Pools, spas and other amenities in many homeowners associations across the country remain closed despite state governors lifting local restrictions in place related to the Covid 19 pandemic. According to a May 2021 Community Associations Institute (CAI) survey of 1,000 CAI members nationwide, 2% of homeowners association swimming pools will remain closed this year, 9% will delay opening, and 27%

Memorial Day kicked off the official beginning of the swimming season, but not all public pools were prepared to open their gates due to a nationwide lifeguard shortage. From Southern California to South Carolina, from Austin to Akron, public swimming venues across the country are feeling the pinch. According to both the American Lifeguard Association (ALA) and the YMCA, the problem is very

After 20 years of service with the Florida Swimming Pool Association, (FSPA), Wendy Parker Barsell has joined the team at Pool Troopers, one of the nation’s oldest pool service companies. Parker Barsell worked in a variety of positions within FSPA, before being named as its Executive Director in 2008. The FSPA is an association that provides government relation representation in Florida and educational

A recent study suggests we can all quit the gym and get in the spa instead. Say goodbye to treadmills; no need to buy that expensive new Peloton; just get in your hot tub for an hour. Really? Well…not exactly, but close. In an article appearing in the Journal of Applied Physiology, entitled “The health benefits of passive heating and aerobic exercise: To what extent do the mechanisms

Welcome to the latest edition of our popular “Can You Top This?” column, featuring the newest entry in the Service Industry News “Horror File. ” This issue’s entry comes to us from Kevin Harwood of San Diego Hot Tubs in San Diego, California. “ We got a call from a homeowner saying that their hot tub hadn’t been used in a while and that they wanted it looked at to see what

With summer just around the corner, public pools re-opening, and more people getting vaccinated, a growing number of people plan to go swimming this season. A recent survey conducted on behalf of the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance found that 70% of Americans plan to swim in a pool this summer, up from 52% last year. But with more swimmers at the pools, the risk of people spreading COVID-19 also increases,

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is seeking applications for a Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP or grant program) offered to state and local governments. CPSC will award up to a total of $2 million in two-year grants to assist jurisdictions in reducing deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. The PSGP is a part of CPSC’s national