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Why Blonde Hair Turns Green in the Pool

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  The Science Behind the Tint Blonde swimmers often return from the pool with an unexpected souvenir: a greenish tint to their hair. While it’s easy to blame chlorine, the real culprit is copper—its presence in pool water, combined with oxidation, leads to that telltale hue, especially in light or porous hair. Copper, Not Chlorine, Is to Blame Copper ions—from pennies turning green to the Statue of Liberty’s patina—oxidize when exposed to pool water and chlorine. As copper oxidizes, it leaches into the water and binds to the proteins in hair shafts, depositing green-tinted particles. How Copper Enters Pool Water Municipal or Well Water Sources Many well-water supplies naturally contain dissolved copper. Even some city water systems can have elevated copper levels, seeding pools with the metal. Copper-Based Algaecides Copper is a powerful algaecide, so many pool owners use copper-bearing treatments to prevent algae blooms. Overuse or improper dosing raises copper concentration...
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Glass - The Hidden Hazard

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  Glass in Swimming Pools and How to Prevent Injuries Swimming pools are meant to be oases of fun and relaxation, but a single shard of glass can turn them into dangerous traps. Whether it’s a stray bottle, shattered tabletop, or broken light fixture, glass poses unique risks that often go unnoticed—until someone gets hurt. Understanding these dangers and implementing strict protocols is essential for any pool operator, public facility, or homeowner. Common Sources of Glass Intrusion Beverage Containers : Beer, soda, and wine bottles are frequent culprits at pool parties. Glass Table Tops &ware : Outdoor tables and dishware can topple in wind gusts or collisions. Pool Lighting : Overhead fixtures and internal pool lights use glass components that may shatter under stress. No matter the source, once glass enters the water it becomes nearly invisible, making removal and injury prevention extremely challenging. Why Glass Is Especially Dangerous Invisible Underwater Glass shards...
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5 Tips for a Successful Summer

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 1. Equip Yourself with the Right Tools • Invest in Quality Equipment: First ensure you have the basics such as a net, pole, brush, vac hose, vac head, and test kit. There are some great options in the industry today that can make your life much easier. I am always looking for equipment that is durable, long lasting, and maintainable. Look for nets with replaceable parts to prevent you from having to buy a whole net every time you catch a snag and get a rip in it. • Advanced Tools: Look for equipment that can help streamline your work. The faster and more efficiently you can work the more profitable you will be. I remember when I went from manually vacuuming every pool I serviced to purchasing my first Riptide which allowed me to cut my service time in half. 2. Master Water Chemistry and Maintenance • Regular Testing: If you are not regularly testing your customer’s pool or spa water you really are doing them a disservice. Always make sure no matter what method you are using to tes...
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Key Court Cases Making a Splash

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  Recent Legal Waves in the Aquatic Industry The aquatic industry—encompassing public pools, waterparks, splash pads and more—has seen a surge of high-profile litigation in recent years. These cases not only spotlight operator liability and public health concerns but also establish precedents that ripple across the sector. Below, we explore four pivotal lawsuits reshaping aquatics law and risk management. 1. Seneca Lake Park Spray Park Cryptosporidium Outbreak In 2005, an outbreak of cryptosporidium at the Seneca Lake Park Spray Park in Geneva, New York, sickened thousands of visitors. Plaintiffs filed the industry’s first class-action lawsuit, totaling 2,538 claimants. They allege that inadequate filtration and supervision led to the widespread waterborne illness. Attorneys expect settlement talks to intensify once discovery concludes—this could set a new benchmark for operator responsibility and engineering standards in spray parks and interactive water features. 2. Six F...
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Navigating Aquatic Consulting Services

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Aquatic consulting services provide vital expertise in water management, pool operations, and environmental stewardship. Whether for commercial facilities, municipalities, or private enterprises, aquatic consultants offer specialized knowledge to ensure compliance, safety, and efficiency. Key Areas of Aquatic Consulting   Pool Operations & Compliance Expert consultants help businesses and municipalities navigate regulations set forth by health and safety agencies. They ensure facilities meet industry standards, prevent legal complications, and promote public health through proper water treatment and maintenance. Water Chemistry & Filtration Maintaining water quality is crucial for both recreational and environmental purposes. Consultants analyze water chemistry, recommend optimal filtration systems, and troubleshoot issues to ensure clarity, safety, and compliance with industry guidelines.   Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Optimizing energy consumption in aqu...
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The Hidden Hazards of Ducks in Your Swimming Pool

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  While ducks may seem like charming visitors to your backyard oasis, their presence in a swimming pool can pose serious risks—to both the birds and your swimmers' health. In hot, dry climates like Arizona, where pools are often uncovered and inviting, it’s not uncommon for ducks to mistake them for safe habitat to visit and nest nearby. But this seemingly harmless encounter can lead to a cascade of problems. 1.  Health Risks to Humans  Ducks carry a variety of pathogens in their droppings, including  E. coli ,  Salmonella ,  Campylobacter , and  Cryptosporidium . When these contaminants enter your pool, they can compromise water quality and pose a risk of recreational water illnesses (RWIs) to swimmers. Even with proper chlorination, high organic loads from feces can overwhelm your sanitizer and create unsafe conditions. 2.  Damage to Pool Systems  Duck droppings and feathers can clog skimmers, filters, and pumps, reducing circulation effici...
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Water Level and Why it's Important

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 Maintaining proper water levels in your pool is critical for proper operation! What can happen if this is not done properly? Glad you asked.... Improper skimming - What do I mean by this? Well, we all know that most codes dictate that 75% of the suction needs to come from the skimmer or surface of the water. Even if you're not going based off code it's pretty standard practice to have more suction come from the surface than the floor drains. Most if not all contaminants in your pool are going to reach the surface of the water before any other place. When the water level is too high the system is not going to function properly, and you will have debris hanging out on the surface of the water and with that you will see deposits also starting to form at that water line.   Improper filtration - For the water in your system to properly filter it has to flow at a particular rate and if it does not then it will not filter properly. When your water isn't properly filtering you w...
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