For most Capetonians and visitors, December is an opportunity to take a hard earned break and head off for the beach or swimming pool.

If you’re one of Cape Town’s public swimming pool users, you’ll be delighted to know that the water is of the highest standard, thanks to the dedicated team of workers and scientists who look after it.

For instance, pH tests (which measure how acidic or alkaline the water is), are undertaken at all City pools on an hourly basis to test whether there are any possible foreign objects in the water, and chemical adjustments are made where necessary.

In addition, the City’s Scientific Services takes water samples and tests the water on a weekly basis, so that swimmers can relax and have fun secure in the knowledge that the water they’re using is safe and clean.

At the City’s Scientific Services laboratory in Athlone the water undergoes chemical and bacteriological analyses. These analyses are used to measure its pH levels and its conductivity, turbidity, chloride and faecal coliform levels – and the good news is that the water is almost without fail safe, clean and unpolluted.

The pH is the most important element in swimming pool water chemistry, because certain chemical processes (such as the sanitising effect of chlorine, a common pool chemical), can only take place when water is a certain pH level. If the pH is too high or too low, the chlorine activity is reduced and becomes less efficient. Eye irritation can also occur if the pH is too high.

The reason the chlorine content is so important is because it disinfects the water, prevents the spread of disease and prevents unwanted growth of bacteria and algae in the pool.
Scientific Services also tests the quality of all drinking water, bulk water, waste water and public amenities.

The City’s public swimming pools are listed below. For further details, click here

o Athlone Swimming Pool
o Atlantis Swimming Pool
o Bellville South Swimming Pool
o Bellville Swimming Pool
o Blue Waters Swimming Pool
o Bonteheuwel Swimming Pool
o Camps Bay Tidal Pool
o Cape Town Swimming Pool
o Durbanville Swimming Pool
o Eastridge Swimming Pool
o Elsies River Swimming Pool
o Emthonjeni Swimming Pool
o Goodwood Swimming Pool
o Hanover Park Swimming Pool
o Kensington Swimming Pool
o Langa Swimming Pool
o Lentegeur Swimming Pool
o Long Street Baths
o Long Street Turkish Baths
o Manenberg Swimming Pool
o Mnandi Resort Swimming Pool
o Muizenberg Swimming Pool
o Newlands Swimming Pool
o Observatory Swimming Pool
o Parow North Swimming Pool
o Parow Valley Swimming Pool
o Ravensmead Swimming Pool
o Retreat Swimming Pool
o Ruyterwacht Swimming Pool
o Sea Point Pavillion Swimming Pool
o Strand Swimming Pool
o Strandfontein Swimming Pool
o Trafalgar Park Swimming Pool
o Vulindlela Swimming Pool
o Westridge Swimming Pool
o Wynberg Swimming Pool