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V.
42
SWIMMING BATHS AND POOLS.
In the area there are two public swimming baths owned
by the Council.
One of these, at West Hendon, is at present being
modernised and a filtration plant installed, so that it is not
at present in use. The other is situated in the Mill Hill Ward
and was fully described in last year's Annual Report. It was
opened in 1935 and embodies the best features of swimming
bath construction. To ensure that water is being maintained
in a satisfactory condition, daily tests are made for the
alkalinity and free chlorine content. If these are found
satisfactory it can be assumed that the water is maintaining
a good degree of purity, but this is further checked by a
periodical bacteriological examination of the water.
Much misapprehension arises in the public mind about
the possibility of transmission of infections by the water of
swimming baths. This mainly concerns ear infections. It
should be borne in mind that many of the cases reported are
probably due to the hydrostatic pressure forcing pathogenic
germs, already carried by the patient, into the middle ear,
but even bearing this possibility in mind, it is remarkable
how few cases are reported.
The Ministry of Health in a memorandum on the purification
of waters of Swimming Baths sums up the possibilities
of infection in the following conclusions :—
1. Although other factors are important, transmission of
infection by polluted water can, and does, occur.
2. Pathogenic bacteria can live in dirty bath water for
considerable periods.
3. It is desirable that the water of swimming pools should
be free from pathogenic germs, and that its bacteriological
count should approximate to that of drinking
water. This standard of purity can best be