This year marks the 45th anniversary of the Western Pool & Spa Show which has been held annually in Long Beach, CA for the last 30 years. Last year over 10,000 pool and spa industry professionals attended the Western Pool & Spa Show making it one of the best-attended national shows in the country.

The Western Pool & Spa Show Celebrates 2 Milestones

We recently had the opportunity to chat with Eric Nielson, Director of the Western Pool & Spa Show on the pool magazine podcast. He gave us some insight into the history behind the annual event.

“It started off as a small tabletop and has grown, and this will also be our 30th year in the city which has become our home, Long Beach. So there are two milestones that we’re kind of celebrating,” said Nielson.

“Years ago, there was a small group of manufacturers, sales reps, and a few pool guys who simply got together and said, ‘Hey, maybe we should do something to educate people out there in the San Fernando Valley'”, said Nielson.

“They put together a small event in Studio City and it grew into something bigger. I believe it was Ray Pak or one of the heater companies that said, ‘Hey, maybe could we put one of our products out in the hall?’, and that was the impetus of the show floor. So they started that and then they brought in more things and it just sort of grew and grew from there. It moved from there to the convention center in Pasadena and then we outgrew that. Then there was a little time in Anaheim and now we’ve been 30 years in Long Beach,” explained Nielson.

The Western Show Has Evolved & Has Something For Everyone

The Western Show as it’s called in the trade has certainly evolved over the years, from being traditionally known as a “Service Show” to incorporating more involvement with the pool construction side of the industry. With a wide array of educational opportunities and seminars available for attendees to take, it also provides excellent value for attendees.

The show which runs from March 23-35 is open to the pool trade only. Registration is required and features workshops on how to become a CPO, seminars on electrical and plumbing, as well as workshops that are available in Spanish.

“We’re all volunteers and our focus is on education,” said Nielson, “everything that we do is geared towards us being able to provide that high-quality opportunity for educating the industry. This year we have lots of different classes that people can come and take advantage of for a very inexpensive price. For $115. You can come all three days, take any one of 90 different classes including programs for Spanish-speaking attendees. You really can’t get that anyplace else.”

Educational workshops are being held by Pentair, Hayward, and Fluidra as well as by Watershape University, Pool Nation, Orenda Technologies, Taylor Technologies, PAL Lighting, as well as many others. The class schedule and exhibit hours for this event are as follows:

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Education: 1:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Exhibit Hours: 6:00 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Education: 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Exhibit Hours: 2:00 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Friday, March 24, 2023

Education: 8 a.m. to 1:45 p.m.
Exhibit Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Western Pool & Spa Show does hourly drawings and a big giveaway at the end of the event. “We’re going to give away $20,000 in cash,” said Nielson, “in total, we also ended up giving away almost $60,000 worth of prizes last year. Second prize last year we had a pump, heater, filter, a whole equipment pad from Pentair. We have hourly drawings. This year we’re working with AquaCal Autopilot. They are donating a heat pump which is valued at about $9,000.”

The Western Show is also a great opportunity to network with professionals, distributors, and manufacturers as well as learn about the latest products and innovations. For those on the West Coast, it remains one of the easiest shows to get to and provides some of the best value in terms of the educational opportunities available for pool professionals.

Pool Magazine will definitely be in the house as well so make sure to stop by our booth (#216) and pick up the spring issue featuring Lucas Congdon, host of Insane Pools and owner of Lucas Lagoons.

Want to learn more about the Western Pool & Spa Show? Listen in on our conversation with Eric Nielson on the Pool Magazine podcast.

London, United Kingdom (March 20, 2023) – Pentair recently appointed Jerome Pedretti as
Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of its Pool segment, and Greg Claffey as
Group President of Pool.

In their roles, Pedretti and Claffey have a shared commitment to further supporting pool
professionals by delivering innovation excellence, accelerating category growth with smart,
sustainable products and solutions for the future of the pool industry, and making it easier to do business with Pentair.

“Our dealer base in Pool is important to us, and we work every day to lead with a ‘Customer
First’ mindset and become closer to our customers,” said Jerome Pedretti. “These dealers –
pool builders, service companies, small retailers – are critical to our success. We are focused
on prioritizing their needs and delivering for our customers into the future.”

“Our network of pool professionals, channel partners, and dealers are at the heart of our vision
for the future,” said Greg Claffey. “We believe that 2023 will be a great year as we work to
deliver innovative and energy efficient pool solutions to help people more sustainably enjoy
water.”

ABOUT PENTAIR
At Pentair we help the world sustainably move, improve and enjoy water, life’s most essential resource. From our residential and business solutions to industrial water management and everything in between, Pentair is focused on smart, sustainable water solutions that help our planet and people thrive.

Pentair had revenue in 2022 of approximately $4.1 billion, and trades under the ticker symbol PNR. With approximately 11,250 global employees serving customers in more than 150 countries, we work to help improve lives and the environment around the world. To learn more, visit www.pentair.com. As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair is dedicated to elevating the pool experience to the next level with connected, efficient, and quality products so people can soak in the magical, wonder filled moments by their pool, giving them time – and peace of mind – to create them. Pentair’s pool solutions are engineered to filter, clean and sanitize water, while automation equipment makes it easy to
control from anywhere. For more information, visit pentair.com/pool.

CAUTION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This release contains statements that we believe to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words “targets,” “plans,” “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “likely,” “may,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “projects,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “positioned,” “strategy,” “future” or words, phrases or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include the overall global economic and business conditions impacting our business, including the strength of housing and related markets and conditions relating to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine related sanctions; supply, demand, logistics, competition and pricing pressures related to and in the markets we serve; the ability to achieve the benefits of our restructuring plans, cost reduction initiatives and
transformation program; the impact of raw material, logistics and labor costs and other inflation; volatility in currency exchange rates; failure of markets to accept new product introductions and enhancements; the ability to successfully identify, finance, complete and integrate acquisitions; risks associated with operating foreign businesses; the impact of seasonality of sales and weather conditions; our ability to comply with laws and regulations; the impact of changes in laws, regulations and administrative policy, including those that limit U.S. tax benefits or impact trade agreements and tariffs; the outcome of litigation
and governmental proceedings; and the ability to achieve our long-term strategic operating and ESG goals. Additional information concerning these and other factors is contained in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022. All forward-looking statements, including all financial forecasts, speak only as of the date of this release. Pentair assumes no obligation, and disclaims any obligation, to update the information contained in this release.

A floating swimming pool has been proposed for the city of San Francisco and set to be the city’s first public pool of its kind, bringing a new type of aquatic experience to the Bay Area. Located on the San Francisco Bay, the heated, Olympic-sized pool would float on Piers 30-32, which are currently used for parking and will be rebuilt as part of the project.

The proposed floating pool would be surrounded by retail space, offices, and housing, including an apartment tower with 725 units, 25% of which would offer affordable housing. San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation in 2021 authorizing the construction of the pool on the state-owned piers. The plan proposes a unique recreational and relaxation space while also protecting the city’s waterfront from climate change and sea-level rise.

The concept has faced challenges, as previous attempts to revitalize the piers have been unsuccessful. Previous plans to turn the area into a stadium, a museum, and a cruise terminal have fallen through. However, Wiener is optimistic that this project will succeed. He believes that the previous plans failed because they tried to rehabilitate the piers, while this project involves completely rebuilding them. The success of the project depends on approval from the city, state, and various other agencies.

The floating pool would be built on one of the two piers, with the other pier being converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The swimming pool would include space for lap swimming, water polo games, and lounging in a hot tub. A section of the Bay surrounding the pool will be dedicated to open water swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The project, similar to the Plus Pool being proposed for the East River in New York City, aims to create an attractive and sustainable space that will enhance the waterfront, providing opportunities for new homes and public spaces that can be enjoyed by all.

The new plan for the project is a change from earlier versions, which emphasized commercial space on the piers, giving the impression of a large office park with a little waterfront recreation. The latest version of the project emphasizes swimming, with a focus on public access to the Bay and views of the Bay Bridge. The plan now calls for a single pier to be rebuilt, with the remaining pier to be converted into an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a shallow pool for people learning to swim, a hot tub, and shower facilities. Along the Embarcadero, there would be a market hall with food kiosks and artisan stands where makers can sell their goods.

The project’s developers, Strada Investment Group and Trammell Crow, hope to attract bay swimmers with a roped-off area similar to the aquatic park near Crissy Field. They plan to heat the pools, most likely with fresh water, rather than the frigid water pumped in from the Bay. Developers have also released new renderings of the piers, which is more public-oriented than previous plans.

The piers’ redevelopment plan is designed to revitalize the Embarcadero and make it a more enjoyable public experience. The project’s success depends on making the Embarcadero feel less like walking by a couple of office building lobbies and more like an engaging, waterfront destination. The concept has undergone several changes in response to feedback from state agencies, particularly those that regulate the waterfront. The changes reflect the desire to create a space that is more in line with the natural environment, with a greater emphasis on public spaces and water recreation.

The project has faced several challenges, including the fact that the site where the project is proposed to be built is owned by the state, which means that special legislative approval would be required before a developer can build there. The project must also get approval from the city, the state, and several other agencies.

Developers hope that the floating pool will provide a unique aquatic experience in San Francisco, drawing locals and tourists alike to the Bay Area. The concept has received strong support from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who said that the project would help the city to invest in critical infrastructure that would protect the waterfront from climate change and sea level rise while also creating opportunities for new homes and new spaces for the public to enjoy along the city’s gorgeous waterfront.

Photo Credits: Strada Investment Group