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A Borates Shortage is Looming on The Horizon

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A Borates Shortage is Looming on The Horizon

One of the specialty chemicals being talked about a lot in light of the chlorine shortages and rising prices are borates. As strong proponents of borates, it troubles us to say that our go-to sanitzer supplement may soon be facing the same shortages and rising costs that we’ve been seeing on the trichlor side.

What The Boron Shortage Means For The Pool Industry

If you’re in the pool business you already know, borates are becoming increasingly difficult to find. What inventory is available is vastly more expensive than in previous years. We’re already knee-deep into the dog days of summer and prices for chlorine have skyrocketed well past analysts’ projections.

A lot of pool service professionals have been turning to borates as the savior during this time of inflation and rising prices. Many technicians already use borates as a buffer against upwards shifting pH. When your pH level rises above what is deemed “normal” (about 7.8), using borates achieves optimum results.

Pool service professionals have been turning to borates in a time of rising prices for sanitizers like trichlor.

Why Pool Professionals Are Turning To Borates

Bacteria can thrive in water with a high pH level. When this happens it makes chlorine less effective. Pool professionals use borates to alleviate the issue, because it works to keep pH from drifting upward. In addition, there are other positive aspects to using borates in your pool. For one, it keeps the pool clear of algae and calcium scaling. Pool equipment repair specialists will be the first ones to recommend borates. When it comes to maintaining ideal water chemistry for your pool equipment, borates does an amazing job.

For the past few years, the adoption of borates by pool pros has steadily increased season after season. The concern now is that we may have hit maximum capacity as demand has increased well beyond available inventory.

Dwindling Boron Supplies Driving Prices Higher

The global boron market shortage is driving prices higher this season. For those who’ve been thinking of switching to using borates, this definitely is something to consider. When it comes to getting trichlor at affordable rates, it already feels that pool pros are a lower priority as far as it goes to maintaining pricing structures. Now, it appears the same thing has begun happening with borates.

Although borates and boric acid are near synonymous with pools, the swimming pool industry itself is actually a lower priority in terms of its consumption of boron. The industrial glass industry is the largest consumer of boron, roughly 48%, followed by the ceramics industry (15%) and agricultural industry (15%); the cleaning industry of which the pool industry represents a fraction consumes roughly 2% of the world’s boron.

Boron is in high demand. There are a myriad of applications for it aside from pool cleaning.

You’ll find boron in everything from industrial fertilizers to high-end ceramics and solar panels. Boron also has medical applications which improve wound healing and boosts the body’s usage of estrogen, testosterone, and vitamin D. It improves magnesium absorption, reduces inflammation, increases antioxidants, and boosts brain electrical activity in both cognitive performance as well as short-term memory.

What is absolutely certain is that we (the pool industry) didn’t cause a borates shortage. Clearly, demand is higher in these other industries which are causing prices to surge. Right now the boron supply chain is very weak. Over 60% of the material comes from mines located in Turkey which is the top producer, followed by Russia, South America and the United States.

For the time being, production is gradually declining. As existing boron reserves deplete, we’re seeing demand far exceed supplies, resulting in higher prices such as $1,250 per ton, far exceeding analysts’ predictions for $739 per ton.

While the demand in the U.S. by pool professionals may be high, the top consumer of boron is China, followed by India and Japan. Boron is produced domestically only in the State of California and it appears very little of it is earmarked towards maintaining supply chains for borates.

Final Thoughts

The story isn’t all doom and gloom for pool professionals who want to switch to borates. Fortunately, folks like Natural Chemistry, Brenntag, and others are still intent on keeping inventory on the shelves so you should still be able to find their products through distribution. If they don’t have borates available, demand that they replenish their stock. This may be the only way to guarantee the pool industry remains a priority at all.

Listen to our entire discussion on the Talking Pools podcast.

4.8/5 - (21 votes)

Rudy Stankowitz is a 30-year pool industry veteran and pool water chemistry expert, and Andrea Nannini is the 2018 Perfect Pool Gal with 20-years of her own as a pool service tech under her belt. Together they are the hosts of the Talking Pools Podcast and a contributor to Pool Magazine. Follow their op-editorial column.

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Cleaning and Service Equipment and Supplies

The Long Road To And Future Of Pool Cleaning

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Did you know the first pool cleaner was invented in 1912? John Davison submitted a patent application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office entitled “Cleaning Apparatus For Swimming Pools And The Like.” The patent was issued on March 25th, 1913. The patent, proof that technology and innovation have long roads and requires many forward-thinking innovators.

While subtle advances and alternative cleaning techniques were trickling into the early days of the pool cleaning industry, it wasn’t until forty years later, in 1953, Joseph Eistrup invented a “pool cleaner.” Two years later, the “automatic swimming pool cleaner” was invented by Andrew Pansini. The original design was a crude device with several parts welding together but was described as “effective to remove the scum, dirt, and other accumulations from both the bottom and sidewalls of a pool to disperse foreign matter in the water for removal therefrom by a normal pump-filter system of the pool”.

Since then, technology has jumped leaps and bounds. It has brought down and raised entire industries, just for pool cleaners, but for everything. The rise of technology, computers, and artificial intelligence have defined eras, transformed how we live our lives. For pool owners, this has been no exception, as commercial pool cleaning devices have been more financially accessible, smarter, and more efficient.

Wireless technology, solar charging, and artificial intelligence are converging and intertwining to make a product that redefined pool cleaning for the current generation of pool owners. Behind every incredible yard is a brand that values making things clearer, tidier, and easier. The keepers of clean, Aiper proudly believes in transforming your yard into a paradise. Bringing ease, comfort, and value to your every day.

Since 2017, Aiper has earned its reputation for being an eco-friendly, smart solution in cleaning robotics. Aiper is not just the world’s best in cordless robotic pool cleaners but a pioneer of smart-yard robotics. Merging technology, innovation, and AI, their goal is clear – to make cleaning effortless, hassle-free, and automated.

There are 10.7 million swimming pools in the United States, on average boosting home values by about $35,000., roughly %7 of most homes. Maintaining that investment is a tedious, time-consuming task. The players in the robotic pool cleaning industry include Maytronics, Pentair, Polaris, Zodiac, and of course, Aiper. However, each Aiper is guaranteed to minimize the time and money spent laboring away, which means less time doing chores and more time poolside with friends and family. Racking up dozens of awards in the last two years, particularly, the Aiper Seagull Pro, Aiper is establishing themselves as the go-to brand in not just pool cleaning, but smart robotics.

The technology put into Aiper devices is cutting-edge and scales according to users needs. Aiper has designed an entire line of CORDLESS robotic pool cleaners with every pool owner in mind. If you’re looking for an entry into the robotic pool cleaner market without breaking the bank or having a smaller, above-ground pool, Aiper’s Seagull SE is a solid choice for first time pool cleaning buyers. Featuring a 90-minute battery life and a hydrodynamic design that glides across your pool’s floor, the Seagull SE is a miniature cleaning workhorse. And for the toughest cleaning jobs, the Aiper Seagull Pro is your answer. The world’s best cordless robotic pool cleaner, the Aiper Seagull Pro is a rapid charging cleaner boasting a three-hour battery life, up to 130 gallons per minute of filtration, wall cleaning and self-parking capabilities, and Aiper’s own patented WavePath Navigation technology. Technology that intelligently plans the most efficient cleaning plan to increase performance and save your devices battery. 

From the humble beginnings of the very fist robotic pool cleaner in 1912 and over 100 years of innovation, pool cleaning techniques and technology are finally making things not just easier, but more environmentally friendly, saving thousands of liters of water, and hundreds of dollars in electrical usage every year. Aiper isn’t just making things easier for pool owners, it’s making the pool owning experience a breeze for pool owners and with Black Friday around the corner, now is the best time to snag one in the line of the world’s best cordless robotic pool cleaners. 

Take care of your pool, and take care of it cheaper, with Aiper’s Black Friday Sale. From November 13th to November 30th, Aiper is discounting their award-winning Seagull Series by as much as 50% on some models, and the award-winning Seagull Pro is $310 off! Discount information and codes are below. For more information, check out Aiper.com.

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Cleaning and Service Equipment and Supplies

Natural Chemistry Offers Retail Display Racks For Spa Water Care Products

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Natural Chemistry

For a limited time, Natural Chemistry will offer a beautiful retail display rack for its line of high-end spa water treatment products.  With sleek graphics and modern wooden shelving, this retail display rack will enhance any retail store area.  Designed for retail operations looking to add a premium line of spa water treatment products, the display rack is available to those purchasing 12 cases of any mix of NC spa product available in the product line, from maintenance and remedy product to balancing and sanitizing products.  For more information, contact your local NC Brands District Sales Manager, or email [email protected].

This beautifully designed spa water product line gives retailers a high-end spa water care program with easy-to-understand categories of products that sanitize, balance, maintain and remedy spa water.  The clean, upscale look of the product packaging, is visually attractive and highlights relaxation, simplicity and wellness.   Created to provide retailers with an easy-to-sell program to spa owners that provides superior results for consumers. 

www.naturalchemistry.com

800 753 1233

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Cleaning and Service Equipment and Supplies

IPSSA Expands & Adds New Awards

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IPSSA Expands & Adds New Awards

The Independent Pool and Spa Service Association (IPSSA) continues to grow and has created more opportunities for its members and chapters to earn recognition and prizes.  IPSSA now offers three awards designed specifically for service professionals that are members.

The newest of these awards is called The Pool Professional of Tomorrow Award to be awarded to any member that demonstrates a commitment to the growth and future of the pool service industry through the activities within their chapter and community.  Designed specifically for newer members, applicants must be active in the industry for less than 10 years. The winner receives a $500 prize and travel accommodations to the annual Weekend of Inspiration event in 2024. 

Additionally, the Independent Pool and Spa Service Association has expanded its well-known Terry Cowles Lifetime achievement award. Established in 2006, the award for individuals was established for those with over 10 years of active service in IPSSA and provides a cash award and complimentary tickets to the annual banquet event.  The new Chapter of the Year Award provides a first, second and third place award that includes cash funds for the chapter as well as complimentary tickets and hotel accommodations for chapter members to the organization’s Weekend of Inspiration event. 

IPSSA - Independent Pool & Spa Service Association, Inc.

Those interested in applying for these awards, please contact Rose Smoot ([email protected]) for details on the nomination criteria.  Submissions must be received by September 1, 2023 to be considered for the awards.  Since its inception in 1988, IPSSA was established to promote educational opportunities and provide business support and resources to its members.  These awards are part of the organizations continued desire to engage members and the criteria reflect the organization’s core values of community, education and support of all IPSSA members.  More information about how to join a chapter can be found on their website, the official Facebook page, or by calling 888-360-9505.

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