Drowning Prevention Archives - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Pool Guy Saves Lives with Sewing Machine

Post author:Contributor
Post published:January 20, 2020
Post category:Pool News Swimming Pool Safety

? Stitching for Swimming By Jules Johnson Pool Guy Saves Lives with Sewing Machine ? Every day we get up and check our phones, let the dog out, grab…

Prevent Drowning In Your Backyard Pool

Post author:Rudy
Post published:July 7, 2019
Post category:Pool Safety

On average, 19 children in the U.S. drown every year on the 4th of July - USA Swimming Foundation This is a tough subject and it's hard to even write…

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 the 🇦🇺🇳🇿 edition of the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee, Shane, and Nick welcome longtime industry veteran and chemistry expert John Harding of Lo-Chlor Chemicals for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of wellness products in the pool and spa industry.

John shares his incredible journey from aircraft engineer in England to becoming Technical Director at Lo-Chlor, one of Australia’s longest-standing specialty pool chemical manufacturers. Listeners get the backstory behind how Lo-Chlor was founded in 1979 after a hospital hydrotherapy pool kept turning green—and how a pharmacist’s chemistry experiments ultimately helped create one of the industry's most recognizable specialty chemical brands.

The conversation then shifts into one of the hottest trends in the industry right now: wellness spaces featuring hot tubs, saunas, cold plunges, and recovery systems. The team discusses how modern homeowners are increasingly transforming their backyards into personal wellness retreats rather than simply installing swimming pools.

John introduces Lo-Chlor’s new wellness-focused product lineup, including:

Sauna cleaning and wood protection products
Waterline and surface cleaners
Cover care systems
Specialized cleaners for robotic pool cleaners
Mineral enhancement products designed to improve water feel and comfort

One of the standout discussions centers around robotic pool cleaners and the often-overlooked issue of oils and body fats clogging robotic filter cartridges. John explains why simply hosing filters off is not enough and why degreasing and proper maintenance dramatically improves robotic cleaner performance and longevity.

The episode also explores mineral water enhancement systems like Therapy 3 and the Iluka spa range, discussing how magnesium and potassium blends can improve water feel without significantly impacting hardness readings or chlorine systems.

Perhaps the most thought-provoking segment comes near the end of the episode, when the hosts tackle the emerging challenges surrounding cold plunge pools and float tanks. With very little regulation currently in place, the discussion dives into:

Water testing challenges at extremely low temperatures
Difficulties with microbiological testing due to high TDS
Lack of existing standards for cold plunge sanitation
Potential public health concerns as the market rapidly expands

Lee and John discuss how the industry may be evolving faster than regulations can keep up, especially as wellness products become more mainstream across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The episode closes with an important reminder that education, chemistry knowledge, and adapting to new technologies remain critical as the pool and spa industry continues evolving.

If you're a pool professional looking to stay ahead of emerging trends in spas, saunas, cold plunges, mineral systems, and wellness water care, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

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Thank you so much for listening! You can find us on social media:

Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com