Issues
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Disinfection byproducts in swimming pool: occurrences, implications and future needs
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- Authors
- Simard, S., Tardif, R., & Rodriguez, M. J.
- Affiliations
- Université Laval (CA)
- ORCID
- Tardif, Robert
- Venue
- Water Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-04
- Volume
- 47
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1763-1772
- ISSN
- 0043-1354 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2084258201
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 6.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Water Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Fecal contamination and water quality
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Advanced oxidation water treatment
- Keywords
- disinfection by-products, swimming pool water, trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, chlorination, seasonal variation, drinking water distribution systems, chemical contaminants
- MeSH terms
- Carbon, Chloramines, Disinfection, Humans, Quebec, Swimming, Swimming Pools, Temperature, Time Factors, Water, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Acetic Acid, Trihalomethanes, Halogenation, Water Quality, Drinking Water
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