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

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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