News
Spa Linked As Cause of Legionnaires’ Outbreak That Killed Two
A day spa in Richmond, CA has been linked to a Legionnaire’s Disease outbreak that claimed the lives of two people.
Laboratory findings have officially identified a Richmond spa as the probable origin of the Legionnaires’ disease outbreak that led to the unfortunate demise of two recent patrons. This conclusion was reached by the Contra Costa Health (CCH) authorities.
The investigative efforts of CCH commenced on August 4th, prompted by reports from local medical facilities concerning the deaths of two individuals due to Legionnaires’ disease. These patients had previously visited Zen Day Spa located at 12230 San Pablo Ave.
Taking a proactive approach, the establishment voluntarily ceased its operations on August 5th, adhering to a health order issued by CCH. Although definitive laboratory reports are still pending, preliminary analyses of water and swab samples collected from the spa have revealed substantial concentrations of legionella bacteria, a fact stated by CCH.
Having successfully reached more than 30% of recent spa visitors, CCH has identified two additional customers who have been confirmed through lab tests to have contracted Legionnaires’ disease. Additionally, two more patrons are suspected of having experienced the same ailment after visiting the spa.
Citing the outcomes of the laboratory tests, CCH has issued a directive for the spa to address the situation as a public nuisance. This order entails the disposal of the hot tub and the enlistment of professional cleaning services to remediate the affected area. The establishment will only be allowed to resume operations after a thorough re-inspection conducted by CCH.
This incident has prompted CCH to initiate inquiries into other spas and massage parlors across the county. The intent is to ascertain the compliance of these establishments with health and safety regulations.
Dr. Ori Tzvieli, the Contra Costa County health officer, stressed the growing significance of maintaining proper hygiene in hot tubs and pools, both for commercial ventures and private individuals, in light of the changing climate. He highlighted that rising temperatures foster the proliferation of legionella and other bacteria, underscoring the importance of effective water treatment.
“It is so tragic that individuals go to a spa to become healthy, feel relaxed and instead get sick or die and that is really what is tragic here,” said Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia.
For the public’s awareness, CCH offers a comprehensive database encompassing inspection outcomes for licensed public pools and hot tubs within Contra Costa County. Individuals who suspect the operation of an unpermitted public spa can formally lodge a complaint online or by calling 925-608-5500. Access to the database and complaint submission form can be found at cchealth.org/eh.
Comprehensive information, including details about necessary permits for pools and spas, along with advice and guidelines concerning proper maintenance practices, is available at ccheath.org/eh/recreational-health.
News
Beatbot Unveils iF DESIGN AWARD 2026 Winner Sora 30 along with New Sora 10 for Effortless Spring Cleaning
Award-winning innovation that elevates smart pool care into a simplistic lifestyle expression
Richmond, TX — [Mar 30, 2026] —Beatbot, a global leader in innovative pool robotics, is welcoming the spring season with the launch of two new additions to its Sora lineup: the Beatbot Sora 30, winner of the iF DESIGN AWARD 2026, and the Beatbot Sora 10, a new entry-level model designed to make intelligent pool cleaning more accessible. Built for reliable, hassle-free pool maintenance, the new Sora series helps pool owners tackle seasonal cleaning with powerful performance and thoughtful design.
The newly launched Beatbot Sora series models deliver complete cleaning coverage across floors, walls, waterlines, and platforms. Both the Beatbot Sora 30 and Sora 10 feature powerful 6,800 GPH suction, an ultra-large 5L debris capacity with 150μm filtration, and smart parking for easy retrieval, helping pool owners maintain cleaner water with less effort. The two models also feature bold color accents contrasted with deep black finishes, adding a modern visual touch that complements poolside environments.
Engineered for consistent performance, the robots actively navigate shallow areas and pool platforms, ensuring broad coverage throughout the pool. Powered by Beatbot’s innovative HydroBalance™ Structure, they deliver powerful suction and stable movement throughout the cleaning process.
The award-winning Sora 30 further distinguishes itself with a refined, minimalist design, featuring smooth contours, clean flowing lines, and a distinctive structure that gives it a recognizable look while blending naturally into backyard environments. It also enhances performance with a 10,000mAh battery, supporting up to five hours of floor cleaning for longer cleaning cycles.
The Beatbot Sora 30 is available with an MSRP of $999, while the Beatbot Sora 10 is priced at $699. Consumers now can place their orders on Beatbot’s official website and Amazon.
To provide pool owners with more choice and make spring pool maintenance even easier, Beatbot has also launched its Spring Cleaning promotion. For a limited time, select products are offered at up to 40% off on the Beatbot official website and Amazon.
News
PoolDial Launches Modern Pool Service Software with Built-In AI Phone Answering
PHOENIX, AZ, March 28, 2026 — PoolDial, a new pool service management platform built for small and midsize pool service companies, is now available nationwide. The platform combines route optimization, customer management, billing, chemical tracking, and AI-powered phone answering for $2 per pool, per month.
Most pool service companies are small operations: solo owners or teams of two to five technicians. Existing software options were built nearly a decade ago for larger operations, often on older technology that is slow to load and difficult to use. PoolDial was built from the ground up to address what small and growing companies actually need.
“Too many pool businesses are stuck with clunky old software, messy spreadsheets, or paper logs,” said Parker Conley, founder of PoolDial. “My goal is to build the best pool service software on the market. Software should handle the boring business stuff so pool pros can focus on what they do best: taking care of pools.”
What PoolDial Includes
PoolDial is a mobile-first platform designed for pool service businesses running 30 to 300+ pools. It is the first pool service software to include AI phone answering and an AI business assistant in every account. Key capabilities:
- AI Phone Answering: A 24/7 AI receptionist that answers calls, captures leads, responds to customer questions, and sends summaries to the owner.
- AI Business Assistant: Available in the dashboard, mobile app, and via SMS. Answers questions, pulls up customer info, and provides business insights.
- Route Optimization: Map-based route planning with drag-and-drop scheduling.
- Billing & Invoicing: Online card payments with automatic QuickBooks sync.
- Chemical Tracking: Water test logging, LSI calculations, and service history for every pool.
- Website Builder: A professional pool company website included in every account.
The platform also includes work order management, a field mobile app with offline support, a customer portal, team management with unlimited users, and data import from Skimmer, Pool Brain, and other pool service software.
How PoolDial Compares
The pool service software market is currently served by products like Skimmer, Pool Brain, Paythepoolman, and PSS. PoolDial differs in three key ways:
- AI built in: AI phone answering and an AI business assistant are included in every account. Other pool service software does not offer this.
- Modern architecture: Built in 2025 on a modern tech stack. The platform loads fast, works reliably on mobile, and is actively developed.
- Simple pricing: $2/pool/month with every feature included, unlimited users, and no tiered plans.
Pricing and Availability
PoolDial is available now on web, iOS, and Android. Pricing is $2 per pool per month with a $40/month minimum. Every feature is included at every level with unlimited users. A 30-day free trial is available with no setup fees. The company is currently onboarding its first customers.
About PoolDial
PoolDial is pool service software for small and midsize companies. Founded by Parker Conley, a software engineer, the platform handles routing, billing, customers, and communication so pool professionals can focus on taking care of pools. Learn more at pooldial.com.
News
Pentair Pool Raises More Than $80,000 Through Nationwide Polar Plunge Fundraising Effort in Celebration of its Official Swimming Sponsorship of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
Minneapolis, Minnesota — March 24, 2026 — Pentair Pool, a global leader in sustainable
pool solutions, recently participated in Special Olympics Polar Plunges across Florida,
Minnesota and North Carolina. Pentair Pool and its employees are proud to support the
2026 Special Olympics USA Games as the Official Swimming Sponsor furthering its
commitment to inclusion, community impact, and helping people safely and sustainably
enjoy water.
In celebration of the partnership, nearly 80 Pentair executives, employees, and family
members took part in the annual Polar Plunge, raising more than $80,000 to support local
Special Olympics delegations. Funds raised will help athletes from each delegation travel
to Minneapolis this June to compete in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, taking
place June 20–26 at the University of Minnesota and National Sports Center.
Participation in this year’s Polar Plunge grew significantly, increasing 16-fold year-overyear — a testament to the passion and dedication of Team Pentair in support of Special
Olympics athletes and their communities.

“Supporting the Special Olympics USA Games is a natural extension of who we are at
Pentair Pool,” said Jerome Pedretti, Executive Vice President and CEO for Pentair Pool.
“Swimming brings people together, builds confidence, and creates opportunity, and we’re
proud to stand alongside Special Olympics athletes, volunteers, and organizers to help
deliver an unforgettable experience in and out of the water.”
As the Official Swimming Sponsor of the 2026 USA Games, Pentair Pool will work closely
with Special Olympics leading up to and throughout the event, providing support, raising
awareness, and engaging employees through volunteer opportunities designed to enhance
the athlete experience during swimming competitions.
To learn more about the partnership, visit www.pentair.com/en-us/poolspa/landing/special-olympics.html.
About Pentair Pool
At Pentair, we help the world safely and 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.
As an industry leader in the pool and spa space, Pentair Pool is driven to help people
sustainably enjoy water. Our solutions include industry-leading pumps, automation,
lighting, heating, and filtration technology that help our customers enjoy a smarter and
more sustainable pool. Customer success is at the heart of our vision for bringing family
and friends together in the pool and on the deck to build social connections, create lifelong
memories, and help promote fitness and enjoyment. For more information, visit
www.pentairpool.com.
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