The Urge of Public Swimming Pool Water Quality Monitoring in

Indonesia

Arijal Haris Martopo

, Tomoliyus

Master Program in Sport Science, Yogyakarta State University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Faculty of Sport Science, Yogyakarta State University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Keywords: Indonesia, monitoring, swimming pool, water quality

Abstract : Background: The purpose of this study is to figure out if the swimming pool water quality monitoring

follows the Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation and customers’ preference for swimming pool water

quality. Methods: This study was primarily conducted from literacy analysis of journals, textbooks, and

other relevant researches. The data were also collected by interviews with several swimming pools’

organizers about the water quality monitoring and a survey to the public as customers. Results: All the

swimming pool water did not qualify the standard of Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation. Based on

the interviews, several pool organizers did not even know that the regulation exists. Conclusion: Results

showed that 100% of public swimming pools did not follow the regulation. The government needs to hold a

certain certification as a monitoring action to ensure the swimming pool water quality and to provide an

easy way to access the information.

1 INTRODUCTION

One of the most popular sport places is swimming

pool. Swimming, especially in hot weather, is very

fun.

[1]

According to WHO, swimming is a

recreational activity that is important to prevent

drowning.

[3]

It is also one of the subjects in Physical

Education class in Indonesia.

[2]

Yet, it is not a

mandatory for PE teachers to teach swimming in

their classes. However, whenever PE teachers want

to teach swimming or other water activities while

they have no swimming pools at school, they have

no option except to use public swimming pools.

Public swimming pools are more prone to be

contaminated by diseases-causing micro organism

than domestic swimming pools, so it is very

important to enhance the disinfectan. Otherwise, the

diseases may be transmitted.

[3]

Poor monitoring and

maintanance lead to bad water condition where

bacteria can grow which may cause variaty of

respiratory, central nervous system, or dermal

diseases or infections.

[4]

This contradicts the

Indonesia’s national education purpose that is to

make the students healthy.

[5]

Swimming pool water

monitoring in Indonesia is regulated by Regulation

of The Minister Of Health Number 32 of 2017 about

Standards of Quality Environmental Health and

Requirements of Water Health for Hygiene

Sanitation Needs, Swimming Pool, Solus Per Aqua,

and General Bath which is the updated regulation of

Regulation of The Minister Of Health Number 416

of 1990 about Water Quality Requirements and

Monitoring.

2 METHOD

The study mainly reviewed the relevant research

journals. Those relevant researches were gathered to

figure out the real condition of swimming pool water

quality in regions in Indonesia. Several interviews

with pool organizers also aided the analysis of the

urge of swimming pool water monitoring. We also

surveyed 128 public customers with the ages range

between 0 (under 18)-54 years old.

3 Results

3.1 Journal Reviews

In 2016, a research was conducted in Semarang City

with total population of 11 pools. The result showed

Martopo, A. and , T.

The Urge of Public Swimming Pool Water Quality Monitoring in Indonesia.

DOI: 10.5220/0009789505090511

In Proceedings of the 3rd Yogyakarta International Seminar on Health, Physical Education, and Sport Science in conjunction with the 2nd Conference on Interdisciplinary Approach in Sports

(YISHPESS and CoIS 2019), pages 509-511

ISBN: 978-989-758-457-2

509

that 100% of the population was not qualified given

the number of coliform bacteria where way too high

(>240 per 100 ml max. and 7,5 per 100 ml min.),

while the maximum tolerance by Indonesian

Ministry of Health Regulation was 0.

[8]

In 2013, a

research was conducted in two swimming pools in

Sidarjo City. Both pools did not qualify the

government regulation. Pool A did not qualify on the

residual chlorine and smell, while pool B did not

qualify on water clarity, pH level, coliform, and also

residual chlor. This study also found that the

majority of the visitors experienced eye and skin

irritation.

[9]

In 2016, a research was conducted in

two swimming pools in Yogyakarta. Like previous

research above, both pools were also not qualified.

The parameters that were not qualified are dissolved

oxygen and chlorine level.

[10]

A research conducted

in 2017 in Pasuruan Regency found that 100% of the

population was not qualified. The parameters that

did not correspond to the regulation were smell,

clarity, residual chlorin, and the number of bacteria.

[12]

3.2 Observational Interviews with

Swimming Pool Organizers

On observations, we had interviews with five pool

organizers. Two pools were regularly visited by

Department of Health, yet the maintanance of all

five swimming pools did not correspond with the

regulation requirements. Two of the organizers did

not even know that the regulation existed. Based on

the interviews, we found that there were only two

parameters that have been tested, those are pH level

and chlorine level. Four pools had their water pH

level tested and one pool did not. There was one

pool which had pH level tested once a day, but the

regulation requires minimum tests of three times a

day. Two pools had their chlorine level tested and

qualified. The remaining 14 parameters were

unknown or were not tested yet.

3.3 Survey

On survey to the public customers, the questions

were about: the purpose of visits, frequency of visits,

swimming pool water quality insight, and preference

of the standardized swimming pool water quality.

The results were most of the customers visited

swimming pools for recreational purpose (45,3%);

visited the swimming pools several times a year

(57%); did not know about the regulation of

swimming pool water quality (86,7%); did not know

the status of the quality of swimming pool water

they visited (88,3%); would choose the qualified

swimming pool water (89%).

We found that there was no information from the

government and from the pools’ organizers

themselves regarding the quality of swimming pool

water.

3.4 Discussion

A poor monitoring on pool water can cause harm to

the visitors.

[1]

For example, if the pH level is too

low, it can cause damage occuring to the skin due to

chemicals, especially by acids and alkalis (bases),

including burns and damage that immediately arises.

[11]

Public consumers as well as PE teachers should

pay more attention to this particular situation.

Instead of getting healthier, it may cause harm to the

students.

4 CONCLUSION

The condition of swimming pool water quality

monitoring in Indonesia was far from appropriate.

The government should never ignore the condition

where swimming pool water was poorly monitored.

As mentioned in the regulation, violators should be

given sanctions, which are warnings, suspension, or

revocation of permission. We suggest that there

must be a real action such as certification for

swimming pool organizers. The standardization of

food to ensure the consumers and the students to be

safe and healthy to have activities in the public

swimming pools with an easy way to access the

information is also very needed.

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