The objective of this study is to examine the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of swimming pool water in Mafraq city, north of Jordan and the overall quality of the used water. Three public swimming pools were selected from Mafraq city [Areef Pool (SW1), Teachers Club Pool (SW2) and Anakeel Pool (SW3)] to analyze the physical, chemical and biological properties of their water as well as determine their compliance with the Jordanian Standards for Swimming Pools Water. Sampling was carried out weekly for eight successive weeks between July and August 2019 before bathing (after disinfection) and after bathing and analysed in Al al-Bayt University and Ministry of Environment laboratories. The parameters used to evaluate the quality of water in swimming pools were temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), residual chlorine (Cl2), total organic carbon (TOC), trihalomethanes (THM), major cations and anions, selected heavy metals, and total coliform bacteria, E. coli and Pseudomonas. Most of the physical and chemical parameters analysed were within the recommended limit except for pH and EC. Residual chlorine exceeded the permissible limits in SW3 before and after bathing, recording mean values of pH, EC (4.3 ± 0.25 - 4.33 ± 0.44), (2314 ± 343 - 2453 ± 460), respectively. The dissolved oxygen was less than the recommended limit. Total coliforms, E. coli and Pseudomonas counts were < 1 before and after bathing in all the samples.

Some natural organic compounds (NOC) such as aromatic compounds can trigger the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). In chlorination (disinfectant) process resultant water quality depletes. Some safe alternative oxidants are needed for cleaning water pollutants. KMnO4 had shown better oxidation results, especially for reducing aromatic and non-aromatic organic compounds present in water. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of KMnO4 and Ca(OCl)2 oxidants on the concentration of high and low molecular weight organic matter including aromatic compounds in the water sample. In this experiment, artificial organic compounds, namely sinapic acid (high molecular weight aromatic compound) and resorcinol (low molecular weight aromatic compound) were used to identify the characteristic of organic matter under different molecular weights. Sinapic acid and resorcinol were oxidized by using KMnO4 and Ca(OCl)2 with a minimum contact time of 60 minutes. Samples were analyzed for aromatic contents and total organic carbon (TOC) before and after completion of the experiment by using UV-Vis spectrophotometer at 254 nm wavelength (UV254). It has been observed that both oxidants increased TOC concentration. Ca(OCl)2 produces a higher percentage of organic matter degradation by-products (DBPs) such as chloroform (CHCl3) a highly toxic compound than KMnO4. Since Ca(OCl)2 has a higher oxidation potential than KMnO4. It has been observed that KMnO4 is a safer oxidant than Ca(OCl)2 as potassium permanganate produces less amount of DBPs.