Berlin – August 31, 2023 – Expanding its global portfolio of innovative pool cleaning robots, Aiper debuts at IFA Berlin 2023 its first-ever cordless robotic pool skimmer, the Surfer S1, ahead of its official launch in Q1 2024. Say goodbye to the awkward pool skimming net on a pole, the Surfer S1 is a smart water surface cleaning robot powered by a solar panel that efficiently removes unwanted debris floating in your pool. Like a surfer catching a wave, the Surfer S1 moves effortlessly across the water’s surface, controlled from the palm of your hand with a free mobile app for Android and iOS. Aiper will also demo at IFA its award-winning Seagull Series of underwater cordless robotic pool cleaners, available now and designed to clean your pool floor and walls. With Aiper pool robots, homeowners can spend less time cleaning their pool and more time swimming and enjoying it.

“Owning a pool should be fun, but the reality is that pool maintenance can be a laborious, expensive, and time-intensive task. We want your pool to be central to transforming your backyard into a personal oasis and a place of relaxation. That’s why we’ve invested heavily in R&D to produce pool cleaning products that merge technology with innovative design to create easy-to-use pool cleaning solutions that give you back time in your life,” says Richard Wang, CEO and Founder of Aiper Global. “Aiper will handle the dirty work so you can spend more time splashing with friends and family in a crystal-clear pool.”

With the Aiper Surfer S1, you no longer have to manually fish out leaves and debris floating on the pool surface. The Surfer S1 works in pools of all shapes and sizes and glides across pool surfaces, automatically removing unwanted debris like leaves, insects, hair, flower pedals and more. The robotic skimmer propels itself with motorized paddle-wheels that draw their power from solar energy, providing up to 10 hours of efficient surface cleaning. The robot features anti-beaching columns that prevent it from getting stuck as well as two ultrasonic wave sensors that will not only detect but avoid hitting the pool walls.

Added features are available with the accompanying free mobile app to monitor the robot’s performance, schedule cleanings, battery levels, alerts and more. You can choose from two modes for customized cleaning, including automatic cleaning during which the robot will clean independently or remote cleaning to manually pilot the device via the app to target specific debris. Between cycles, you can use the remote cleaning mode to guide the robot back to the pool edge, at which point you can empty the collected debris and store the device before its next use.

Available now, Aiper will also show at IFA 2023 its Seagull Series line of underwater cleaners, including the award-winning Seagull Pro as well as the Seagull Plus and Seagull SE. For large pools, the Seagull Pro is Aiper’s most advanced pool floor and wall cleaner with WavePath Navigation Technology and the world’s first quad-motor system. Optimized to specifically clean pool floors, the Seagull Plus is perfect for mid-sized pools and the Seagull SE is designed for smaller pools. Aiper robots also reduce the workload on a pool’s filter system thus making it more energy efficient. Whether comfortably perched on the pool floor or climbing its walls, the Seagull Series removes dirt and grime in no time.

Launching in Q1 2024, the Surfer S1 will cost $599.99 and will be offered in black and white color skews. Ranging from $299.99 to $899.99, the Seagull Series is currently available for purchase. Aiper robots are available at Aiper.com, Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, and Lowes.

IFA 2023 attendees can see Aiper’s products from Friday, September 1 to Tuesday, September 5 at IFA booth 201 in Hall 20 of the Messe Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Aiper will also have a presence at Showstoppers @ IFA 2023 on Thursday, August 31.

For more information on Aiper cordless, robotic cleaning products, visit www.Aiper.com and follow Aiper on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.

About Aiper

Aiper is the leading global creator of innovative cordless robotic pool cleaners on a mission to Bring Vacation Home by inspiring pool owners to turn their backyards into a personal oasis with the help of smarter cleaning solutions. After doing a deep dive into the pain points of traditional pool cleaners, the company embarked on a path to merge technology with innovative design to create the world’s most easy-to-use robotic pool cleaners that are not only cord and hassle-free but can automatically handle all the dirty work so pool owners can stop manually cleaning. Unlike other products on the market, each Aiper robot is guaranteed to minimize the time and money spent laboring cleaning and give more time back to enjoy quality time with friends and family by the pool. Through that, Aiper has earned its place as the world’s best cordless robotic pool cleaner since its launch. In 2023, the Aiper Seagull Pro was named a CES 2023 Innovations Award Honoree.

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If you or a loved one has a medical condition that requires a swimming pool for therapy, you may be able to claim the cost of constructing a pool as a medical tax deduction. Many Americans are unaware of this tax break, which can also apply to other medical expenses such as assistant medical equipment.

Using a Swimming Pool as a Tax Deduction

Aaron Rogers owner of Southern Poolscapes recently informed a customer that they could claim part of their pool construction as a medical expense deduction on his taxes. “He built the pool to use for therapy after a recent spinal fusion,” said Rogers, “as we tallied the bill up he mentioned, ‘boy, I wish I could claim this on my taxes’, and that’s when I mentioned it to him.”

Rogers claims it isn’t the first time he’s seen someone do this but because his customer had all the right paperwork, a good portion of her swimming pool was tax deductible. “All in, I believe his net deduction came close to $50,000,” said Rogers, “in some instances, if it is doctor-recommended, the IRS allows it.”

Medical Deduction for Swimming Pools & Spas

For example, therapy pools, spas, and other similar facilities that are recommended by a doctor can be eligible for the medical tax deduction. Additionally, if you need assistant medical equipment such as a chair lift, safety rails, or other modifications to the pool, these costs can also be claimed as part of the deduction.

Installing a swimming pool or hot tub at home can be recommended by a doctor for various medical conditions, such as osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and chronic pain. Pools are also commonly used for physical therapy, particularly in cases where a person is unable to bear their full weight on a leg or other part of their body.

How You Claim Your Pool as a Tax Write-Off

Moreover, if you build a pool for medical reasons, it can make sense to claim the tax deduction. Building a pool can be a significant expense, but if it’s recommended by a physician, the deduction can help offset some of the costs. Plus, having a pool can provide a therapeutic benefit to the individual with the medical condition, improving their quality of life.

However, it’s important to note that there are some limitations to the medical expense deduction. Firstly, you need to itemize deductions on Schedule A, rather than taking the standard deduction. Additionally, eligible expenses must be above 7.5% of adjusted gross income (AGI) to qualify for the deduction. For example, if a couple has an AGI of $200,000, they can only deduct eligible medical expenses above $15,000.

Who is Eligible?

Based on the latest IRS data, in 2020, approximately 4 million tax filers claimed medical expenses as a deduction on their Schedule A. This is in contrast to the approximately 12 million filers who claimed mortgage interest and the approximately 13 million filers who claimed charitable donations. Despite this, the average medical expense deduction was approximately $20,000, indicating that this deduction was particularly valuable for those who qualified and likely came at a time when any tax relief was greatly appreciated.

Even if a taxpayer’s medical expenses don’t exceed the deduction threshold, it’s still important to understand what expenses qualify for the deduction. This is because the same expenses that are eligible for the deduction can also be reimbursed through a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account, without the requirement of meeting the 7.5% AGI threshold.

Claiming a Medical Expense Deduction for your Pool

To claim the medical expense deduction, you will need to keep good records and documentation of all expenses related to the construction of the pool or other medical expenses. The IRS provides a comprehensive list of eligible medical and dental expenses in Publication 502, which includes costs related to the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Examples include bandages, guide dogs, nursing home and assisted living care, and special-education tuition.

In at least one case, the IRS did not allow a taxpayer to deduct installation costs for his pool because the taxpayer did not have sufficient medical documentation to support his claim. The taxpayer only provided a statement from his doctor advising him to lose weight, but this alone was not enough to qualify for the medical expense deduction. It’s important to have proper documentation and meet all the requirements set by the IRS to avoid being denied the deduction.

The IRS has an extensive list of tax deductible home improvement expenses that are eligible for a medical deduction. While constructing a swimming pool would be considered a capital expense, it could still be considered for a medical deduction.

When claiming a medical deduction for expenses that add permanent value to a home, such as a swimming pool, the taxpayer is required to obtain an appraisal of the increase in the home’s value as a result of the modification. The amount of the deduction must then be reduced by the appraised value increase. This is to prevent taxpayers from claiming a deduction for expenses that are not directly related to their medical condition.

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(Alexandria, VA) – The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) today announced it is jumping into the waters of workforce development with its Pool Professionals Pipeline, a new program designed to help its members find workers, drive awareness amongst today’s jobseekers, and foster long-term career progression in the pool, hot tub, and aquatics industry.

“It’s no secret that many industries and businesses today are struggling to find and retain employees, and this is particularly true in trades such as ours,” says PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman, CAE. “Our members are looking to PHTA to help fill that gap and we’re ready for the challenge. We are incredibly excited to share this new program with our membership and give them the tools they’ll need to compete in today’s labor market while working to attract a skilled, diversified, and thriving workforce.”

Underneath the PHTA’s Pool Professionals Pipeline workforce development umbrella is its external industry awareness campaign and jobseeker website, Work in Aquatics and workinaquatics.com, launching in 2023. Work in Aquatics will seek to advocate for trade professions by highlighting the numerous advantages, training and apprenticeship opportunities, job openings, and potential career progression tracks that are available working in the pool and hot tub industry. From construction labor to lifeguards, sales representatives, entrepreneurs, and even engineers and designers, there are many industry sectors and paths along the way that PHTA wants jobseekers to explore.

“This program is a game-changer for our industry as it works to drive qualified talent to our respective businesses and our industry as a whole,” says PHTA Chairman Charlie Claffey, owner of Claffey Pools. “To be successful, we’re going to need everyone on board as we work to put the industry on the radar of those searching for an alternative path to college; a rewarding career in a healthy lifestyle environment; the ability to work away from a desk; creative freedom through modern design; and lifesaving skills through swim instruction. The possibilities that exist in the aquatics industry are endless and once you begin in this line of work, you’ll never want to walk away. Let’s share that passion with the next generation of workers.”

A steering committee comprised of PHTA members, industry partners, and PHTA staff will serve in an advisory role to help guide programming, funding, and more:

• Charlie Claffey, Claffey Pools
• Joseph Laurino, Ph.D., Periodic Products, Inc.
• Andrew Levinson, PoolCorp 
• Elizabeth McMurray, Florida Swimming Pool Association 
• Albert Miller, Hayward 
• Dominick Mondi, Northeast Spa & Pool Association  
• Kevin Post, Counsilman-Hunsaker  
• Teri Wiltshire, Master Pools Guild  
• Lisa Zarda, CAE, US Swim School Association 

Members, partners, and others interested in becoming involved in the PHTA Pool Professionals Pipeline can contact Seth Ewing, PHTA Senior Director of Member Programs & Services, at sewing@phta.org.  

Media Contact:
Amy Willer
Associate Director, Marketing and Communications
703-838-0083, ext. 121 | awiller@phta.org

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When it comes to the waterproofing of residential and commercial pool vessels, Basecrete Technologies has long been a leader in waterproof bondcoatings for the pool and spa industry. Recently, Pool Magazine had the opportunity to catch up with Vito Mariano and Christopher Gates to discuss the newest innovation to hit the pool trade, OnDeck, a new system they claim will revolutionize waterproofing.

The OnDeck Difference

“The actual application process is super simple. It can go horizontal and vertical and can be textured as the installer sees fit. Heavy and light textures can be rolled on, shot on, or troweled on but it’s based on the same science as Basecrete,” said Gates, who will be managing the OnDeck product.

One of the primary reasons the new system is predicted to be a surefire hit with pool contractors is due to its versatility, which Gates says will be a game-changer. “You can take a new project and marry it to an old project. Our material allows you to build up an old existing deck that’s chipped and broken. You can clean it out and build up to two-inch lifts using the material to build that up so that it’s seamlessly the same elevation as the new concrete. Then you coat the whole thing with OnDeck and it all is just beautiful and elegant. That all happens out of one bag and bucket of polymer.,” explained Gates.

Versatility and Customization

OnDeck is sure to appeal to contractors who have experienced frustration with other products in the past said Gates. As an industry veteran, he knows those frustrations first-hand, “you have to buy a bag of this for horizontal, and a bag of that for vertical, and a bag of that for waterproofing. Ours is just real simple,” explained Gates.

Color options and customization are a big factor when it comes to decking materials. OnDeck promises to alleviate many of those concerns as well. “The last coating is a pigmented stain and sealer which comes in seven different colors. We operate in a light base and a dark base so you can tint a custom color,” said Gates, “if you have a big project, say you were doing a stadium, for example, and you wanted to have the colors of the team, you can get your own color mixed with a lighter or darker base.”

A Cost Effective Waterproofing System

The OnDeck system is all the brain-child of Vito Mariano who has a history of producing award-winning products of this nature. His strategy for propelling the system into the market is to win contractors with a better product they can have at a smarter price point than what they’ve already been accustomed to using.

“Price per square foot is number one,” said Mariano, “OnDeck is not expensive and it’s a fast waterproofing decking system at the same time. Now you get all these new benefits that the industry isn’t used to; instead of just your typical low-end cementitious spray, roll on, epoxy or latex-based material. We’re staying focused on simplicity, our waterproofing capability, and price. That’s very important out there.”

Bringing OnDeck To The Industry

Mariano is confident in having an industry professional like Gates to help drive the product in the market. “I’ve been producing OnDeck for a long time. The formula goes back many years,” said Mariano, “and I’ve used it again and again for my own applications. I never really had the time to pursue it because I was busy with other products. We think Christopher will be ideal for us. He’s got an edge because he knows the industry and he gets it. “

The success of Basecrete has industry insiders eager to demo the OnDeck system. “I had a phone call from a gentleman I did a contract with a while back who wanted to thank me. He told me ‘Where has this product been? I’ve used everything out there in the last 35 years. I’ve never seen anything this good before.’ He now has 60 driveways totally converted to the OnDeck system and will be doing our training,” said Mariano.

Mariano expects many brand ambassadors to come forth and champion the product in the coming months. “We’ve got folks like Jose Garcia from Barefoot Pools in Arizona, chomping at the bit to get this product. He does phenomenal Basecrete applications on hundreds of pools. Those are the kind of companies and applicators that we’re going to go for,” said Mariano.

Gates, who has a long history in the pool industry, previously with California Pools and San Juan Pools; says the timing is ripe for a product of this nature.

“On pool and deck projects many years ago we started doing polymer overlays and acrylic top coats. Every one of them kind of marched to the beat of their own drummer, and you had to figure each system out. You’d try to stick with one that you could use if you knew the idiosyncrasies of a given system,” explained Gates, “when Vito started telling me that it’s the same bag to make the material that goes on the flat deck, that goes up the walls, that waterproofs the corners; it’s just different mixing styles – that’s got me excited. That coupled with this fellow he’s talking about who will doing all the training for our team members that are coming on board makes it a no-brainer,” explained Gates.

Listen to our entire conversation and learn more about the OnDeck system on the Pool Magazine podcast.

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These days pool builders are searching for best-in-class software that can help them save time, improve efficiency, and communicate better with customers. Pentair Pool Builder is a software that aims to do exactly that. While there are plenty of solutions out there geared toward design, few applications exist for managing a pool construction business. Pool builders in general prefer a system that offers flexibility, ease of use, and reliability. Consequently, Tommy Reynolds, the developer behind the software, said his app is the game changer that the pool industry has been waiting for. We had the chance to discuss the software with Reynolds on the Pool Magazine Podcast and got the opportunity to learn more about the features and benefits.

One on One With Pentair Pool Builder Developer, Tommy Reynolds

For Reynolds, the path toward developing the app started with building a pool. A seasoned software developer and entrepreneur, he was having a swimming pool of his own built and discovered that communication throughout the process was lacking.”I was going through building a pool and had some experiences. I felt like as a consumer, I should be a little bit more connected. That was kind of the premise of me getting involved in starting this project,” said Reynolds.

Frustrations With The Pool Building Process

For Reynolds, he felt that he knew what to expect before construction began but once things got started is when he felt the need for better communication. “When we got to construction, there were a few communication gaps. A lot of times they use subcontractors, and their availability could be at the drop of a hat. They’re going to be at your place unannounced to work on the pool.” explained Reynolds, when describing the frustrations.

“My dog had been let out a couple of times,” said Reynolds, “and so I just thought, ‘I wish there was an app that I could put on my phone that would tell me when someone’s going to be at the house, I could put the dogs away.’ I just felt like, maybe there’s an app for this. I approached my builder and asked him, ‘Do you have an app for me to use?’ And he said he didn’t. My next question was, ‘Does anybody have an app?'”

“He’s been building pools for 25 years, and an industry expert, and so he said he didn’t know of anything for the customer,” explained Reynolds, “so that really started the creative juices flowing and made me think I should just take this on as a passion project for him and I to work on something. I figured, if it works out, he can share this with the next customer, and then they could benefit from what we built.”

Reynold’s builder recognized the potential of what they had developed in a short time frame and began showing it to his Pentair dealer who took interest in the app and invited Reynolds to demonstrate it for the senior leadership team at Pentair. “I was invited to go to the International Pool & Spa Expo to show them what we’d been working on,” explained Reynolds, “When I showed them what we were doing, they said, ‘This is pretty cool and we’d like to be a part of it.'”

Reynolds, who began working locally with pool builders in Texas said word began to get around fast. “Once we got out there, we really knew that we had something. There’s a real demand and need for this type of product. So we started working with builders locally and then it just grew to what it is today,” explained Reynolds.

Communication is the #1 Challenge for Pool Builders

“I think the biggest challenge that a lot of pool builders have is just with communication and managing the customer’s expectations along with inner office communications and their subcontractors,” said Reynolds, “what Pentair Pool Builder really does is it addresses the communications gap. We start with the sales lead management process. When a salesperson goes out to the job site, they can begin taking photos and uploading those right then and there. We relieve some of the stress and friction just by allowing them to do things on the spot. The mobile application allows that salesperson to manage that lead throughout the process.”

Problems That Pentair Pool Builder Solves

Pentair Pool Builder promises to solve a few different problems that contractors face on a daily basis. Their mobile-friendly app enables builders to simplify job costing with real-time pricing updates and easily create instant estimates and change orders that be signed electronically. With a robust built-in CRM, salespeople can efficiently manage their leads and sales with better visibility.

Core Benefits:

• DITCH PRICING SHEETS
• LESS WINDSHIELD TIME
• EASY COMMUNICATION
• EASY CHANGE ORDERS
• HELP MANAGE MORE SALES
• EASY INTEGRATION

What Pool Builders Are Saying About Pentair Pool Builder

• “It gives the designers the ability to see what’s going on in real time.” – Susan Rodriguez, Office Manager, Cypress Custom Pools 
• “It’s a very efficient app, and it has helped streamline the building process. For everybody.” – Tommie Fleeman, Project Manager, Backyard Oasis

Simplifying Pool Construction Management

Custom tailoring the pool construction management experience to a variety of contractors was key in developing a tool that can be universally adopted, said Reynolds. “It’s a completely customizable process. So how they build their pool may be different than someone else. They’re able to customize that experience to their process,” he explained.

“The construction module of the software is basically the orchestration of producing a swimming pool,” said Reynolds, “from the time they excavate it to the time they put water in it. All the processes that happen and all the people that it takes to make it happen are managed through the software which provides the ability for scheduling of resources. There are also notifications to let people know when it’s their time to do the job, as well as let other people know what’s happening on the job site.”

The integration of camera monitoring into the software system also promises to lower the amount of windshield time between visiting job sites, explained Reynolds. “Generally the project superintendents are having to drive job to job to check things out. Once we introduced the job site monitoring capability that we now have, it allowed them to do that remotely. Now, they can actually cover more jobs in a single day than they would by driving around to check on those jobs.”

Listen to Our Entire Discussion

Learn more about Pentair Pool Builder take a deeper dive by listening to our conversation with Tommy Reynolds on the Pool Magazine podcast. For those interested in learning more about the software or taking a demo, visit Pentair’s website.

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The news of BioLab’s plant burning to the ground during Hurricane Laura in 2020 had a ripple effect on chlorine prices that has lasted for the past two years. We first reported that BioLab was rebuilding the plant back in July of 2021. A recent announcement that construction is completed and in time for summer production has pool industry analysts optimistic. “We are delighted to reopen our BioLab facility in time to support the 2023 pool season,” said Michael Sload, CEO of KIK Consumer Products.

BioLab is the nation’s second-largest manufacturer of dry chlorine products. An announcement that the Westlake, Louisiana facility is fully operational means that one of the driving factors for the initial spike we saw on the price of chlorine has been removed. Prices for dry chlorine products soared in 2021 due to concerns about shortages and remained high through the summer of 2022.

Understanding The Correlation Between BioLab & Price Increases

The conditions for a sudden surge in the price for chlorine stemmed partly from the fact that BioLab was out of commission. The main factor that was driving prices to explode during the past two years was largely due to the pandemic in general.

A large percentage of the population was quarantined, which meant more people than ever before, were at home and using their swimming pool. This put a much higher glut on demand than anticipated. With the pandemic shutting many plants down, and logistical delays plaguing distributors throughout most of 2021, these conditions as well as rising inflation in 2022 kept prices high through the summer.

The reopening of the BioLab facility will certainly impact the supply chain in a positive way. “BioLab will be actively supplying the pool market for the 2023 season which should provide some relief,” said plant manager Donald Brunette.

Prices are predicted to begin dropping a bit in light of that fact but will certainly not sink lower than they were prior to the pandemic. As the population starts to adjust to a post-Covid world, the surge we saw for swimming pools has already begun to recalibrate to pre-pandemic levels. The only remaining catalyst for keeping chlorine prices from truly resetting back to 2020 is the cumulative rate of inflation is roughly 14.7% higher than in 2020.

While this should certainly factor into the equation, most experts agree that with this news, the chlorine shortage is finally over and a bucket of chlorine tablets should cost substantially less next summer than it has in previous years. This comes as welcome news for both consumers and pool professionals.

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The issue of drowning prevention and mitigating pool-related fatalities go hand-in-hand. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) annual drowning report, fatal child drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries in children under the age of 15 remain high and nonfatal drownings spiked by 17% in 2021.

The Facts About Drowning-Related Deaths

The World Health Organization says that drowning is the leading cause of unintentional deaths worldwide, with over 372,000 deaths reported each year. 140,000 of those deaths were children.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 4,000 people die in the United States yearly from drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children after birth defects. An average of three children die each day from drowning, and it is the second leading cause of accidental deaths in children aged 1-14, right behind motor vehicle-related deaths.

Swimming Pool-Related Drowning Facts

An average of 379 children under age 15 die in reported drownings linked to pools or spas each year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the statistic has been climbing in the United States.

During 2018–2019, unintentional drowning deaths totaled 73 for those under age 1 year, 821 for ages 1–4, 390 for ages 5–13, and 270 for ages 14–17, (CDC). Most drownings in residential swimming pools happen among children ages 1–4. 74% of fatal pool accidents occurred at residential locations.

Texas leads the nation in childhood drownings. 67% of swimming pool drowning deaths involved children younger than 3 years old. In swimming pools, black children ages 10-14 years drown at rates 7.6 times higher than white children. Black children are more likely to drown in public pools, and white children are more likely to drown in residential pools according to the CDC.

U.S. Falling Behind Developed Nations When It Comes To Water Safety

In 2015, a study conducted by the National Safety Council showed most states were significantly behind in their grading scale.

The NSC study made specific recommendations on what states needed to do. They provided recommendations to make the grade:

• States update public pools and water facility regulations to conform with Model Aquatic Health Code.
• High school students be required to know CPR in order to graduate.
• Regulations require barriers be installed around all residential swimming pools.

States Pressed To Adopt Higher Water Safety Measures

The media in 2015 called on states to reduce the number of drowning fatalities. To date, most of the country still has not adopted the recommended guidelines set forth by the NSC. Experts like Dr. Katchmarchi, Executor Director of the NDPA (National Drowning Prevention Alliance), believe we’ve hit a crisis point. “Starting in 2020 we saw a very significant increase. The scary part is when we just look at the numbers, it’s hard to say if that’s a new trend we’re seeing because of the pandemic.”

Katchmarchi is sounding the alarm because a spike in drownings may have a direct provable correlation with current events. “In 2020 we saw drowning rates increase significantly for the first time in a very long time,” said Katchmarchi, “Some of the initial data we’re getting for 2021, has me even more scared.”

Public health experts say water safety should be a priority since nearly all drowning deaths are preventable. “These deaths do not have to occur. It really is something we should be ashamed of and be energized to address,” said Shannon Frattaroli, Director of Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy. 

“Most state and local health departments are chronically underfunded for accident prevention in general and many have no expertise in drowning prevention,” said Richard Hamburg, Executive Director of Safe States Alliance.

As it pertains to drowning prevention, laws are slowly being passed to help establish better standards. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGBA) is law of the land in the United States. This was a major achievement for federal intervention.

Organizations Appeal To Congress For Action

It’s a fact that drowning remains a leading killer in children and young adults. In most cases, states lack the laws and regulations that experts in the field of drowning prevention say are necessary. Experts say more effort from states is required to effectively reduce the rate of fatalities. Existing laws on the books tend to be inconsistent even within neighboring jurisdictions.

More than two hundred national and local groups and state agencies, including the American Red Cross, the YMCA, and the California Highway Patrol, wrote to Congress in March. They called the increase in drownings a “silent crisis” that needed government leadership and funding.

Additional research on drowning prevention measures is needed in order to make a serious impact according to Dr. Katchmarchi, “There’s not a lot that is evidence-based. We’ve been saying to use barriers and alarms. We have some data to support that we know barriers are effective at reducing drowning. Some studies have suggested that it’s up to a 50% decrease with young children but we need better data. When it comes to alarms, we have pretty much no data to support how effective alarms are. We think they are but so far as being able to say adding an alarm will decrease the potential of drowning by X%, we simply don’t have that data.”

Katchmarchi says more focus is needed on developing the National Water Safety Action Plan. “This is designed to impact the community, county, state, and federal level when it comes to water safety. This was in response to a call from the World Health Organization for nations to have a national plan addressing drowning, ” said Katchmarchi.

Drowning Prevention & Water Safety

Drowning prevention studies are essential to our water safety goals in this country. A number of unquantified factors in recent years may have contributed to an increase in drowning fatalities. Drowning prevention is clearly a moving target where the numbers equate to American lives, not just statistics.

A Moving Target That Equates To Human Lives

What is perhaps most unsettling about all of this data is that change doesn’t appear to be happening quickly enough. It’s disconcerting that given the recent rise in drowning deaths, public pools continue to close at an alarming rate. It’s alarming that a lack of funding for research, lifeguards, and public pools may be erasing the gains our nation has made in previous decades. That we’re struggling to keep up with other developed nations should be a national embarrassment according to water safety experts.

“I was part of the U.S. delegation in 2017 that attended the world conference on drowning prevention, what was quite embarrassing was that the United States was the only developed nation that did not have a water safety action plan,” explained Dr. Katchmarchi, “We hadn’t even started developing it at that point. When you look at other developed nations, we’re compared to Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, and Canada but the biggest difference is their federal governments take a much more active role in water safety.”

Listen to our entire conversation with Dr. Katchmarchi | Executive Director – NDPA

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With no relief in sight, chlorine prices continue to soar as costs keep rising for pool chemicals this summer. Since almost the very start of the pandemic prices for pool sanitizers like chlorine have nearly doubled and at the retail level consumers are paying nearly triple what they were before the end of 2020.

What Caused Prices To Go Up?

Soaring costs for fuel, rising inflation, and a litany of other factors such as logistical delays and workforce shortages have plagued the pool industry. A factory closure due to a fire at one of the nation’s largest producers of dried chlorine products certainly did not help matters.

BioLab, the manufacturer in question is spending $170 million dollars on rebuilding their plant after it burnt to the ground during Hurricane Laura. While many pool professionals were hoping that the plant would be back online in time to impact and offset summer chlorine prices, a series of delays related to a second hurricane has pushed back operations. Consequently, any impact BioLab’s production would have had on this year’s chlorine supply is now a moot point.

Will Chlorine Prices Go Back Down?

Industry pundits and analysts know what caused prices to spike. That’s never been the issue. The question that remains to be answered: When will chlorine prices go back down? The answer is, they won’t.

While chlorine prices are expected to stabilize somewhat within the next year, rising costs, inflation, and an increase in consumer demand will keep chlorine prices high well into next summer and the immediate, foreseeable future.

Exactly how much have Chlorine prices increased?

Chlorine like many other chemicals is a commodity. As such the prices for chemical commodities are clearly viewable from various credible sources. The price index for Alkalies and Chlorine, Including Natural Sodium Carbonate and Sulfate, reached a record high of 483.79600 in May of 2022. As we progress later into the summer and prices are predicted to continue to rise and blow away analysts’ forecasts.

In response to a changing market, many pool professionals began to switch to liquid chlorine and alternative sanitizing methods to help offset operational costs. Consequently, these materials have also increased in price over the last year and a half. Exactly how high have prices gone?

Well let’s put it this way, you can finance a 50-pound $449 bucket of Bromine tablets for just $41 bucks a month if you buy it from Leslie’s, on Amazon you’ll pay $498 if you can find them in stock. That we’re at a state that necessitates the need for consumers to be able to finance a bucket of tablets, is a pause for reflection on exactly how high prices have gone up.

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Miami, FL is home to some of the most affluent people in America. The Magic City is known for some of the most elaborate and over the top resort style pools in the country. Consequently, the standards locals have on their inground pool designers are incredibly high. For discerning homeowners in Miami, an inground pool is much more than just a place to cool off. In many Miami homes, the swimming pool is the entire focal point of the backyard.

With homes selling well north of $20,000,000 in Miami, it’s no secret that a luxury inground pool has pretty much become standard. It’s a high end area of the country where some of the top pool design trends seem to originate from.

The following is a list of the Top Pool Designers in Miami. These companies have a long and consistent track record as some of the leading pool builders in Miami, FL. If you’re thinking of building an inground pool this year, there really is only a short list of potential candidates you need to review.

List of Top Miami Pool Designers

#1 – Custom Pools Miami

A veteran pool builder and pool designer of custom luxury inground pools in South Florida. Custom Pools is known throughout the Miami / Dade metro area for constructing high quality inground pools and designs. Seen below is a sample of one of their 3D pool designs. They are one of the top pool contractors in Miami. Their pool designers encompass the entire essence of the Miami lifestyle and translate accurately in the finished product they produce for homeowners.

#2 – Van Kirk Pools

Consistently voted by Pool & Spa News as one of the best pool contractors in America. Van Kirk & Sons Pools & Spas also has a well established track record in the Miami area. They are a family owned business that have been in the pool business for over 40 years and are very well known in the pool industry. A builder of Commercial & Residential pools, Van Kirk is also a popular choice throughout South Florida.

#3 – Dream Pools of South Florida

With over 20 years experience as a pool builder in South Florida, Dream Pools has established a reputation as a top local pool contractor. Highly rated on websites like HomeAdvisor, Angies List, they specialize in new pool construction. A builder of shotcrete pools, Dream Pools is another well known pool construction company in Miami.

Infinity Edge Pools – The HOT Pool Design Trend in Miami

Some of the must have features that homeowners are adding to their swimming pools this year seem to incorporate the fantastic ocean views Miami has to offer. We asked Dago Cabral, Owner of Custom Pools in Miami what is one over the top pool feature he gets the most inquiries about. In Miami, Dago explained, Infinity Pools are currently the rage this year.

An Infinity Edge pool is definitely a popular request in Miami. Particularly for homeowners with beach front property.

Custom pools – dago cabral | Owner

“The overflow edge of the pool creates a breathtaking look. It’s architecturally dramatic and gives that resort vibe from inside the pool.” continues Cabral. “Knife edge pools are a similar request we get. They are similar to Infinity Edge pools, but overflow from multiple edges instead of one”

It’s certainly easy to see why Miami homeowners opt for such high end features in their swimming pool. With competent and reliable pool builders like these companies in their market, they have their pick of qualified pool designers.

There are certainly many qualified pool companies that didn’t make our list today. These elite pool builders represent the crème de la crème in the pool industry. They are respected as pool designers and expert construction companies.

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