AFT&C news🗞️ - Page 14 of 18 - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

How to Get Rid of Black Algae

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 14, 2019
Post category:Algae

A Few Things That Work We have found Black Algae in some pretty interesting places. Here, Ashley takes us through several different methods that work on eliminating it. 2018 was…

Why is sand coming back into my pool?

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 7, 2019
Post category:Equipment

When All Things Point To The Laterals ?‍♂️ Check Before You Dig It is true that a broken lateral, or several, could be the reason you are seeing sand on…

Keeping the Pool When the Home Sells

Post author:Rudy
Post published:April 2, 2019
Post category:Marketing

Oh, Crap!? You are chugging along, knocking out pools on your route, and are having a good day. As you approach one of your favorite pools to take care of…

Aquatic Facilities and Risk Management Practice

Post author:Contributor
Post published:March 24, 2019
Post category:Risk Management University Aquatics

Identification, Evaluation, and Prioritization - by Michelle December Aquatic facilities are often viewed as being synonymous with risk So how do aquatic professionals effectively manage the inherent risks associated with their…

Lowering Total Alkalinity Without Affecting pH

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 10, 2019
Post category:Lowering pH

[responsivevoice_button voice="UK English Male" buttontext="Listen to Post"] Can the Acid Slug Lower Total Alkalinity Without Affecting pH? The ability to control whether you lower Total Alkalinity or pH by…

Certificación CPO en español

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 4, 2019
Post category:CPO Certification Class

Certificación CPO en español En Aquatic Facility Training & Consultants, creemos que aprender sobre piscinas no tiene por qué ser aburrido. Enseñamos los cursos de certificación CPO® (Operador de Piscina…

Don’t Undercut the Market ✂

Post author:Rudy
Post published:March 3, 2019
Post category:Marketing

Value-Based Pricing A service priced below market value is often perceived as a low quality service This is Dick. Dick wanted to own his own business and decided he would…

Florida’s Largest Competition Pool

Post author:Contributor
Post published:February 24, 2019
Post category:University Aquatics

Diving into Nova Southeastern University! Nova Southeastern's Assistant Director of Aquatics, Austin Harris, talks on overcoming the challenges in managing one of the countries largest academic SCUBA Diving programs, first…

Pool Tools the Pros Use

Post author:Rudy
Post published:February 19, 2019
Post category:Equipment Product Review

Whether you are brand new to the service industry or just looking to maintain your existing pools, buying the equipment needed to keep a swimming pool in good condition can…

Kessing Pool

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Post author:Contributor
Post published:January 28, 2019
Post category:University Aquatics

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Aquatics and Community Programs If you recall, in December we spoke with University of Houston's Assistant Director of Aquatic Operations, Cara Green.This month, University of…

Talking Pools Podcast

If you’ve ever stared at a test kit like it personally insulted your family… welcome home.

Talking Pools Podcast is the pool industry’s “pull up a chair” show—part shop talk, part field manual, part therapy session—built for people who actually live on pool decks: commercial operators, service techs, builders, facility managers, and anyone responsible for water that can’t afford to go sideways. The network was created to level up the pool industry with real-world conversations on water chemistry, filtration, troubleshooting, construction, safety, and the business side of keeping pools open and budgets intact.

Here’s the hook: it’s not theory-first. It’s experience-first—a roster of seasoned pros (with 250+ years of combined “been there, fixed that” wisdom) turning complicated problems into practical moves you can use the same day. And it’s not one voice, one vibe, one corner of the industry: it’s a network of shows designed to reflect how diverse this work really is—different regions, different specialties, different personalities.

Also worth saying out loud: women aren’t “special guests” here—they’re on the mic as hosts, from the beginning, with an intentionally balanced roster. That matters, because the best ideas in this industry don’t come from one lane—they come from the whole road.

If you want a podcast that can make you laugh and make you better at what you do—without pretending the job is easier than it is—Talking Pools is the one you queue up before the first stop, and keep on when the day starts getting weird.

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This week on Mondays Down Under, Lee Salisbury, Shane Melrose, and Nick discuss one of the more unusual sides of the pool industry: pools built for animals. What starts as a conversation about winter swimming temperatures quickly turns into a fascinating look at dog splash parks, crocodile enclosures, equestrian facilities, koi ponds, and the unique water quality challenges that come with maintaining aquatic environments that weren't designed for humans.

Nick shares his experience servicing a commercial dog splash pad attached to a boarding kennel and dog daycare facility. Complete with water features, filtration systems, UV sanitation, ORP control, and large hair-catching pre-filters, the installation demonstrates just how much engineering can go into keeping canine swimmers safe while maintaining water quality. The hosts discuss the realities of servicing these facilities, from dealing with dog hair and elevated sanitizer demand to understanding what pathogens and contaminants may be introduced by animal bathers.

The conversation expands into public aquatic facilities that host special dog-swimming events after the regular swimming season ends. Lee describes a commercial pool that transforms into a dog-friendly attraction before winter closure, complete with dog treats, pup cups, and scheduled swimming sessions. The hosts explore why these events have become popular while also examining the additional maintenance and sanitation concerns that come with allowing animals into traditionally human-focused aquatic environments.

Along the way, the team shares stories from the field, including crocodile enclosure maintenance, pools converted into fish ponds, koi installations, dogs trapped under pool covers, kangaroos damaging vinyl liners, and other unexpected encounters that remind listeners that pool service often extends far beyond residential backyards.

The discussion also dives into commercial pool design and operations, including Australia's practice of color-coding commercial plumbing systems to identify filtered water, unfiltered water, waste lines, and chemical treatment circuits. The hosts explain how these visual systems help technicians navigate complex plant rooms and improve troubleshooting efficiency.

Finally, the group reviews sanitation considerations for splash pads and interactive water features, including secondary sanitation requirements, UV systems, ozone treatment, pathogen control, chlorine contact times, and the challenges of maintaining safe water quality in facilities with high bather loads and small water volumes. The episode concludes with practical advice for service professionals managing pools where pets are frequent swimmers and why proper filtration, sanitation, and maintenance become even more important when four-legged bathers are involved.

In This Episode

Commercial dog splash pads and daycare aquatic facilities
Filtration and sanitation challenges created by animal bathers
Public pools that host dog swimming events
Crocodile enclosures, equestrian pools, and koi pond conversions
Commercial plant room plumbing color-coding systems
UV, ozone, ORP, and splash pad sanitation requirements
Microbiological concerns associated with animal swimming
Practical maintenance recommendations for pools used by pets
Real-world field stories from Australia and New Zealand
Why dog hair may be one of a technician's biggest challenges

Connect With Talking Pools

Listen to new episodes every week across the Talking Pools Podcast Network featuring industry professionals from around the world discussing pool service, water chemistry, commercial aquatics, equipment, operations, and the challenges technicians face every day.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere podcasts are found.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com