Evaluation of water quality in some swimming pools in Mosul city / Iraq

   Concerns have been raised about potential negative effects on human health when exposed to water disinfectants used in swimming pools. Among the disinfection options, chlorine has been preferred as the primary disinfectant in Mosul city swimming pools because of its cheap price and the ability of chlorine to easily react with organic matter left behind by pool patrons, leading to the formation of potentially harmful chlorine by-products (CBPs) and a source of concern for Swimmers' health. The higher the concentration of chlorine byproducts (CBPs) in the water, the greater their concentration in the pool, and exposure to them in swimming pools (water ingestion, skin absorption, inhalation) affects the health of swimmers who remain indoors for long periods, such as coaches, pool staff, Swimming pools. The aim is to detect the quality of water in swimming pools and the efficiency of the chlorine as a disinfectant. The pH, free chlorine, total chlorine, and combined chlorine were measured using a German-made Pool Lab 1.0 device during the morning, noon, and evening in 6 swimming pools in Mosul city, the average pH was 6.98, 0.169ppm, 0.327ppm, and 0.158 ppm, respectively. The highest results were in the evening period, where the pH value, free chlorine, total chlorine, and combined chlorine reached pH 6.35, 0.22 ppm, 0.43ppm, and 0.21 ppm respectively, and the lowest in the morning period. We conclude from the above that pH direct and important effect on the effectiveness of chlorine and its work as a disinfectant in swimming pools.