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The Pool Industry and Covid-19

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The Pool Industry and Covid-19

The covid-19 pandemic brought about many changes in the pool industry. I mean, public pools needed to incorporate several safety practices, and swimmers had to practice social distancing. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention formulated various guidelines that help in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Swimming pools needed to be disinfected and sanitized on a regular basis. The staff and swimmers had to wear masks and wash their hands frequently to reduce the number of infections.

The Pool Industry and Covid-19

Typically, the coronavirus gets passed from one person to another through respiratory droplets. So, infection is likely to occur when people are close to each other. According to the CDC, there is no proof that the virus can be spread in swimming pools. Besides, swimming pools are often disinfected using chlorine. The chances of the virus surviving in chlorine are very low.

Nevertheless, it is essential to maintain proper hygiene in swimming pools. This way, the number of infections will decrease. Let’s take a look at some ways to maintain 100% hygiene in swimming pools amid this pandemic.

The meaning of sanitizer

First, let’s understand the meaning of sanitizer. In the pool industry, sanitizers are more common than disinfectants. But the two terms could simply mean the same thing. Both sanitizers and disinfectants strive to eliminate all microorganisms and impurities in the water. Even so, there is a difference between the pool sanitation standards and municipal water treatment disinfection standards.

What does disinfectant mean?

On the flip side, disinfection typically eliminates all harmful bacteria and microbes on dry surfaces and water. Disinfection is often used for municipal water treatment. And that’s why sanitation is a more popular term in the pool industry. But disinfection destroys more microorganisms compared to sanitation.

How to observe maximum hygiene in pools and spas

One way to ensure your swimming pool is 100% free from microbes is to observe all the guidelines outlined by the CDC. Additionally, following the American National Standard for Water Quality cleaning guidelines will also help you maintain appropriate sanitation in pools and spas. Most of these guidelines give you a detailed explanation of how to take care of the pool and the proper chemicals to use. These guidelines help you maintain accurate water chemistry and obtain crystal-clear pool water. In fact, they also indicate the exact amount of chemical you need to use in the pool.

Does coronavirus survive in water features like pools and spas?

As of now, there’s no evidence that the coronavirus can survive in pool water or any other water features. But the existence of bromine and chlorine in water features should deactivate the virus. As a result, all pool owners should disinfect their pools regularly.

Social distancing – customers

As mentioned earlier, the covid-19 virus is mainly spread via respiratory droplets. Therefore, swimmers need to practice social distancing while in the pool. Remember, the pool only prevents the virus from surviving in water. But when swimmers are too close to each other, the virus can reach them through the air. Pool industry experts advise maintaining a distance of six feet between each other. In particular, some pool guidelines recommend using not more than 50% of the bather load capacity. This way, they ensure adequate space between swimmers.

Hygiene in the pool area

  • Both swimmers and staff should frequently wash their hands, cover their noses when sneezing, and appropriately dispose of the used tissue.
  • All commercial pool facilities should provide the right sanitation products. They should provide enough tissues, hand sanitizer, and hand soap.

Best coronavirus prevention measures for commercial pool owners

The following are some precautions to take to prevent the spread of covid in swimming pools. 

  • Social distancing. Ensure all swimmers maintain a distance of six feet away from each other while in the pool.
  • Both staff members and swimmers should avoid touching their face, nose, and mouth to prevent infection.
  • Ensure all swimmers do not crowd on the sides of the pool or the tanning ledges.
  • People who are not swimming should wear appropriate face masks and avoid sitting/standing too close to each other.
  • Swimmers and staff members should frequently wash their hands thoroughly using hand soap and water. Alternatively, they can use appropriate hand sanitizer.
  • All surfaces should be thoroughly disinfected from time to time. Also, leave the sanitizer on the surface for some minutes before you wipe it off completely. Typically, some sanitizers take longer to kill all the microorganisms on the surface. If possible, leave the sanitizer to dry on the surface by itself. Nevertheless, always follow all manufacturers’ instructions indicated on the product label.

Generally, there is no evidence that the covid-19 virus can spread in pool water. But it is essential to maintain maximum hygiene in swimming pools. Pool industry experts advise maintaining social distancing. Swimmers should keep a six-foot distance between themselves. Moreover, swimming pools and surrounding surfaces should be disinfected regularly.

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Pool News coverage brought to you by Pool Magazine's own Marcus Packer. Marcus Packer is a 20 year pool industry veteran pool builder and pool service technician. In addition to being a swimming pool professional, Marcus has been a writer and long time contributor for Newsweek Magazine's home improvement section and more recently for Florida Travel + Life. Have a story idea or tip you'd like to share with Pool Magazine? Email [email protected] your story idea.

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Why Pools Matter: Pool Horizons Takes Its Message Global

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Why Pools Matter: Pool Horizons Takes Its Message Global

For an industry that spends a great deal of time talking about how pools are built, operated and maintained, Pool Horizons is advancing a different conversation: why swimming pools matter in the first place.

Launched in 2023, Pool Horizons is a global initiative bringing together leaders from the swimming pool industry and broader aquatic community to examine and communicate the role pools play in society. Its work focuses on areas including health and wellbeing, community development, water safety and sustainability, with an emphasis on giving the industry research and real-world examples that demonstrate the value of aquatic spaces beyond recreation.

Over the next several months, Pool Horizons will continue that conversation at major industry gatherings in the United States and Europe, with appearances scheduled in Phoenix, Lyon and Atlantic City.

Pool Horizons Heads to the MasterMind Summit

The first stop will be the PHTA & GENESIS MasterMind Summit, taking place September 16–18 at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona.

Pool Horizons will host a two-hour session on Friday, September 18, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., connecting the cultural and social history of swimming pools with the data-backed narrative the industry is working to develop.

Author and historian Jeff Wiltse will explore the history of swimming pools and their enduring social, cultural and economic importance. Attendees will then hear about the latest Pool Horizons initiatives and how that work applies to the U.S. market.

The session will conclude with industry leaders discussing how different stakeholders can work together to better communicate the value of pools and create new opportunities for the industry.

Taking the Conversation to France

The initiative will head overseas in November for Piscine Global 2026 in Lyon, France.

On November 18 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., Pool Horizons will present preliminary findings from the Global Aquatic Social Impact Framework (GASIF) pilot study. The project is aimed at developing a more data-driven understanding of the social impact created by swimming pools and aquatic facilities.

Representatives from participating industry associations in France, Spain and the United States will take part, followed by a roundtable examining the challenges and future of the swimming pool industry. Leaders from CF Group, Fluidra, Hayward and Pentair are scheduled to participate in the discussion.

Pool Horizons will make a second appearance in Lyon during Aqualie on November 19 from 4:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. That session will introduce Pool Horizons and showcase a French public swimming pool Best-in-Class project, providing a real-world example of the role aquatic facilities can play within their communities.

Returning to Connect With The Industry in Atlantic City in 2027

The schedule continues into the new year with the Pool Horizons Summit in Atlantic City on January 25, 2027, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Following its 2026 gathering, Pool Horizons will return with a program that includes a keynote presentation, a new Best-in-Class project and contributions from leading figures throughout the swimming pool industry.

Together, the upcoming events provide Pool Horizons with an opportunity to continue building the conversation on both sides of the pond.

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Skimmer Expands Into Pool Construction Software With Acquisitions of Pool Builder Geek and Poologics

The two software platforms form the foundation of a unified offering for pool professionals; Pool Builder Geek founder Tommy Reynolds joins Skimmer to lead construction strategy.

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Skimmer Expands Into Pool Construction Software With Acquisitions of Pool Builder Geek and Poologics

AUSTIN, TX, August 24, 2026 — Skimmer, the leading operating system for pool service and maintenance professionals, today announced the acquisitions of Pool Builder Geek and Poologics, two software platforms purpose-built for pool construction businesses.

The acquisitions mark Skimmer’s expansion into pool construction and establish the foundation for a unified platform serving pool professionals from construction through ongoing service and maintenance.

As part of the acquisition, Pool Builder Geek founder Tommy Reynolds, who has extensive experience in the pool construction software space, will join Skimmer, leading the company’s construction strategy and continued investment in solutions for pool builders.

“Our vision is to build an end-to-end platform for the pool and spa industry,” said Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer. “Pool Builder Geek brings an AI-native platform designed to evolve quickly with the industry, while Poologics brings a proven product that builders have relied on for years. Together, they significantly accelerate our ability to serve pool construction businesses.”

Pool builders manage complex estimating, permitting, project management, subcontractor coordination, customer communication, and job costing processes. Many still rely on spreadsheets or generic construction tools that were not designed for their specific needs. Pool Builder Geek and Poologics address those challenges with purpose-built capabilities, including estimating, project management, permitting, job costing, and AI-powered visualization.

“Pool builders do not need generic contracting software with a pool label added to it,” said Reynolds. “We built Pool Builder Geek specifically around how pools are sold and built with AI at the core of the platform. Joining Skimmer gives us the resources and expertise to accelerate our product roadmap and deliver even more for the builders we serve. I’m excited about what we can build together and what this means for the future of the pool industry.”

“We built Poologics on the belief that pool construction deserves software designed specifically for the industry,” said Nate Pruitt, CEO of Poologics. “Skimmer has built its business on that same belief for pool service. Together, we can give builders more resources, stronger support, and a faster path to innovation.”

Service and maintenance remain a core focus of Skimmer. The expansion into construction advances the company’s long-term strategy to provide connected, purpose-built tools for pool professionals across the industry.

About Skimmer

Skimmer is one of America’s leading pool service platforms. The company is on a mission to modernize the pool and spa service and repair industry through easy-to-use software and best-in-class support. Over 35,000 pool service professionals servicing 1,000,000+ pools in North America use Skimmer to get organized, get paid faster, and grow their businesses. For more information, visit getskimmer.com.

About Poologics

Poologics is an all-in-one business management platform built specifically for swimming pool builders. It streamlines CRM, estimating, project management, and job costing, helping professionals run their businesses with greater efficiency, accuracy, and control. For more information, visit poologics.com.

About Pool Builder Geek

Pool Builder Geek is an AI-powered project management platform built exclusively for the swimming pool construction and renovation industry. Created by a team with deep experience building software for pool builders, it gives builders purpose-built tools for project tracking, scheduling, subcontractor coordination, budgeting, job costing, and AI-powered backyard visualization. For more information, visit poolbuildergeek.com.

Media contact

Travis Wingate

Skimmer, CMO, [email protected], 416-838-9161

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Landmark Aquatic Names Jason Hill Kansas City General Manager

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Jason Hill named Landmark Aquatic Kansas City General Manager

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Landmark Aquatic, a national leader in commercial aquatic construction and renovation, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jason Hill to General Manager of its Kansas City, Missouri market. Hill brings nearly two decades of commercial aquatic experience to the role, having worked his way through the industry as a laborer, plumber, project superintendent and project manager. That hands-on path through the trades gives him a perspective few general managers share.

“I truly understand the jobs of everyone here,” explains Hill. “It’s not just how they’re supposed to perform, I actually understand their day-to-day struggles, their desire for growth, and their need to have the best tools at their disposal to do their job efficiently.”

As he begins his tenure, Hill said mentorship and workforce development will be a top priority, particularly given how few professionals nationwide specialize in commercial pools.

“The commercial pool industry is such an anomaly,” he said. “As we grow our team, we are not likely to find commercial pool people waiting in our market to be hired, rather I am going to have to make commercial pool people. Training and coaching them is a big part of making that happen.” Hill’s emphasis on training echoes the company culture that earned Landmark a Top Workplace award, given in part for its investment in employee career development.

Hill is already collaborating closely with Landmark’s marketing team to grow the company’s visibility across the Kansas City market, contributing fresh ideas that are helping generate excitement. “I’m excited to compete with our other markets and see how far we can climb,” he said, noting his hometown ties add extra motivation.

With his depth of field experience and people-first approach, Hill is positioned to grow Landmark Aquatic’s presence and reputation throughout the region.

Jason can be reached at [email protected].

About Landmark Aquatic:

Landmark Aquatic is a nationwide provider of commercial aquatic facility design, construction, and maintenance services, with more than six decades of industry experience. Serving clients across most of the U.S., Landmark delivers construction-led solutions and on-going support though its AquatiCare maintenance team, ensuring excellence “for the life of your pool.” Committed to the full lifecycle of every facility, Landmark prioritizes long-term partnerships while adapting to client needs through exceptional service, operational excellence, and forward-thinking solutions. For more about Landmark Aquatic visit www.landmarkaquatic.com.

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