FECAL POLLUTION OF OCEAN SWIMMING POOLS AND STORMWATER OUTLETS IN EASTERN SYDNEY

We determined the levels of faecal contamination over a three-year per iod from 1991 to 1993 at selected ocean swimming pools and stormwater outlets to assess whether these levels represented a threat to public health. Three popular ocean swimming pools and three nearby stormwater outlets located in Sydney's eastern suburbs were included in the anal ysis. The ocean swimming pools consistently had elevated levels of fae cal coliform bacteria; the highest microbe levels were observed in a p ool used largely by children. Faecal coliform bacteria counts in the o cean pools at times reach levels likely to be associated with illness in bathers. Stormwater outlets at three locations had reducing counts over the three-year period. An improved system of sampling, testing an d risk communication appears to be needed to reduce potential health r isks to users of these popular ocean pools.