Aqua Magazine

NSPF Offers New Online Safety Training Courses

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:48:00 GMT

Six new online compliance training courses are now on the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) website and may be accessed at www.nspf.org. The courses are Hearing Conservation, Lock and Tag, Forklift Safety, Fall Protection, Scaffold Safety, and Ladder Safety. An additional course, Personal Protective Equipment, previously introduced in English, is now available in Spanish. The courses are $19.95 per registrant, per course. “Effective workplace safety is ...

Business Briefs: Anthony & Sylvan, DeltaUV, CoverLogix, Water Tech, American Home Shield

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:15:00 GMT

Anthony & Sylvan Pool Corporation has opened an online retail store at www.anthonysylvan.com. On the new site, customers will be able to purchase a wide variety of products, including Anthony & Sylvan brand chemicals, maintenance equipment, pool parts and toys. Customers can also utilize the site to schedule their next service appointment in areas where available, as well as learn more about pool maintenance programs, ...

Spotlight: Alicia Stephens, education manager, BioLab

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:51:00 GMT

Alicia Stephens teaches chemistry, product knowledge and selling skills for BioLab, based just north of Atlanta in Lawrenceville, Ga. A BioLab veteran of 12 years, she has a bachelor’s degree in biology and began managing the company’s training and education programs in 2003. How can small business owners use educational resources to help them succeed in this economy? Using education for business success is a three-pronged approach. The first piece is using training ...

Builder Voices: Mike Farley

Tue, 15 May 2012 08:30:00 GMT

Mike Farley, Landscape architect, designer and project manager, Claffey Pools, Southlake, Texas. Mike Farley has been designing and building custom swimming pools and surrounding landscapes for more than 20 years in both California and Texas. He holds a degree in landscape architecture from Texas Tech University and is a graduate of Genesis 3's Level 1 design school. What signs of growth have you seen from the ...

APSP Sets Agenda For Industry Summit

Thu, 10 May 2012 11:15:00 GMT

The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP) will unveil the results of a year’s worth of consumer research during its 2012 Industry Summit, scheduled for Aug. 14-15 in Chicago’s Hilton Rosemont Hotel. The event, which the association hosts every two years, will focus on research done for the industry by the Harrison Group, a company that’s worked with clients such as Microsoft, Motorola and American ...

World’s Slowest Swimmer Returning to Olympics

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:38:00 GMT

I’ve always loved the Olympics, both summer and winter — for a hundred reasons and for stories like this: Twelve years ago at the Sydney Summer Olympics, Eric “The Eel” Moussambani became a cult hero when he won a 100-meter freestyle heat by swimming the slowest time for the event in Olympic history, 1:52, more than a full minute slower than the world record. How does ...

Feedback: Get Together (Or Fall Apart)

Thu, 10 May 2012 10:03:00 GMT

A reader wrote in response to “The Backyard Industry Needs To Come Together, Or Risk Falling Apart.” a blog posted by Matt Giovanisci on April 10. I have seen firsthand over the last 30 years many attempts on a grass-root level to organize and try to send a message to manufacturing that the small pool service companies, builders, retailers and distributors needed help with advertising, promotion ...

State Of The Industry Survey: Service Sector — The Star of the Recession

Thu, 10 May 2012 09:18:00 GMT

When the curtain came down on the U.S. economy in 2007, the vast majority of builders and retailers took quite a beating, as financing became difficult and homeowners hunkered down in survival mode. However, many of these homeowners already owned pools and tubs, and it made sense to continue to maintain them. So service departments at pool retail stores were generally able to avoid personnel cuts, ...

State Of The Industry: Retail Still on the Rebound

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:50:00 GMT

Though the housing market still stinks, too many people are out of work and consumer confidence is shaky, the Great Recession (I think it merits upper-case treatment) is over. In fact it’s been over, if you use a strict definition, for a couple of years. That academic end to the recession did little for pool and spa retailers, whose customers didn’t go on spending sprees when ...

Feedback: ADA Is A-OK

Tue, 08 May 2012 08:28:00 GMT

I swim at a private/public pool which has met the 2012 rules since it opened in 1995. The HVAC has required much more maintenance than the chairlift, which is used at least 10 times a day, seven days a week. I'm a disabled person who loves the water, where I can exercise freely and splash with my friends. I plan my travels based on access to ...

Genesis 3 Holds First Educational Summit

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:00:00 GMT

Genesis 3 recently hosted its first-annual Educational Summit meeting at the Riviera Palm Springs Hotel, in Palm Springs, Calif., attended by G3 members and sponsors. According to organizers, the meeting covered recent changes within the Genesis 3 structure, including the roles that the Platinum Advisory Board and Education Council will play moving forward, as well as association-synergy plans with Hanley Wood, AIA, ASLA, APLD and media ...

The Myth of Filtration Effectiveness

Fri, 04 May 2012 14:51:00 GMT

There is a disturbing oversight in the industry encompassed in both the existing pool codes and even the proposed Center For Disease Control (CDC) Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC) in regards to adequate filtration and circulation regulations to ensure bather health. Many states have only general guidelines, but those that have detailed, comprehensive pool codes such as Florida and Nevada, along with the most in-depth service ...

Top 10 Twitter Tips For Pool And Spa Pros

Thu, 03 May 2012 11:05:00 GMT

Not on Twitter yet? Do me a favor. After you get done reading this article, sign up for an account and follow these 10 tips to kick-start your Twitter presence. Here are 10 tips to start, or better utilize, your company’s Twitter account. 1. Follow your customers Start a sign-up sheet in your store or ask your customer for their twitter handle (mine’s @mattgiovanisci, AQUA uses @aquamagazine). Follow ...

May 2012 - Fill In The Phil Cartoon Contest

Thu, 03 May 2012 10:00:00 GMT

More Funny Phil is coming your way, but here’s another blank comic to fill in the meantime. Please send your submissions to mandy@aquamagazine.com by Friday, May 18. As always, winners will receive one of our revered AQUA t-shirts — and bragging rights of course!

An Uplifting Experience

Wed, 02 May 2012 14:52:00 GMT

Unless you’ve been hiding out in the proverbial cave, you’ve likely heard all about the new Americans with Disabilities Act requirement that all commercial pools be equipped with handicap lifts. No doubt a boon for lift manufacturers and their dealers, the law is nonetheless controversial with critics who cite it as an example of government over reaching. After all, the lifts are unsightly and expensive and ...

The State of The Industry: Builders Moving Forward

Tue, 01 May 2012 16:06:00 GMT

Courtesy Roger Willis The swimming pool and spa construction industry made significant gains in 2011, which by all accounts are continuing in 2012. The AQUA builders survey found 59.2 percent of pool building companies reporting better revenues and 47.3 percent reporting an increase in the number of projects, all marginal improvements over last year's survey. In my discussions with builders, it's clear that things are finally getting ...

Calif. Operator Certification Bill Advances

Tue, 01 May 2012 10:06:00 GMT

AB 1726, a bill sponsored by National Pool Safety Foundation, was heard in the California Assembly Health Committee last week. According to SPEC, which supports the measure, this bill seeks to establish the Public Pool Health and Safety Act of 2012, which requires an owner of a public swimming pool to contract with or employ a qualified pool operator for pool maintenance. More specifically, AB 1726 ...

New Dates For Mid America Show

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:37:00 GMT

The 2013 Mid America Show will be held Monday, Jan. 21 to Thursday, Jan. 24, at the Schaumburg Convention Center in Schaumburg, Ill. Exhibitor move-in will take place on Monday and the show floor will be open Tuesday and Wednesday of that week. To reserve booth space for the show, which organizers say sold out in 2012, visit www.midamericashow.com. Exhibitor Schedule At A Glance Monday, Jan 21 Exhibitor move-in ...

May 2012 AQUA Choice Winner

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

The “source” design by Anthony Archer-Wills was created to make it seem as if water is flowing into the pool via a spring coming out of the ground. This area looks similar to a mountain stream, with many natural boulders, stones, mosses and other vegetation. Using the BioNova approach and a watercolor artist’s flair, a small group of designers have created a truly unique backyard pool ...

A Chilly Take On Hot Tubbing

Tue, 01 May 2012 09:00:00 GMT

Photos Courtesy www.iglu-dorf.com Who doesn’t enjoy looking up at a starry night sky while steaming in a bubbling hot tub? Now just imagine that view and relaxation from the top of a Swiss mountain! For about $135 a night, you don’t have to imagine. Avid snowboarder Adrian Günter founded the Iglu-Dorf Igloo Villages in 1995. Wanting to be the first one to board on the ...