Pool News
9/11 Memorial Pools – An In Depth Look at The Two Reflecting Pools
On the 20th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, we look at the two pools and Delta Fountains, the pool builders behind the 9/11 Memorial.
As the 20th anniversary of the attacks on September 11th approach, we take a moment to look at the 9/11 Memorial and the two reflecting pools that mark the footprint of where the Twin Towers once stood.
We are now looking back at a point in history that occurred before approximately 28.5% of Americans were ever even born. There are many memorials for the victims of 9/11, but none clearly encapsulate the raw emotions of absence the way the 9/11 Memorial does.
A look at the two reflecting pools at the 9/11 Memorial
Two reflecting pools mark the exact place of the World Trade Center and stand as a permanent place of remembrance. Both pools commemorate the names of nearly 3,000 killed in the attacks on September 11, 2001 and the World Trade Center bombing of February 26, 1993. Each of the victims names are inscribed on bronze parapets surrounding both of the memorial pools.
It’s hard to believe that two decades have gone by since the day happened that would forever change the course of our modern history. 9/11 is a moment in time that will live in as much infamy as December 7th (the attack on Pearl Habor), perhaps even more so in our generation. September 11th is important to people, and the memorial embodies what it means not only to New Yorkers who were first-hand witnesses, but to Americans who watched the events of September 11th unfold live on television.
The mourning and sorrow the nation still feels even twenty years later is evident in the amount of visitors the 9/11 Memorial draws each year. The memorial site was built to remember the victims as well as those involved in the rescue and recovery efforts.
Why did they choose reflecting pools for the memorial site?
Tracing their roots back to the ancient Persian gardens, reflecting pools have been a time honored traditional memorial structure and a water feature typically found in gardens and parks. One of the most iconic reflecting pools is at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. Most reflecting pools are shallow vessels and can range in size from as small as a bird bath to as large as a major civic center water feature like the one found at the 9/11 memorial site.
The 9/11 Memorial Design Competition
An open competition for designing the memorial site drew 5,201 entries from 63 countries. The thirteen-member jury chose eight finalists on November 19, 2003.
At a press conference held at Federal Hall National Memorial on January 14, 2004, the final design for the 9/11 memorial was revealed to the public. Israeli-American architect Michael Arad of Handel Architects and landscape architecture firm Peter Walker and Partners concept ‘Reflecting Absence‘ was chosen as the winning design. Their design consisted of a forest with two large, recessed pools that represent the Twin Towers’ footprints.
The deciduous trees (swamp white oaks) form informal clusters, clearings, and groves when arranged in rows. The park is located above the Memorial Museum, at street level. The names of the victims of the attacks (including those from the Pentagon, American Airlines Flight 77, United Airlines Flight 93, and the 1993 World Trade Center bombing) are inscribed on the parapets surrounding the waterfalls.
‘Reflecting Absence’ stands in the footprints of the Twin Towers
‘Reflecting Absence’ consists of two 1-acre pools. The structures are the largest man-made waterfalls in the United States. Both pools symbolize the loss of life and the physical void left by the attacks. The dual waterfalls are meant to drown out the sounds of the city, and create a peaceful haven of remembrance for what was lost.
Remembering those who were lost
On 152 bronze parapets on the memorial pools, the names of 2,983 victims are inscribed: 2,977 killed in the September 11 attacks and six killed in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The two reflecting pools at the 9/11 Memorial
The North and South Fountains at the 9/11 Memorial have combined recirculating systems that pump up to 26,000 gallons of water per minute non-stop every day of the year. The water flows over the memorial’s two deep reflecting pools’ walls before being recirculated into catch basins.
The September 11 Memorial utilizes a method of keeping water constantly flowing from a 30-foot drop regardless of the weather New York City gets. The pool is engineered in such a way so that it’s reflective qualities and the sound of falling water remain consistent through the changing seasons.
The Builders of The 9/11 Memorial
You may not know this, but Delta Fountains are the pool builders responsible for building the 9/11 Memorial pools. Joe Petry, President of Delta Fountains said the company has done architectural and floating fountain designs for universities, police memorials, parks and more. They are also the firm behind the Oklahoma City memorial reflecting pool, built in honor of the lives lost on April 19, 1995 and the memorial at the Pentagon. Delta collaborated on the project with Siemens for the automation, pump and flow controls. Dan Euser of Waterarchitecture also worked on the project as well
Challenges in Engineering
There were more than a few challenging engineering feats Delta had to achieve in order to build the pools for the 9/11 memorial site. The weir structure they devised had specific requirements, one was the ability to easily adjust and level water flow to within 1/16th inch over 1400 linear feet.
Another challenge for Delta was avoiding dry spots. Engineers accomplished this thanks to integral-design adjustability which allows for constant expansion and contraction of adhesive materials while still maintaining structural integrity. They devised a method of adding ribs which helped to prevent buckling and allowed field welding.
How the reflecting pools are controlled and maintained
By far one of the most impressive aspects to these two reflective pools is the sophisticated smart chemical filtration system they use. The system is able to anticipate and react to New York’s inclimate weather conditions on the fly.
Chief Engineer – Anthony LoCasto, says it takes a crew of three men to clean the pools 5 nights a week and roughly 8 hours to clean, vaccuum and brush each of the memorial pools.
Both of the pools utilize a total of 16 pumps to circulate 26,000 gallons of water each minute. The system is responsible for circulating over 480,000 gallons of recycled water.
There is also a cutting-edge networked control management system which effectively monitors over a thousand different data points about the pools to maintenance personnel, making it one of the smartest pools on the planet.
The maintenance crews perform goes far beyond simply maintaining the pools; displaying a reverence for the victims with gestures of remembrance. One of their duties is placing a white rose on top of each victim’s name who has a birthday each day before the memorial opens to the general public.
The project, which also includes an underground museum that utilizes parts of the fallen towers, had a budget of $610 million and offically opened to the public on September 12, 2011; ten years and one day after the September 11th attacks.
Watch a time lapse of “How the 9/11 Memorial Was Built“. We hope you’ve enjoyed this article on learning what role folks in the pool industry had in creating the September 11 memorial. If you think it’s important to share the story, please do so. Feel free to make a donation to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum who are preserving the history of the events of September 11th for future generations to come.
Cleaning and Service Equipment and Supplies
Recent Leslie’s/Harris Poll Study Shows Nearly Three-Quarters of Americans Mistakenly Assume Clear Pool Water Is Clean, Swim-Safe Water
Leslie’s AccuBlue Home® Delivers First 10-Point At-Home Pool and Spa Water Testing Solution to Ensure a Safe 2024 Swim Season
PHOENIX, March 26, 2024 – Clear-looking pool water is mistakenly assumed to be safe for swimming, according to a recent survey conducted by The Harris Poll and commissioned by Leslie’s, the leading and most trusted consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry.
According to the poll, 71% of those surveyed believe that clear water is clean and safe for swimming. However, even clear water can contain contaminants that pose a danger to swimmers, and pool owners shouldn’t assume a pool is safe just because the water is clear.
The news arrives as Leslie’s launches its water safety education campaign for the 2024 swim season. Leslie’s is spreading awareness of the three primary tenets of pool safety: maintaining healthy and safe water, securing the pool area, and participating in swimming lessons and water safety education.
“As we head into the 2024 swim season, our aim is to help educate pool owners on the tenets of pool safety. Among those tenets is maintaining healthy water, and we make it easy for pool owners to test and treat their water, creating a safe environment for all,” said Clay Spann, SVP of Merchandising at Leslie’s.
“We aren’t surprised by these survey results, as there are many misconceptions related to pool water chemistry,” Spann said. “The only way to really know if pool water is clean, healthy, and safe for swimming is to check if the water is properly balanced and sanitized. To be certain of this, owners must regularly test the pool water’s chemistry makeup and precisely measure 10 different components, including pH, total alkalinity, calcium hardness, metals, phosphates, sanitizer levels, and more.”
The Leslie’s/Harris Poll survey also revealed that 71% of Americans who are responsible for maintaining a pool say keeping water safe is complicated, a misperception Leslie’s aims to correct with its AccuBlue® and AccuBlue Home® testing and treatment solutions.
Leslie’s makes water testing simple with its industry-leading AccuBlue technology — the only pool and spa water test that covers all 10 water chemistry components. In just 60 seconds, this free, in-store water test delivers a hardcopy printout with a water quality score and step-by-step customized water treatment plan to help keep pool water balanced. Pool and spa owners have relied upon this professional-grade testing over the past six decades, with more than 50 million tests conducted by Leslie’s store teams.
The same survey revealed that 81% of Americans who maintain their own pools wish there was a home technology solution for comprehensive 10-point pool water testing.
Last May, Leslie’s made water testing even easier and more convenient when the company launched its AccuBlue Home® membership program, which offers the same leading in-store testing technology, engineered into a compact at-home device. The AccuBlue Home testing device connects to the Leslie’s app to deliver a water quality score and customized water treatment plan to the user’s mobile phone or tablet.
Since its launch, AccuBlue Home has been embraced by pool owners, who value its convenience and accuracy. The membership program has earned a nearly five-star rating in member reviews with comments echoing exactly what it is designed to do: “takes all the guesswork out of testing your pool water” and “this little machine does everything the one in the store does.”
AccuBlue Home: How It Works
The technology is sophisticated, but the process is simple.
Users simply insert a pool water sample into the water test disk and place it into the AccuBlue Home testing device. They then open Leslie’s app on their mobile device to start the test, and AccuBlue Home does the rest. Light wavelengths pass through the water sample to precisely measure the water’s chemistry makeup, and the app delivers the water test quality score and a step-by-step customized treatment plan in just 60 seconds. The app enables pool and spa owners to order home delivery of chemicals needed to execute the water treatment plan.
An AccuBlue Home membership costs $50 a month, which includes the home testing device for free, as well as $50 in Leslie’s credits each month for purchases online, in app, or in stores. AccuBlue Home members can use their monthly credit to purchase any products from Leslie’s, including sanitizers and balancing chemicals, as well as floats, games, and other accessories to make the most out of pool days.
Marianne Trusty, president of Pool Magazine, said, “We’ve long recognized the importance of comprehensive 10-point testing for healthy and safe water and to maintain the longevity of pool equipment. Leslie’s has always been a leader, and it’s remarkable that they have driven their in-store technology into such a sleek device and an easy-to-use approach for pool and hot tub water testing.”
Virtual Pool Water Assistant
The AccuBlue Home device, measuring just 4.5 inches wide by 3.5 inches tall, is small, stylish, and self-contained, resembling a virtual assistant device — in this case, a virtual pool water assistant. It incorporates photometric testing technology with optical sensors, as well as a centrifuge, replaceable test disks, and more.
Click here to learn more about AccuBlue Home, the first at-home pool and spa water testing solution that covers 10 crucial water chemistry components with a membership program that pays for itself.
About Leslie’s
Founded in 1963, Leslie’s is the largest and most trusted direct-to-consumer brand in the U.S. pool and spa care industry. The Company serves the aftermarket needs of residential and professional consumers with an extensive and largely exclusive assortment of essential pool and spa care products. The Company operates an integrated ecosystem of more than 1,000 physical locations and a robust digital platform, enabling consumers to engage with Leslie’s whenever, wherever, and however they prefer to shop. Its dedicated team of associates, pool and spa care experts, and experienced service technicians are passionate about empowering Leslie’s consumers with the knowledge, products, and solutions necessary to confidently maintain and enjoy their pools and spas.
For more information about Leslie’s, visit lesliespool.com or follow and engage with us: @lesliespoolcare on Instagram, Leslie’s on Facebook, and @lesliespoolcare on Twitter.
Survey Method:
This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Leslie’s from March 5-7, 2024, among 2,087 adults ages 18 and older, among whom 314 are maintaining a pool. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.
Media: Mardi Larson, Amendola for Leslie’s, [email protected], 612.384.4383
SOURCE Leslie’s, Inc.
In the wake of a heartbreaking incident at a hotel pool in northwest Houston, authorities are diligently investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning of an 8-year-old girl. The incident occurred over the weekend and has sent shockwaves through the community.
Missing Girl Drowned in Hotel Pool According To Investigators
The young girl, identified by her family as Aliyah Lynette Jaico, was reported missing on Saturday evening around 6 p.m. The last sighting of her was near the lazy river-style pool at the DoubleTree by Hilton Houston Brookhollow located at 12801 Northwest Fwy. Despite frantic efforts by her family to locate her, including thorough searches of the pool area, Aliyah remained unaccounted for.
Tim Miller, the founder of Texas EquuSearch, revealed that security footage showed Aliyah entering the water but never resurfacing. This discovery prompted a comprehensive investigation into the pool’s infrastructure. Utilizing cameras affixed to long poles, authorities drained the pool to inspect its piping system.
What they uncovered was harrowing: Aliyah had been pulled approximately 20 feet into a pipe with a diameter of about 16 inches. Despite exhaustive efforts by the Houston Fire Department and emergency responders, it took nearly 13 hours to access the pipe and retrieve Aliyah’s lifeless body.
Further scrutiny into the hotel’s facilities revealed concerning findings. Reports from the Houston Health Department’s inspection conducted on Monday outlined multiple violations.
“Main drain document was provided and still valid. However small pool has 32-inch channel drains on the walls, without a valid document stating their function, date of installation and date of expiration. A full inspection was conducted, multiple violations were observed. Video footage is available, however manager stated that the footage is being reviewed by legal, and we would have to wait to receive a copy,” part of Monday’s report read.
Hotel Pool Had Numerous Violations
March 2024 Report
03-25-2024 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd
June 2023 Report
06-06-2023 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd
March 2023 Report
03-09-2023 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd
September 2022 Report
09-15-2022 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd
September 2021 Report
09-29-2021 Aquatic Facility Inspection Report by info on Scribd
As investigations continue, questions linger regarding the adequacy of safety measures at the hotel’s pool and the potential oversight in maintenance protocols. The loss of the young victim has cast a somber shadow over the community, prompting calls for enhanced vigilance and stringent adherence to safety standards to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Featured Photo Credit: Google Maps
Equipment Supplies
FWP Faces Class Action Lawsuit Stemming From 2023 Cyberattack
Florida Water Products is facing a class action lawsuit stemming from a 2023 cyberattack.
Florida Water Products, LLC (FWP) finds itself at the center of a proposed class action lawsuit stemming from a cyberattack in May 2023, which may have compromised the personal data of thousands of people.
Florida Water Products Lawsuit Alleges Inadequate Security Measures Left Data Exposed
The lawsuit asserts that inadequate cybersecurity measures by the pool and spa equipment distributor were directly responsible for the breach. Compromised information may include the names and Social Security numbers of both current and former FWP employees, as well as those affiliated with the company.
According to FWP’s data breach notice letter, the incident targeted a repository of “legacy data” within its network, referring to information stored in outdated systems or formats. Subsequent investigation suggests that an unauthorized third party may have accessed FWP’s systems and obtained certain data from legacy databases.
Although specifics regarding the duration and precise dates of the cybercriminals’ access remain unclear, the breach is believed to have occurred between May 22 and May 28, 2023.
Plaintiff Alleges Inadequate Cybersecurity Left Data Vulnerable
The lawsuit contends that FWP’s failure to enforce adequate cybersecurity measures and provide sufficient training to its employees left its data vulnerable to exploitation by cybercriminals. The complaint argues that Florida Water Products notification to affected individuals was delayed and insufficient. The plaintiff, Stephen Basson, an employee of FWP affiliate Aquarius Supply, claims to have received notice from the defendant only in early December 2023, nearly seven months after the breach allegedly took place.
FWP’s notification letter, as per the filing, obscured crucial details about the breach, such as the number of affected individuals, the methods used by hackers to access the system, and the reasons for the delay in notifying victims.
The lawsuit further alleges that FWP’s tardy and inadequate notice left victims exposed to potential identity theft without proper guidance on monitoring their financial accounts or credit reports to mitigate unauthorized use of their personal information.
A request for comment by FWP about the current litigation was not received in time for publication of this article.
Not The First Or The Last
While the validity of the class action lawsuit against Florida Water Products remains uncertain and subject to legal proceedings, one thing however is certain. The pool industry is clearly not immune to cyber attack threats, as demonstrated by the increase in breaches since 2021. Most recently, Brenntag, a major chemical distributor, fell victim to a ransomware attack by the DarkSide hacker group, resulting in a staggering $4.4 million payout.
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