Pool Industry Part of the Drought Solution

Despite an unseasonably wet winter, the western and southwestern parts of the United States are in the midst of a historic drought. Reservoir levels remain critically low, prompting water authorities to crack down on water usage and localities to create drought plans that can have a significant impact on our industry.

Historically, severe drought conditions have led water districts to implement urban water management plans that impose water use restrictions on the construction and refilling of pools and hot tubs, even though such restrictions very rarely result in any measurable water savings. Those within the industry anticipate that continuing drought conditions will only put more pressure on water districts to limit the building and refilling of new pools. “These restrictions have a real economic impact on the industry, subcontractors, small businesses and the local communities they serve,” said Sabeena Hickman, president and CEO of the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. “To protect their livelihood, pool builders and other professionals must take a proactive approach to combat the drought.”

As a direct contact with consumers, pool and hot tub professionals like you can provide important resources and knowledge to encourage water conservation among your customer base and help spread the word that pools and hot tubs are not the water wasters that people tend to think they are.

In addition, one of the best things a pool owner can do is properly maintain their pool or spa – this is where you come in. By sharing useful facts and tips with customers, you can encourage them to schedule routine maintenance appointments and help ensure their vessel is in tip-top shape for the season.

Pools play a key role in the local community. In California alone, more than 16,500 new residential inground pools were constructed in 2020, reflecting a 17 percent increase from the year prior. The pandemic has led many people to seek respite in their homes and backyards, and restrictions limiting construction or filling of pools and hot tubs will directly impact this behavior without any measurable impact on the drought.

In addition to the effect on consumers, drought-related restrictions on the industry will have a significant and detrimental impact on local economies. In California, for example, the pool, hot tub and spa industry contributed more than $5 billion to the state’s economy in 2020, $3.1 billion of which was spent on retail, accessories and service. The industry also contributes more than 94,000 jobs and requires permit fees and payroll taxes be paid, which helps to stimulate local economies.

At the beginning of 2022, the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) and California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) teamed up to re-launch their drought awareness campaign, entitled Let’s Pool Together. The campaign is focused on changing consumer water use habits to support water conservation efforts and educating the public and policy makers on the facts surrounding the pool, hot tub and spa industry. Although it started as a campaign specific to California, it has since expanded to support additional regions across the country impacted by worsening drought.

Let’s Pool Together offers resources and materials as part of the Drought Resource Toolkit to help spread the word that pools and hot tubs are fantastic investments that can be used responsibly, even amidst severe drought.

Visit www.LetsPoolTogether.com and follow on Facebook @LetsPoolTogether and Twitter @PoolTogetherCA. Scan the code below or more information. We also encourage you to become a member of PHTA for additional resources and support.