Monitoring of Microbial Pools Water Pollution Using Bioluminescence Assay

Abstract

Microbial water pollution was investigated in pools lied in Baghdad city, which included (AL–Bayaa, AL-Jihad, AL-Yarmouk and AL-Raffedein). Swimming pools water was monitored using Bioluminescence assay which depends on the change of ATP amount that emitted from bacterial cells in the medium. Samples were analysed using two methods; first with traditional method (Heterotrophic Plate Count ) (HPC), second with Bioluminescence assay which featured by  rapid and high accuracy. Also this assay does not need to an incubation period as in traditional method.

Samples collected from pools were monitored by analyzing them during the period from the first day to the third day in which water has been renewed again after had been used by swimmers.

Results showed continuous excess in the ATP amount through monitoring period and a strong relation between amounts of ATP  and the number of  growth colonies in the plates, the correlation coefficient was (R²=0.9).