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🎙️ The Chemical Illusion: What’s Really Behind Your Pool

That chlorine tablet in your feeder?
It likely came from one of only a handful of chemical plants in the world—and when one goes down, the entire industry feels it.

This episode pulls back the curtain on a truth most pool pros never think about:

From cyanuric acid and triazine chemistry to chlorine production and international shipping routes, Rudy connects the dots between your customer’s backyard and a massive industrial ecosystem driven by:

• Global manufacturing
• Energy markets
• Freight logistics
• Geopolitical pressure points

When that system gets disrupted—like the 2020 BioLab plant shutdown—prices spike, supply disappears, and chaos follows.

💥 This Week in Pool News (The Real Story)

No big headlines—but everything is changing:

• Big money and tech are reshaping the industry
• Customers want transparency, not just clean water
• Chemical scrutiny is rising
• Costs are squeezing everyone

You’re no longer just cleaning pools.
You’re running a business inside a shifting system.

🧠 The Takeaway

Boron, lanthanum, chlorine—all come from different global supply chains…
yet they all end up in the same place:

Your route.

The pros who understand that bigger picture adapt faster, price smarter, and stay ahead—while everyone else wonders why things keep getting harder.

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Fresh off a European honeymoon and rocking a brand-new, beard-free look, Steve returns to the mic alongside Wayne for a Thursday episode that’s equal parts heartfelt, hilarious, and unexpectedly real.

The episode opens with a moment of humility as Wayne issues a public correction—giving overdue credit to industry innovators Que Hales and Kim Skinner for their groundbreaking work on chemically calculating pool volume. It’s a reminder that even seasoned pros own their mistakes—and that respect runs deep in the pool world.

From there, things take a turn into life beyond the waterline. Steve shares highlights from his honeymoon across Switzerland and Norway—think snow-covered peaks, ultra-luxury ski towns, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience chasing the Northern Lights. But beneath the travel stories is a grounded message about health, as both hosts open up about sun exposure, dermatology visits, and the realities of working outdoors year-round.

Back in the trenches of pool service, the conversation shifts to the business side—where not all clients are created equal. In a brutally honest (and relatable) segment, Steve breaks down the difference between clients who drain your time and those who build your business. From a year-long text-message marathon with a tire-kicker to a dream client who generates referrals and respects boundaries, the lesson is clear: knowing when to say no is just as important as showing up.

The episode also features an “Insurance Interlude” with expert insight into one of the industry’s riskiest services—acid washing. What starts as a simple question turns into a deep dive on liability, safety, and why even experienced pros are walking away from it altogether.

By the end, what emerges is more than just a pool podcast—it’s a candid look at relationships, reputation, and the fine line between hustle and burnout. Whether you’re in the field or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode delivers a mix of humor, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom.

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Myth, Memory, and the Real Story Behind the Water

A Conversation with Eric Herman | Talking Pools Podcast

Some voices in an industry don’t simply report the story — they shape how the story is told.

In this episode of Talking Pools, host Natalie Hood, Director of Education and Network Development for The Grit Game, sits down with one of the most influential storytellers the aquatic industry has ever produced: Eric Herman, Vice President of Communications for Watershape University and longtime editor of the legendary publication WaterShapes Magazine.

For more than four decades, Herman has documented the evolution of pools, fountains, spas, and aquatic design — not merely as a trade reporter, but as a historian of water itself. His work spans the early days of modern pool construction journalism at Pool & Spa News, the groundbreaking launch of WaterShapes Magazine in 1999, and today’s digital continuation of that legacy through watershapes.com, a library containing more than 5,000 articles chronicling the craft, science, and culture of water.

But this episode isn’t just about history.

It’s about myths — the assumptions, half-truths, and inherited wisdom that circulate through the pool industry and public perception alike.

And in a conversation that moves effortlessly between science, storytelling, and cultural memory, Herman and Hood begin dismantling some of the most persistent myths surrounding swimming pools, safety, and water chemistry.

A Journalist in the Deep End

Eric Herman’s journey into the aquatic world began not with pools, but with curiosity.

His first published article in 1986 — for Orange Coast Magazine — examined the emerging microbrewery industry. Within three years, that curiosity would lead him to an interview in Los Angeles with pool industry pioneer Jim McCloskey, then editor of Pool & Spa News.

The result was a career that has now stretched 40 years.

At Pool & Spa News, Herman covered everything from service techniques and plaster science to drowning prevention — topics that would later shape the direction of aquatic education and professional training across the industry.

When Herman and McCloskey launched WaterShapes Magazine in 1999, they intentionally broadened the conversation beyond swimming pools.

The publication examined water as a design medium.

Pools, fountains, ponds, streams, water parks, hot springs, landscape architecture, and hydrological design all found a home in its pages.

The result was a publication that changed how aquatic professionals thought about their craft.

Today, that legacy continues through the digital platform watershapes.com, publishing twice monthly and maintaining one of the most comprehensive archives of aquatic design knowledge anywhere in the world.

Myth Busting Begins

Hood frames the conversation around a theme she frequently explores on the show: myths in aquatics.

But Herman begins by reframing the idea of myth itself.

Traditionally, he explains, myths weren’t falsehoods. They were symbolic stories meant to communicate deeper truths. The modern use of the word — describing something widely believed but factually incorrect — is almost the opposite.

Wit

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In this episode, Andrea discusses the importance of pool filtration, different types of filters, and best practices for maintenance. She shares insights on how filters impact water clarity, safety tips, and common mistakes to avoid.

Keywords

pool filtration, pool maintenance, DE filters, sand filters, cartridge filters, pool chemistry, water clarity, pool safety

Key Topics

• Pool filter types (sand, DE, cartridge)
• Proper filter maintenance and cleaning
• Water clarity and turbidity measurement
• Safety tips for filter handling and backwashing
• Common mistakes and troubleshooting in pool filtration

Sound Bites

• "Tortillas in the pool make me laugh"
• "Congratulations to the winner, Keith"
• "Do you want to swim in a clean pool?"

Chapters

00:00
Conclusion and Key Takeaways

22:08
The Importance of PSI in Pool Maintenance

23:20
Cleaning Cartridge Filters: Best Practices

27:26
Using Degreasers and Enzymes Effectively

30:41
Acid Washing Cartridges: When and How

32:19
Safety Precautions with DE Powder

33:43
Maintaining DE Filters: Key Steps

41:02
Sand Filters: Backwashing and Maintenance

43:53
Final Thoughts on Filter Maintenance

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com

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This episode covers essential winter preparation tips for pool service professionals, including equipment maintenance, marketing strategies, and safety regulations. Learn how to turn winter into a profitable season and ensure safety compliance.

Keywords

pool service, winter preparation, pool maintenance, safety regulations, marketing strategies, pool covers, leaf skimmers, pool cleaning

Key Topics

• Winter pool maintenance strategies
• Pool safety regulations and compliance
• Effective marketing for off-season pool services

Sound Bites

• "Heavy leaf litter can stain your pool."
• "Plan your winter marketing early."
• "Turn winter into a profitable season."

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Seasonal Pool Maintenance

01:36
Equipment Spotlight: Robotic Pool Cleaners and Skimmies

03:22
Using Winter Covers and Debris Covers Effectively

06:56
Safety Regulations and Pool Fencing Requirements

11:04
Seasonal Business Planning and Marketing Strategies

18:00
Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Insights

23:42
Preparing Your Business for Winter Challenges

26:13
Promoting Safety and Compliance to Clients

28:41
Closing Remarks and Next Steps

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In this episode of Flock It Friday, Rudy Stankowitz revisits the topic of borates in swimming pools, exploring the chemistry behind them, the regulatory history, and why recent geopolitical tensions have brought boron compounds back into the conversation.

Recent instability in key shipping corridors such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Suez Canal has raised concerns about global freight movement. Since Turkey holds the world’s largest boron reserves and supplies a significant portion of the global market through its state-owned producer Eti Maden, disruptions in shipping routes could tighten the supply chain that delivers boric acid to the U.S. market. The chemistry itself hasn’t changed—the mines are still operating—but the logistics that move industrial minerals around the world can shift quickly.

Rudy then breaks down the science behind borates. In pool water, boron compounds typically exist as boric acid and borate ions, forming a secondary buffering system that helps resist pH drift, especially in pools with saltwater chlorine generators, where aeration accelerates carbon dioxide loss and causes pH to rise.

Most pools that use borates maintain concentrations between 30 and 50 ppm. Below that range the buffering effect becomes minimal, and above it there is little additional benefit. Once added, borates remain stable in the water and are only removed through dilution, splash-out, backwashing, or water replacement.

Borates are often described as algistatic, meaning they may inhibit algae growth, but they should not be considered a primary algaecide. Chlorine remains the primary sanitizer responsible for algae control.

The episode also touches on the regulatory evolution surrounding borates. Following the introduction of NSF/ANSI Standard 50 Annex R in 2015, many niche pool chemical additives—including borate products—were not pursued for certification under the updated framework. As a result, borates largely disappeared from modern certification listings, though they remain widely used in residential pools where certification is not required.

The bigger takeaway is that the chemistry hasn’t changed—but the systems that deliver pool chemicals have. In today’s global economy, the most complicated part of pool chemistry may not be the reactions happening in the water, but the international supply chains that bring those chemicals to the pool service professional.

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Insurance Interlude: 1099 vs W-2, Water Balance, and Pool Industry Realities

In this episode of Thursdays with Wayne & Steve, the show opens with a quick look at the winter weather hitting the Northeast before diving into two important conversations affecting pool professionals: employee classification in the service industry and the importance of water balance and documentation in pool care.

Joining Steve for the Insurance Interlude is Pat Grignon from the California Pool Association, where they explore the ongoing debate between 1099 independent contractors and W-2 employees in the pool service industry.

1099 vs W-2: What Pool Companies Need to Know

Steve and Pat discuss the legal and operational differences between hiring technicians as independent contractors (1099) versus employees (W-2). While some companies successfully operate with contractors who maintain their own businesses, problems arise when contractors function essentially as employees.

The conversation highlights a real-world case where a company classified dozens of workers as independent contractors, even though they only worked for that company. The result was a state investigation and a $750,000 fine, demonstrating how seriously regulators view employee misclassification.

Pat explains that legitimate 1099 relationships typically require:

• Workers operating their own independent business
• Maintaining their own insurance
• Working for multiple clients
• Using their own equipment

Later in the episode, Wayne shares a call from a listener in Port Orange, Florida dealing with corrosion around brass light fittings in two stainless steel pools.

After discussing the issue, it becomes clear that the root cause was not high total dissolved solids (TDS), but severely unbalanced water chemistry.

The technician had been lowering the pH to 6.8, which is far below recommended swimming pool levels. Combined with low alkalinity readings around 40–50 ppm, the water had become extremely corrosive.

Wayne walks through the fundamentals of restoring proper balance:

• Maintain pH between 7.4–7.6
• Keep alkalinity between 80–120 ppm
• Maintain calcium hardness above 150 ppm
• Monitor TDS relative to source water

The example serves as a reminder that water balance is critical, especially when dealing with metal components or unusual pool construction materials.

Why Documentation Protects Service Companies

The episode closes with a discussion about the importance of record keeping when servicing pools, particularly after renovations or plaster work.

If problems arise after a pool build or resurfacing, contractors may ask for detailed chemistry logs to determine whether improper water chemistry caused the issue.

Maintaining records from systems like:

• Skimmer
• Pool Brain
• PayThePoolMan

can provide service companies with data-backed proof that proper chemistry was maintained.

Without documentation, pool companies may struggle to defend themselves when blame is assigned for plaster defects or equipment failures.

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In this episode, Natalie Hood interviews Sean McDermott from H2 Flow to bust common myths about pool water circulation, flow measurement, and system efficiency. They explore how proper understanding and technology can improve water quality, safety, and energy use in pools.

keywords

pool water circulation, flow measurement, VFD, pool system efficiency, water quality, pool safety, flow meters, pool automation, pump protection

key topics

• Myth of continuous circulation with pump running
• Flow rate vs filtration effectiveness
• Importance of accurate flow measurement
• Role of VFDs in energy savings
• Mechanical issues masquerading as chemical problems

guest name

Sean McDermott

Sound Bites

• "Flow measurement is critical for safety"
• "VFDs are widely used in pools now"
• "Reducing pump speed saves energy"

Chapters

00:00
Introduction to Pool Water Movement and Misconceptions

00:55
Sean McDermott's Background and Industry Journey

03:35
The Industry Setup and Education in Pool Management

05:57
Myth 1: As long as the pump runs, circulation is proper

08:47
Myth 2: Higher flow always means better filtration

10:09
The importance of accurate flow measurement

11:42
The significance of flow measurement for safety

13:15
Flow meters: Accuracy matters

14:22
VFDs in residential and commercial pools

16:02
Modern VFDs and their ease of use

17:36
Autofill systems and automation benefits

18:56
Durability of outdoor pool systems

20:27
Pump protection and system safety

21:37
Low flow alarms and their role

23:30
Energy efficiency and pump speed reduction

25:01
Adjusting for environmental factors in pool operation

26:47
Water quality issues: Chemical vs mechanical causes

28:04
Mechanical issues masquerading as chemical problems

32:21
Final thoughts and advice from Sean McDermott

Resources

• H2 Flow
• NSF International NSF 50 Standard
• VFDs in Pool Systems
• Sean McDermott on LinkedIn

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