Journal of Applied Physical Science International

Swimming pools are widely used for recreation and relaxation, making the maintenance of good water quality essential for protecting public health. This study assessed the baseline physicochemical characteristics of swimming pools in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected from ten swimming pools and analysed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and salinity using a portable water-quality meter. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the data and compare the results with recommended recreational water-quality standards. The mean pH was 6.41 ± 0.16, indicating that all sampled pools were slightly acidic and below the recommended range of 7.2–7.8. Total dissolved solids ranged from 44 to 340 ppm (mean = 136.2 ± 93.3 ppm), whereas electrical conductivity ranged from 88 to 699 µS/cm (mean = 271.6 ± 191.7 µS/cm); both parameters remained within acceptable limits. Oxidation-reduction potential varied from 286 to 721 mV, with a mean of 508.6 ± 115.9 mV, suggesting inadequate disinfection in many pools. Water temperature ranged from 26.0 to 32.0 °C (mean = 30.3 ± 1.94 °C), and salinity remained low (mean = 0.016 ± 0.03%). The findings indicate that, although TDS, EC, temperature, and salinity were generally satisfactory, consistently low pH and suboptimal ORP values may reduce disinfectant effectiveness and increase potential health risks to swimmers. Routine monitoring of pool-water quality, appropriate chemical adjustment, and regular regulatory inspections are recommended to improve swimming-pool safety in Calabar.