September 11 Archives - Aquatic Facility Training and Consultants

Reflect on Patriot Day: The 9/11 Memorial Pools

Post author:Rudy
Post published:September 11, 2025
Post category:Swimming Pool News

On a September morning nearly a generation ago, America’s soul was tested. Fire and smoke rose over Manhattan, heartbreak and loss reverberated across the nation, and nearly 3,000 lives—office workers,…

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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What separates a professional pool service company from someone simply adding chemicals?

In Part 2 of this special Mondays Down Under discussion, Lee Salisbury and Nick dive deeper into professional water analysis with the team from LaMotte, discussing why consistent, accurate testing is one of the biggest differences between average pool care and true water management.

The conversation explores the value of the WaterLink® Spin system, reducing user error, interpreting test results correctly, common mistakes professionals make after shocking a pool, and why understanding chemistry matters far more than simply reading numbers off a report.

Whether you're running a retail store, servicing residential pools, or maintaining commercial aquatic facilities, this episode is packed with practical advice that can improve both your water quality and your bottom line.

In This Episode

Why experience matters just as much as chemistry knowledge
Learning to interpret water test results—not just read them
Why every unusual water test should make you ask more questions
How customer conversations often solve water chemistry mysteries
When to consult technical support or laboratory analysis
Why professional testing equipment pays for itself
Reducing user error with automated water testing
The business case for investing in better testing equipment
Saving time while improving customer service
Comparing photometric testing to traditional reagent testing
Why complete water analysis is more valuable than testing only chlorine and pH
Protecting pools through proper water balance
”It's easier to keep it clean than bring it back from green.”

Technical Topics Covered

WaterLink Spin technology
Photometric water testing
Traditional liquid reagent testing
Test repeatability and consistency
Eliminating sample contamination
Proper sample volume
Test accuracy versus operator technique
Water balance fundamentals
Customer communication during water analysis
Laboratory troubleshooting
Commercial pool testing
Residential pool testing

Common Testing Mistakes Discussed

Misinterpreting zero alkalinity after shocking a pool
Understanding the effects of chlorine above 15 ppm
Why high chlorine can produce misleading alkalinity readings
Using high-range chlorine test strips for confirmation
Running additional tests on the same high-chlorine sample
Recognizing when the instrument is giving you an indicator—not a bad result

Best Practices

Use professional-grade testing equipment
Perform complete water analysis whenever possible
Verify unusually high chlorine levels before making chemical adjustments
Store Spin Discs properly
Reseal foil packaging after every use
Protect discs from moisture and light
Understand shelf life after opening
Train technicians to recognize abnormal test patterns
Build testing costs into your professional service

Commercial Aquatic Facility Discussion

The episode also covers:

Daily health department testing requirements
Three-test commercial Spin Discs
Testing multiple water bodies
Managing public pool safety
Protecting swimmers through accurate testing
Creating efficient testing workflows for aquatic facilities

Key Takeaways

Professional water testing isn't about owning expensive equipment—it's about making better decisions.

Accurate testing saves time, improves customer confidence, reduces costly mistakes, and helps protect both swimming pools and the people using them. Understanding what your test results are actually telling you is every bit as important as obtaining the numbers themselves.

Featured Guests

Lee Salisbury
Nick (Mondays Down Under)
Hiren Patel – LaMotte Company

Connect with Talking Pools

🌐 Website: https://talkingpools.com

📧 Email: talkingpools@gmail.com

Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and never miss an episode covering pool chemistry, service techniques, business growth, industry news, and conversations with some of the most knowledgeable professionals in the swimming pool industry.

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Email us: talkingpools@gmail.com