By Marcelle Dibrell A suction entrapment fatality of an 8-year-old occurred in a Texas public swimming pool, marking the second time such an incident has occurred at a public pool since the Virginia Graham Baker Act (VGBA) was signed into law in 2008, according to officials with the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Aliyah Jaico was killed on March 23 while swimming with her family members in the lazy river swimming pool at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow. Authorities said that she was sucked into the plumbing and that the pipe that she was pulled into had no grate, a violation ..read more

At the heart of every crystalclear pool and inviting spa lies a fundamental truth: water quality is paramount. Whether for health, safety, or sheer enjoyment, maintaining optimal water conditions is non-negotiable. Enter water testing — the foundation of effective pool and spa maintenance. From balancing pH levels to monitoring sanitizer concentrations, the insights learned from accurate testing are a cornerstone of water maintenance. Water clarity begins with having the right tools on hand, and there’s no tool more essential than the test kit. It provides pool and spa professionals with the a ..read more

“The Virginia Graham Baker Act must be revised,” said Hassan Hamza, president and founder of Vacless systems, which has become the industry leader in pool and spa safety vacuum release systems (SVRS). He was talking about the tragedy that befell Aliyah Jaico, an 8-year-old girl who died after she was sucked into the plumbing of a lazy river at a Texas hotel this March. He said the accident was totally avoidable. “It could have been avoided if they had installed a simple safety vacuum release system,” Hamza said. Hamza hasn’t seen the plumbing configuration at the Houston DoubleTree by Hilton h ..read more

In their latest update on the Surfside, Florida, Champlain Towers South condo collapse, investigators have released new videos that confirm the sequence of events but fail to explain what triggered the condo’s collapse. The newly-released videos were shown at a March 7 meeting of the National Institute of Standards and Technology advisory committee, which has been trying to understand why the condo collapsed, killing 98 people. After more than two and a half years of evidence gathering and analysis, and $30 million later, investigators say they are zeroing in on what they call the “initiating ..read more

A New Jersey pool service technician received $15 million in a settlement agreement with the property owners of a condominium where he was seriously and permanently injured. According to the lawsuit, James Visconti, 59, was servicing a pool at the Harmon Cove IV Condominium in Secaucus, a New York City suburb, when the wooden steps leading to the pool house collapsed, landing him on his back on the pavement. As a result of his fall, he was later diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), a highly painful lifelong medical condition that affects the nerves after a traumatic injury. Tr ..read more

Excitement, education, and networking swept through the 46th annual Western Pool and Spa Show from March 28 to 30 in Long Beach, California. This year was a high-energy, wellattended event featuring two standout organizations, Pool Nation Boot Camp and Watershape University (WU), which added to an exceptional experience for all those who are serious about success in the service industry. Pool Nation Boot Camp, an integral part of the Pool Man University initiative, shone at the show, with its two-day, hands-on educational program tailored exclusively for pool service professionals. For only $2 ..read more

The Fletcher, North Carolina, police department obtained warrants for the arrests of three people after a stolen hot tub turned up in front of one of their homes. Aqua Living Factory Outlet reported the theft of a $9,000 hot tub, which was stolen from behind its building this February. The hot tub was found in the front yard of the home of Douglass Applebee Jr. Applebee and Bryan Letterman were charged with felony larceny and conspiring to commit felony larceny. Jennifer West was charged with conspiring to commit felony larceny. As of mid-March, Letterman was arrested, but police were still se ..read more

What is that stain on the pool, and how do I get it out? Sometimes, it’s possible to identify the type of stain by its color. For example, iron stains, which account for most metal stains, may occur as brown or tan. Manganese produces a blackbrown- purple color and sometimes isn’t noticed until extra chlorine is added or when the pH is high. Copper gives a light blue or green color to the water and can result in turquoise colored and sometimes black stains. It is frequently misidentified with algae, and it is copper, not chlorine, that stains blond hair green. These are general guidelines, and ..read more

By Marcelle Dibrell For years, the pool and spa industry has been searching for a way to reduce cyanuric acid concentrations without draining and refilling the pool, but many of the choices offered are expensive. So it should come as great news to the industry that alum — a commonly used, inexpensive flocculant — has been shown to measurably reduce cyanuric acid levels. The pool industry research and consulting group onBalance has recently concluded an extensive series of laboratory and field tests that confirmed a method proposed by a pool service professional several years ago. In 2019, Rudy ..read more

In the competitive profession of swimming pool service and repair, navigating the complex landscape of regulations, technologies, and customer demands requires more than just technical expertise — it demands strategic collaboration and continuous learning. This is where trade associations stand out as indispensable partners for professionals seeking to elevate their careers and businesses in the pool service industry. At their core, trade associations serve as knowledge hubs, offering a trove of educational resources tailored specifically to the needs of pool service professionals. Organizatio ..read more