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Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) Scores $20 Million Industry Win with Florida Department of Health

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FSPA Testing Kit

(SARASOTA, Fla.) – This week, work on behalf of the Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA)’s Government Affairs department was recognized in a major motion by the Florida Department of Health (DOH), resulting in an approximate $20 million savings for the state’s pool and spa industry.

On January 8, 2024, the DOH announced that it is suspending the implementation of new rules that would have required all public pools and spas to keep full spectrum NSF 50 Level 1 Certified pool and spa test kits on site. The initial Level 1 test kit rule was originally made by the DOH during an update of operational requirements for public pools and spas within Florida Administrative Code 64E-9.

FSPA’s Government Affairs department, led by Dallas Thiesen, Senior Director of Government Affairs, engaged with top staff in both the DOH and the Governor’s Office to raise the Florida pool and spa industries’ issues with this rule change. As a result of FSPA’s efforts, the DOH has not only suspended implementation of the Level 1 test kit requirement, but they will also be re-opening rulemaking to address FSPA’s concerns with the rule and other parts of 64E-9.
“Halting implementation of this rule and revisiting rulemaking is a big win for the pool and spa industry in Florida,” said Thiesen. “The way the rule was written made compliance impossible and attempts to comply were financially burdensome. FSPA is looking forward to working with the DOH to address this right away.”

The original Level 1 test kit rule, which had been in effect since July 11, 2023, and scheduled for full implantation in 2024, would have required all chemicals and measurements taken when testing the water quality of pools and spas be done to NSF 50 Level 1 accuracy.

This requirement presented several problems for the pool and spa industry, including:

  • Lack of currently available test kits capable of reading all pool chemicals and measurements to an NSF 50 Level 1 accuracy.
  • Any test kits that would come close to being complaint with the proposed rule have an exorbitant cost of between $850 – $1300 per test kit.

Full implementation of this rule would have resulted in erroneous pool and spa closures and would have cost Florida public pool operators over $20 million to attempt to comply with this rule.

Representatives from FSPA are available for interviews upon request. Please contact Alyssa Holcomb, PR and Digital Media Specialist, to schedule an interview or with any questions by e-mailing [email protected].

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Marianne Trusty

Marianne Trusty is a Press Correspondent for the pool & spa industry. A published author and social media influencer reaching over 20 million people around the world each day. Contact Marianne about publishing op-editorials, breaking pool news and press releases at [email protected].

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Invis-A-Rope™ Gives Automatic Pool Covers Aesthetically Pleasing Look

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Invis-A-Rope_AutomaticPoolCovers-Inc

 Exclusive Invis-A-Rope™ from Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. is designed to blend seamlessly into the pool track for a nearly invisible finish that customers love. Its dark gray color is intentionally engineered to match the pool coping and be virtually invisible within the track, unlike more visible alternatives from other manufacturers.  As a key component of the THREE·SIXTY·FIVE™ automatic pool cover system, Invis-A-Rope™ enhances overall pool aesthetics while maintaining functionality, delivering a discreet design that remains virtually unseen by swimmers and end users.

Automatic Pool Covers Inc. 

www.automaticpoolcovers.com

(800) 878-5789 

About  Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC)
Automatic Pool Covers, Inc. (APC) is a leading U.S. manufacturer of automatic pool cover systems for gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, existing pools, and spas. Headquartered in Westfield, Indiana, APC partners with pool professionals nationwide to deliver high-quality auto-covers designed for safety, durability, and ease of use.

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Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

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Fluidra Acquires Datapool to Lead Digitalization and Efficiency in the Pool Sector

Fluidra, the global leader in pool and wellness equipment and connected solutions, has announced the acquisition of Datapool, the digital twin platform developed by Ecotropy. With this transaction, the company reinforces its strategic commitment to sustainability, operational efficiency and the digitalization of the sector.

The transaction represents the evolution of a collaboration that began in 2024, when Fluidra invested in Ecotropy through Fluidra Ventures, its Corporate Venture Capital fund focused on startups with the potential to transform the pool and wellness sector through technological innovation.

With this acquisition, Datapool becomes fully integrated into Fluidra’s digital ecosystem for commercial pools, consolidating its role as a key part of the company’s value proposition. The platform incorporates advanced analytics capabilities, IoT solutions and real-time data within an open and scalable architecture, in line with the company’s strategy to offer connected and sustainable solutions that maximize the efficiency of aquatic facilities and accelerate the transition towards smarter management models.

Datapool outfits aquatic facilities with digital twins, enabling pools to be managed using reliable, real-time data and replacing management models based on estimates or manual supervision.

In this way, the platform simulates the optimal operation of each facility and continuously compares it with variables such as energy consumption, occupancy, weather conditions and water quality, providing a comprehensive view that helps anticipate incidents, optimize resources and improve operational performance.

Thanks to this technology, operators can reduce operating costs by 10% to 25% by optimizing water and energy consumption without the need for construction works or invasive interventions; monitor and adjust key parameters such as temperature, water quality and occupancy in real time; automate management through predictive models that adapt climate control and operations to real demand; generate automatic reports with traceable data for audits, tenders or grant applications; and plan investments and improvements based on objective data.

“This acquisition marks a milestone in our digitalization strategy. Datapool allows us to accelerate the transition towards an intelligent pool management model, improving efficiency, reducing environmental impact and offering our customers data-driven tools to make better decisions,” said Thorsten Muck, Commercial Pool Director at Fluidra.

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Pool Industry Accelerates Digital Transformation with POOLCORP and JobTread as Tech Stacks Become More Connected

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Pool Industry Accelerates Digital Transformation with POOLCORP and JobTread as Tech Stacks Become More Connected

Dallas, TX — The pool and outdoor living industry is accelerating its digital transformation as more builders adopt connected tech stacks to increase efficiency across every phase of a project. The newly launched JobTread and POOLCORP integration signals this shift toward smarter, fully integrated construction workflows.

JobTread, a construction management platform trusted by more than 10,000 companies, today announced its new integration with POOLCORP, the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies and outdoor living products. This integration helps contractors connect estimating, purchasing, and project management in one streamlined workflow.

Launched in 2021, JobTread’s rapid growth reflects how quickly contractors are embracing project management software. In just a few years, the platform has seen a meteoric rise in adoption. That momentum signals a larger industry shift away from legacy solutions and toward integrated systems.

“Pool builders are becoming more strategic in how they use technology,” said Eric Fortenberry, Founder and CEO of JobTread. “They want systems that work together. Launching this new integration with POOLCORP helps contractors order materials quickly and seamlessly while delivering a better customer experience.”

The integration gives contractors direct access to POOLCORP’s full product catalog—including inventory, pricing, and ordering—while managing projects within JobTread. This includes access to National Pool Trends (NPT), POOLCORP’s leading building materials brand, trusted by builders and subcontractors for new pool construction and complete remodels. By connecting estimating directly to ordering across materials, finishes, and equipment, the integration helps streamline workflows, reduce errors, and accelerate project timelines.

For POOLCORP, the collaboration represents continued investment in digital innovation. As contractor expectations evolve, distributors and software providers are working more closely to support modern, connected workflows.

“Technology is reshaping how pool professionals operate,” said Todd Marshall, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of POOLCORP. “Partnering with platforms like JobTread is part of our broader commitment to building a more connected ecosystem for our customers. We will continue investing in integrations that help simplify workflows, accelerate project execution, and enable our customers to run their businesses faster and more efficiently.”

About JobTread
JobTread provides construction management software designed to help contractors streamline operations, improve financial visibility, and deliver exceptional project experiences. Launched in 2021 and trusted by more than 10,000 construction companies, JobTread combines estimating, scheduling, communication, job costing, and reporting in a single system, giving contractors real-time financial visibility across every project. Learn more at www.jobtread.com.

About POOLCORP
POOLCORP is the world’s largest wholesale distributor of swimming pool supplies, equipment, and related outdoor living products. Serving thousands of professionals across the industry, POOLCORP supports contractors with a broad product offering, including National Pool Trends (NPT), and a growing focus on digital innovation and connected customer experiences.

JobTread Contact:
Taylor Crosby
Director of Marketing
[email protected]

POOLCORP Contact:
Kendall Large
Vice President of Marketing
[email protected]

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