Industry News
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.

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.
Industry News
POOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned distribution leader to drive POOLCORP’s next chapter of growth, deepening commitment to customers and supply partners
COVINGTON, LA., May 14, 2026 — POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor living products, recently announced the appointment of John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Watwood joined the company in January 2026 as Executive Vice President and has quickly made an impact after spending much of his time in POOLCORP sales centers, meeting with customers, engaging with suppliers, and aligning closely with teams across the business. With extensive leadership experience in industrial and specialty distribution, Watwood brings a deep understanding of how to build high-performing teams, strengthen customer connections, and create long-term value in the industry.
Prior to joining POOLCORP, Watwood served as Senior Vice President of Sales and Operations at Motion Industries, a leading distributor of industrial parts and value-added solutions and a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company. During his career, he has led large-scale sales and operations organizations focused on customer growth, supply chain excellence, and market expansion.

“John has gained the trust of our employees, customers, and suppliers in a very short period of time,” said Kenny St. Romain, Senior Vice President at POOLCORP. “He understands distribution at its core, but more importantly, he understands the value of relationships and the local support that our customers need. Our field teams have seen firsthand his commitment to listening, supporting our customers, and helping us continue to evolve our already successful service model. There’s real excitement across the organization about where we’re headed under John’s leadership.”
Watwood’s appointment marks the next chapter for POOLCORP as the company continues to invest in customer-focused solutions, sales and service excellence, operational capabilities, and technology-enabled experiences designed to help industry professionals grow and operate more efficiently.

About Pool Corporation
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool and related outdoor living products. The Company operates approximately 455 sales centers in North America, Europe, and Australia, through which it distributes more than 200,000 products to roughly 125,000 wholesale customers, including pool builders, retail stores, and service professionals. For more information, please visit www.poolcorp.com.
Industry News
Latham Rings Nasdaq Opening Bell Commemorating 70th Anniversary & 5 Year IPO
Latham Group, Inc. – the largest designer and manufacturer of in-ground residential swimming pools in North America, Australia and New Zealand, visited the Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
The team at Latham proudly rang the Nasdaq Opening Bell. The industry leader took a moment to celebrate its 70th anniversary and five years as a public company, highlighting continued growth, strong market performance, and resilience in a shifting residential construction landscape.
The achievement follows a year of solid performance for Latham Group Inc., which reported 7% year-over-year revenue growth in 2025, even as the broader residential construction market faced ongoing economic headwinds.

In a statement on LinkedIn, the company said:
“For seven decades, innovation has been at the core of what we do, made possible by the trusted builders and partners who bring these backyards to life every day.
Together, we’ve helped transform backyards into spaces where families gather and memories are made.
Here’s to 70 years of progress, partnership, and what we’ll build next!”
Photo Credit: Latham, The Pool Company
Industry News
SPS PoolCare Expands Enterprise Platform with ServiceTitan
SPS’s Recent Acquisition of Pool Troopers Accelerates Company’s Investment in Scaled Infrastructure with ServiceTitan Powering Over 30 Branch Locations Across Five States and Standardizing Operations across the Service Cycle
LOS ANGELES – March 17, 2026— ServiceTitan (Nasdaq: TTAN), the software platform that powers the trades, today announced that SPS PoolCare, the largest residential swimming pool services platform in the United States, is standardizing their 30+ branch locations across five states on the ServiceTitan platform. By unifying their family of brands on ServiceTitan, SPS will leverage a single, enterprise-grade system to unify its vast operations, accelerate its high-velocity acquisition strategy, and scale its platform.
“SPS is demonstrating how purpose-built technology can transform a traditionally fragmented industry,” said Connor Theilmann, Chief Business Officer of ServiceTitan. “Their leadership team has made a deliberate investment in enterprise infrastructure, and we’re proud to support their continued growth. Standardizing on ServiceTitan will allow SPS to meet the needs of a large, multi-location operation, with Fraser Ramseyer, Storr Group, and the SPS leadership team making this one of the most seamless large-scale integrations we’ve ever seen.”
The move reflects SPS PoolCare’s continued investment in enterprise-grade infrastructure, as it advances its position as the dominant market leader in a highly fragmented industry. Founded in 2021 and backed by Storr Group, an investment firm that builds and scales industry-leading platforms, SPS PoolCare operates across Texas, Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia, where it employs more than 1,000 team members and is on track to perform more than two million weekly recurring pool services in 2026. ServiceTitan’s cloud-based platform serves as SPS PoolCare’s technology backbone, enabling SPS to manage complexity across geography, workforce scale, and service frequency.
“We’ve worked closely with the ServiceTitan team for several years, and this decision reflects the trust and alignment we’ve built as long-term partners,” said Lance Martin, CEO and COO of SPS PoolCare. “Our objective has always been to build a durable platform that enables our team to deliver exceptional service to our customers. Standardizing on ServiceTitan gives us the operational visibility, integration speed, and performance discipline required to scale responsibly and create long-term value.”
Ranked #1 on Pool and Spa News Top 50 Service list, SPS continues to solidify its position as the industry leader, driven by the company’s ability to pair high-velocity revenue growth with a deep commitment to staff training and retention, active industry leadership, and an early adopter of innovative technology within the pool service space. SPS PoolCare is dedicated to the communities it serves, ensuring that its national scale translates into a positive local impact across its entire service footprint.
“From inception, our thesis at Storr Group has been to build the pool industry’s first scaled category-defining operating platform,” Fraser Ramseyer, CEO of Storr Group and Founder of SPS PoolCare. “Technology is not ancillary to that vision – it is foundational. ServiceTitan provides the infrastructure necessary to integrate acquisitions efficiently, drive operational consistency, and support disciplined expansion.”
SPS PoolCare’s focus on being the employer-of-choice is supported by ServiceTitan’s mobile-first capabilities, which empower their over 1,000 staff team members with the tools they need to succeed in the field.
ServiceTitan continues to invest in purpose-built technology for the pool industry, offering features like route optimization, automated chemical tracking, and integrated project management for renovations. By providing real-time visibility into multi-location operations, ServiceTitan enables enterprise-scale businesses like SPS PoolCare to make data-driven decisions that fuel organic growth.
About ServiceTitan ServiceTitan is the software platform that powers trades businesses. The company’s cloud-based, end-to-end solution gives contractors the tools they need to run and grow their business, manage their back office, and provide a stellar customer experience. By bringing an integrated SaaS platform to an industry historically underserved by technology, ServiceTitan is equipping tradespeople with the technology they need to keep the world running.
About SPS PoolCare
As the #1 swimming pool services company in the United States, SPS PoolCare is on track to perform over 2,000,000 weekly recurring pool services in 2026 and employs more than 1,000 staff across five states. Backed by Storr Group, the company is focused on growing its family of brands across the Sun Belt, as it continues to make owning a pool a joy. SPS PoolCare is committed to creating a world-class service experience for its customers and being an employer-of-choice for its team members. Read more at spspoolcare.com.
About Storr Group
Storr Group is an operationally focused lower-middle-market private equity firm that backs, builds, and scales industry-leading platforms. With a rich background in business building, Storr combines world-class operators with strategic M&A, deep integration, and sophisticated technology to drive sustainable growth and long-term value. To partner today, visit storrgroup.com.
Press Contact
Max Wertheimer
ServiceTitan, Inc.
© 2026 ServiceTitan. All rights reserved. ServiceTitan, the ServiceTitan logo, and all ServiceTitan product and service names mentioned herein are registered trademarks or unregistered trademarks of ServiceTitan, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Other brand names and marks mentioned herein are for identification purposes only and may be the trademarks of their respective holder(s).
-
Trade Shows3 weeks agoPool Trade Shows & Industry Events To Attend in 2026-2027
-
Industry News3 weeks agoPOOLCORP Welcomes John Watwood as President and Chief Executive Officer
-
Op Editorials2 weeks agoCome to Buffalo And See First Hand What An Aquatic Desert Looks Like
-
Pool News3 weeks agoWhen Pool Projects Become Political – Trump’s Pool Contractor Got Review Bombed
-
Safety2 weeks agoPool Barrier Safety: The Small Details That Matter Most
-
Regulations4 weeks agoPHTA Secures DOE Relief on Pool Pump Motor Rule
-
News3 weeks agoCCEI North America and Carvin Pool Announce Strategic Partnership to Serve the U.S. Market
-
Manufacturer4 weeks agoPentair, Pool Brain Unveil Integrated Pool Service Technology























You must be logged in to post a comment Login