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Worried about COVID-19 at the pool? Americans are split, survey finds

Swimmers most worry about crowds, want limited capacity at public pools

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Covid-19 Pool Worries?

With the weather getting warmer and vaccinations surging, public pools are starting to reopen and a growing number of Americans are making plans to take the plunge this summer. But a new survey finds that swimmers are divided on whether those pools will offer a refreshing respite from the pandemic.

The survey found that 70% of Americans plan to swim in a pool this summer, up from 52% last year. But more swimmers at the pool means greater concern about people spreading COVID-19. Overall, more than half of Americans (52%) worry about COVID-19 at public pools, and among that group, 82% are especially concerned about large crowds at the pool.

However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through pool water. Proper operation and disinfection of pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds should kill the virus that causes COVID-19

“It’s finally time to get back in the water, as long as we’re practicing socially safe behaviors,” said Rowdy Gaines, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, who is working with the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance to educate swimmers about COVID-19 safety, as well as general health and hygiene information for summer pool visits.


So what should pool operators do to make swimmers feel comfortable this summer? According to the survey, most Americans (57%) want public pools to limit capacity above anything else. Interestingly, vaccination status appears to do little to ease swimmers’ concerns, with 59% of already-vaccinated Americans saying they would still require limited pool capacity to swim in a public pool.

“This summer, as more Americans make plans to swim in pools, it’s important for us to keep safety in mind by maintaining a social distance from others, even in the water and on the pool deck,” added Gaines.

Also, the CDC recommends setting a clear COVID protocol at each establishment, such as determining cleaning procedures, when employees should stay home, and what to do in case of exposure — and staying updated with the latest CDC guidance on operating public pools, hot tubs, water playgrounds during COVID-19.

Finally, pool operators should clearly communicate expectations to swimmers, including any face mask policies, if applicable.

“This summer, Americans are cautiously optimistic about the prospects of swimming safely in pools — at their backyard pool, a public pool, or while vacationing at a resort pool,” said Sabeena Hickman, President and CEO of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. “Together, by following proper safety protocols, we can all enjoy the 2021 swimming pool season.”

Learn more about healthy swimming this summer at HealthyPools.org.

Methodology: Sachs Media conducted the 2021 Healthy Pools survey on behalf of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, the world’s oldest and largest association representing swimming pool, spa, and hot tub manufacturers, manufacturers’ agents, builders, designers, distributors, suppliers, installers, retailers, and service technicians. The survey interviewed 2,000 American adults online April 9-10, 2021, with the intent to measure perceptions and behaviors related to swimming pools and public health. The survey had a margin of error of +/- 2.2% at the 95% confidence level, and results were nationally representative of American adults in terms of age, race, gender, region, and household income.

For more information, please contact Janay Rickwalder, PHTA’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, at [email protected] or 703.357.3918.

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Industry News

Hayward Holdings Names New Chief Accounting Officer

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CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) (“Hayward” or the “Company”), a leading global pool and outdoor living technology company, today announced the appointment of Jared Arrowood as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer, effective immediately. As principal accounting officer, Arrowood will oversee the Company’s global financial reporting, tax, operational finance and technical accounting functions.

“Jared’s experience as a financial executive for publicly traded global organizations and his deep understanding of our business make him exceptionally well suited for this role,” said Eifion Jones, Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer. “I am confident his technical expertise, leadership and business perspective will continue to strengthen our finance organization and support long-term value creation for shareholders.”

Arrowood will continue to report to Jones as part of his financial leadership team.

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Arrowood joined Hayward in 2023 as Assistant Corporate Controller and was promoted to Vice President, Corporate Controller in 2024. He has helped strengthen the Company’s financial processes, controls and continuous improvement efforts across the global controllership organization. Prior to Hayward, Arrowood spent 17 years at SPX FLOW, including serving as Vice President of Finance for its Mixing Solutions division.

He holds a Master of Accounting from the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a certified public accountant.

About Hayward Holdings, Inc.
Hayward Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a leading global specialty water management company focused on designing and manufacturing pool and outdoor living technology and industrial flow control products. Driven by a mission to transform the experience of water, Hayward offers a comprehensive portfolio of energy‑efficient and sustainable pool equipment—including pumps, heaters, sanitizers, filters, LED lighting, water features, and cleaners—integrated through its intuitive, IoT‑enabled SmartPad™ platform. The Company also provides industrial thermoplastic valves and process control products serving a wide range of applications.

Investor Relations Contact: 
Kevin Maczka
[email protected] 

Media Relations Contact: 
Misty Zelent
[email protected]

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Daldorado Names Marcia Gyles Director of Sales

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Marcia Gyles, newly appointed Director of Sales at Daldorado

Daldorado, a leading innovator in the commercial aquatic industry, announces the appointment of Marcia Gyles as its new Director of Sales. Bringing a distinguished track record of high-impact leadership to the role, Gyles’s comprehensive sales approach will span the entire industry ecosystem, serving distributors, contractors, and facility owners alike as she accelerates revenue growth and scales national operations.

In her new role, Gyles will manage the entire United States, leveraging her deep market expertise to provide unlimited access to Daldorado’s expansive product line. She is tasked with representing the company’s full portfolio of high-performance aquatic solutions—including its signature Rim-Flow systems, Main Drains, and highly anticipated products currently in development.

“We are thrilled to welcome a professional of Marcia’s high caliber to the Daldorado leadership team,” said Rob Lawson, Founder/CEO. “Her unparalleled expertise in channel sales and sophisticated account management makes her the perfect fit to elevate our national footprint as we shift to a distribution sales model. Marcia’s dynamic energy and master strategic vision will play a critical role in setting the tone for our sales pipeline and achieving our aggressive scaling goals.”

As Director of Sales, Gyles will oversee regular sales forecasting, manage cross-functional collaborations with marketing and operations for seasonal inventory planning, and maintain a commanding field presence. Her role involves an extensive travel schedule which includes conducting on-site commercial installation visits and providing master-class training for Daldorado’s extensive distribution and design networks.

About Daldorado

Daldorado is a leading innovator and manufacturer of high-quality commercial aquatic drainage systems and perimeter grating solutions. Committed to safety, durability, and superior engineering, Daldorado serves major commercial aquatic facilities, waterparks, and competitive swimming venues globally.

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FSPA and PHTA Reunite Through Historic Affiliation

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FSPA and PHTA Reunite Through Historic Affiliation

(Sarasota, Fl. / Alexandria, Va.) — The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) and the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) today announced a new affiliation agreement, effective January 1, 2027, bringing together two leading organizations with a shared commitment to advancing the pool, spa, and hot tub industry.

The affiliation represents both a new chapter and a return to shared roots. FSPA operated as Region VII of the National Spa & Pool Institute (NSPI) during the 1960s and 1970s, transitioned to an independent affiliate in 2001, and became fully independent in 2008. Nearly two decades later, FSPA and PHTA are reuniting through a modern affiliation model designed to combine strong state and national resources while preserving FSPA’s autonomy.

Under the affiliation, FSPA will continue to independently govern and operate its organization, while FSPA members will also gain membership in PHTA. The relationship brings together FSPA’s deep Florida relationships, state advocacy, chapter network, and market expertise with PHTA’s national education and certification programs, standards development, workforce initiatives, research, advocacy, and industry resources.

“FSPA has always been focused on delivering meaningful value to our members and strengthening the industry in Florida,” says Keith Johnson, President of FSPA. “This affiliation allows us to maintain the identity, leadership, and local relationships that make FSPA strong while giving our members access to an even broader network of education, resources, and expertise. It is an exciting opportunity to bring our organizations back together in a way that positions our members and our industry for the future.”

The organizations already have a strong history of collaboration, including FSPA’s partnership with PHTA’s Step Into Swim drowning prevention initiative, which has expanded significantly since 2020—funding more than 180,000 swim lessons in 2025 alone—while increasing support for community learn-to-swim programs.

“There is tremendous power in bringing the industry together while continuing to recognize the importance of strong state and local leadership,” says Scott Frost, Chairman of the PHTA Board of Directors. “FSPA has an extraordinary history and presence in Florida, and PHTA brings national scale and resources that can complement that strength. Together, we can create greater opportunities for our members, speak with a stronger industry voice, and continue raising the level of professionalism throughout the industry.”

The affiliation is designed to expand access to education and certification, strengthen workforce development, increase advocacy influence, enhance consumer safety initiatives, and provide members with additional resources and benefits. The FSPA-PHTA affiliation takes effect January 1, 2027.

For more information, please contact Amy Willer, PHTA’s Senior Director of Content and Communications, at
[email protected] or 703-838-0083, ext. 121.

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About the Florida Swimming Pool Association

The Florida Swimming Pool Association (FSPA) is a nonprofit trade association representing Florida’s swimming pool, spa, and hot tub industry. For more than 50 years, FSPA has served as a trusted resource for pool builders, service professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers while promoting professionalism, education, and safety across the industry. Through advocacy, training, and consumer outreach, FSPA works to protect the interests of its members and advances best practices in pool and spa construction, maintenance, and design. FSPA also supports drowning prevention and water safety initiatives through its charitable arm, the Florida Swims Foundation, which provides funding for swim lessons and water safety education programs throughout the state. For more information, visit www.fspa.com.

About the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance

The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a non-profit organization with 4,000 members from around the world, was established in 1956 to support, promote, and protect the common interests of the $62B pool, hot tub, and spa industry. PHTA provides education, advocacy, standards development, research, and market growth initiatives to increase our members’ professionalism, knowledge, and profitability. Additionally, PHTA promotes the use of pools by expanding swimming, water safety, and related research and outreach activities aimed at introducing more people to swimming, making swimming environments safer, and keeping pools open to serve communities. For more information, visit www.phta.org.

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