A floating swimming pool has been proposed for the city of San Francisco and set to be the city’s first public pool of its kind, bringing a new type of aquatic experience to the Bay Area. Located on the San Francisco Bay, the heated, Olympic-sized pool would float on Piers 30-32, which are currently used for parking and will be rebuilt as part of the project.

The proposed floating pool would be surrounded by retail space, offices, and housing, including an apartment tower with 725 units, 25% of which would offer affordable housing. San Francisco State Senator Scott Wiener proposed legislation in 2021 authorizing the construction of the pool on the state-owned piers. The plan proposes a unique recreational and relaxation space while also protecting the city’s waterfront from climate change and sea-level rise.

The concept has faced challenges, as previous attempts to revitalize the piers have been unsuccessful. Previous plans to turn the area into a stadium, a museum, and a cruise terminal have fallen through. However, Wiener is optimistic that this project will succeed. He believes that the previous plans failed because they tried to rehabilitate the piers, while this project involves completely rebuilding them. The success of the project depends on approval from the city, state, and various other agencies.

The floating pool would be built on one of the two piers, with the other pier being converted into 375,000 square feet of offices and 45,000 square feet of retail space. The swimming pool would include space for lap swimming, water polo games, and lounging in a hot tub. A section of the Bay surrounding the pool will be dedicated to open water swimming, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

The project, similar to the Plus Pool being proposed for the East River in New York City, aims to create an attractive and sustainable space that will enhance the waterfront, providing opportunities for new homes and public spaces that can be enjoyed by all.

The new plan for the project is a change from earlier versions, which emphasized commercial space on the piers, giving the impression of a large office park with a little waterfront recreation. The latest version of the project emphasizes swimming, with a focus on public access to the Bay and views of the Bay Bridge. The plan now calls for a single pier to be rebuilt, with the remaining pier to be converted into an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a shallow pool for people learning to swim, a hot tub, and shower facilities. Along the Embarcadero, there would be a market hall with food kiosks and artisan stands where makers can sell their goods.

The project’s developers, Strada Investment Group and Trammell Crow, hope to attract bay swimmers with a roped-off area similar to the aquatic park near Crissy Field. They plan to heat the pools, most likely with fresh water, rather than the frigid water pumped in from the Bay. Developers have also released new renderings of the piers, which is more public-oriented than previous plans.

The piers’ redevelopment plan is designed to revitalize the Embarcadero and make it a more enjoyable public experience. The project’s success depends on making the Embarcadero feel less like walking by a couple of office building lobbies and more like an engaging, waterfront destination. The concept has undergone several changes in response to feedback from state agencies, particularly those that regulate the waterfront. The changes reflect the desire to create a space that is more in line with the natural environment, with a greater emphasis on public spaces and water recreation.

The project has faced several challenges, including the fact that the site where the project is proposed to be built is owned by the state, which means that special legislative approval would be required before a developer can build there. The project must also get approval from the city, the state, and several other agencies.

Developers hope that the floating pool will provide a unique aquatic experience in San Francisco, drawing locals and tourists alike to the Bay Area. The concept has received strong support from San Francisco Mayor London Breed, who said that the project would help the city to invest in critical infrastructure that would protect the waterfront from climate change and sea level rise while also creating opportunities for new homes and new spaces for the public to enjoy along the city’s gorgeous waterfront.

Photo Credits: Strada Investment Group

Recently, a strange and shocking incident made headlines when U.S Border Patrol agents discovered six people concealed in a fiberglass swimming pool being hauled by a man named Jorge Christopher Perez. The incident occurred at the Falfurrias Border Patrol Checkpoint, and Perez was subsequently arrested. The incident highlights the risks and dangers associated with human smuggling and the extreme measures that smugglers may take to avoid detection.

The case of Perez is particularly strange as he claims that he was not aware that people were concealed in the swimming pool. He reportedly agreed to haul the pool as a favor for a stranger he met at Wal-Mart, and he was not being paid for the job. According to the criminal complaint, Perez encountered an unknown person at a Wal-Mart in Mission who asked him to transport a truck and a flatbed trailer loaded with a pool to Alice, TX. Perez claimed that he did not know about anything or anyone concealed in the pool and agreed to do the favor.

When Border Patrol agents encountered Perez, he appeared jittery and nervous, and his eyes grew wide when he saw a service canine approaching his vehicle. During a secondary inspection, the agents discovered six people concealed in the pool, who were determined to be from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The incident highlights the risks and dangers associated with human smuggling and the lengths that smugglers may go to conceal their human cargo. It is not uncommon for smugglers to use unconventional means to transport people across borders, including vehicles, boats, and even planes. However, the use of a swimming pool as a concealment device is particularly unusual and demonstrates the ingenuity and creativity of human smugglers.

The incident also raises questions about the role of individuals who unknowingly aid smugglers in their operations. While Perez claims that he was not aware of the people concealed in the pool, he may face charges of aiding and abetting human smuggling. The case also underscores the importance of vigilance and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities.

In recent years, the issue of human smuggling across the U.S southern border has become a pressing concern, with many people resorting to extreme and dangerous measures to cross the border illegally. The use of coyotes, or individuals who specialize in human smuggling, has become prevalent, with many smugglers exploiting vulnerable migrants and subjecting them to inhumane conditions during transport.

The use of a swimming pool to transport illegal immigrants may seem like an odd occurrence, but it is not the first time that such a method has been employed. In 2019, Border Patrol agents rescued a family attempting to cross the Rio Grande using a children’s inflatable pool. The family, consisting of a woman, her three children, and her husband, had inflated the pool and were using it as a makeshift raft to cross the river.

Both incidents highlights the desperate measures that people will take to cross the border illegally and the ingenuity of human smugglers in devising new methods to avoid detection.

The incident also underscores the importance of Border Patrol agents in preventing and detecting illegal immigration. Without the vigilance and quick response of the agents, the family may have faced serious injury or even death in their attempt to cross the river using a children’s pool.

The recent cyberattack on a hotel pool controller in Israel highlights the potential risks and vulnerabilities that the pool industry faces in terms of hackers affecting Operational Technology (OT) security. As the use of technology in pool systems continues to increase, it is important for pool companies and professionals to understand the potential dangers and take steps to protect themselves and their clients.

Hackers Shine Spotlight on Lack of Security

The hacktivist group GhostSec claimed it breached the hotel’s pool water system and could control the pH and chlorine levels in the pools. The attackers did not disclose the details of the OT breach, but researchers at Otorio, a cybersecurity company specializing in OT security, investigated the incident and found two Aegis II controllers that were exposed.

hope you all can understand our decision on not attacking their PH levels and risking a chance to harm the innocents of #Israel

Our "war" has always been FOR the people not against them. #FreePalestine

Details:https://t.co/7hczY9Owh1 pic.twitter.com/wGa7YXCbfV

— GhostSec (@ghost_s3curity) September 11, 2022

The Aegis II controller is a device used to monitor and control the chemical concentration in water in locations such as swimming pools, spas, and water parks. The controllers can communicate with other systems, such as pumps, heaters, and sensors, to maintain water quality.

In this case, the AEGIS II here was responsible for continuously measuring and controlling the conductivity and biocide concentration to keep pipework and heat exchangers clean.

The AEGIS II Controller’s applications included:

• Control of bleeding in evaporation cooling systems
• Control of corrosion inhibitors, de-foamers and dispersants
• Measuring and control of inhibitor concentration
• Measuring and control of pH and ORP voltage
• Metering of biocides

According to Otorio’s report, the hackers could have potentially affected the pH levels of the hotel’s pools, but there is no evidence that any harm was done to the guests or the facility. However, the incident raises concerns about the growing threat of OT cyberattacks and their impact on critical infrastructure and public safety.

Targeting Pool Automation Devices With Weak Security

One of the key concerns in the pool industry is the use of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other ICS devices that are used to monitor and control the various aspects of pool systems, such as chemical levels, temperature, pumps, and lighting. These devices can be vulnerable to cyberattacks if they are not properly secured, especially if they are connected to the Internet or other networks.

OT cyberattacks are not new, but they are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and disruptive. Unlike hackers that focus on stealing data or disrupting services, OT attacks can have physical consequences, such as equipment damage, production loss, environmental damage, or human harm.

Finding Out Exactly How It Happened

In the case of this particular pool controller breach, the attackers were able to access the Aegis II controllers with default passwords, which is a common weakness that can be easily exploited. Once the attackers gained access to the controllers, they could potentially manipulate the chemical levels in the pools, which could cause harm to the swimmers or damage to the equipment.

At the discovery of this breach, OTORIO promptly informed Israel’s Cyber Emergency Response Team (CERT) of the incident and worked closely with the authorities to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. As of now, the affected controller is no longer accessible to the public.

This incident highlights the importance for pool professionals to take a proactive approach to OT security by implementing best practices and security controls, such as:

• Changing default passwords and using strong and unique passwords for each device and user
• Updating firmware and software patches regularly to fix known vulnerabilities
• Segmenting the network and restricting access to critical devices and systems
• Encrypting data in transit and at rest to prevent unauthorized access
• Monitoring the system for suspicious activities and anomalies that could indicate a cyberattack
• Having a comprehensive incident response plan in place to minimize the impact of a cyberattack and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

Installers who are performing upgrades or new installations of equipment should also stay informed about the latest trends and threats in OT security and seek guidance from cybersecurity experts or specialized vendors if needed. By taking a proactive and collaborative approach to OT security, pool professionals can help mitigate the risk of hackers gaining access to equipment and ensure the safety and satisfaction of their clients.