SPLASH February-March 2020 by The Intermedia Group

Swimming Pools / Leisure / Aquatics / Spas / Health

Issue 128 February/March 2020

Industry first: The Climate Care Certified Plunge Pool Healthy staff: Mental first aid at aquatic centres

Saving water Our most valuable asset

www.splashmagazine.com.au

Download the AIS Water AR app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and scan the AIS Water logo to learn “Why choose AIS?”

Pixie RP10 features:

The Pixie is perfect for plunge pools, swim spas, jacuzzis, spas, hot tubs and small volume water features.

Chlorine output -10g/hr Compact and lightweight form factor - allowing easy handling and installation in tight spaces Stylish – featuring a space-efficient micro design Functionality – providing low chlorine output, geared for small water volumes Robust Powder-Coated Steel Construction - delivering a durable and corrosion resistant enclosure Simple User Interface - retaining only essential control functions Robust and Reliable Transformer - resistant to power fluctuations and high temperatures Tinted Polycarbonate Front Cover – protecting the user interface against direct sunlight

There is a significant trend in Australia toward higher density living, making properties smaller and space at a premium.

IP56 Waterproof Switch and Circuit Breaker - providing safer user interaction

However, people still want their private pool, and this means the plunge pool and spa market has exploded.

Multiple safety measures – preventing damage caused by overloading, water flow interruption, high/low salinity and other unforeseen events

This smaller application requires specifically designed pool chlorination technology. Being true to our purpose, we responded quickly to market demands with the launch of the purpose-built Pixie RP10.

External Aluminium Heatsink - providing enhanced cooling to alleviate internal heat Reverse Polarity (RP) Function - reduces calcium build-up on electrodes, resulting in less maintenance

Unlike other costly and dangerous chlorine generators designed for much larger water volumes, the Pixie provides real peace of mind because of its cost-efficiency, simplicity, reliability and ease of installation.

Genuine AIS Anode - ensuring the longevity of the electrolytic cell Proudly Australian Designed and Manufactured

Specifications Model

Chlorine Output* g/h

Input AC Power Consumption* Kilowatt hour (kWh)

Input Current Amps (A)

Water Flow L/mins

Dimensions (Packaged) L x W x H cm

Weight (Packaged) kg

Dimensions (Power Supply) L x W x H cm

Approximate Pool Size m3

Salinity Range ppm

Pixie RP10

10*

0.085*

0.4

150 – 450

48 x 35 x 17

5.5

23.0 x 21.4 x11.2

4000 - 5500

*All test were conducted at the temperature of 26°C, pH 7.7, Salinity level 5000 ppm and Flow rate 200 l/m.

51 MILLENNIUM PLACE, TINGALPA, QLD 4173 AUSTRALIA TELEPHONE: +61 7 3396 5222 | FACSIMILE: +61 7 3393 3441 EMAIL: INFO@AISWATER.COM.AU

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Published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd ABN 940 025 83 682 41 Bridge Road, Glebe, NSW, 2037 Australia Ph: (02) 9660 2113 Fax: (02) 9660 4419 On behalf of The Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia Ltd (SPASA Australia) Publisher: Simon Cooper Managing Editor: Chris Maher Phone: 0412 048 639 Email: chrismaher@intermedia.com.au

editorial Resilience in difficult times

Contributors: Veda Dante, Cal Stanley, Adrian Lacy, David Lloyd, Brett Lloyd Abbott, Tim Gledhill, Jon Mailer. Advertising Manager: David Stennett Phone: 0404 725 554 Email: david@spasa.com.au Senior Designer: Chris Papaspiros Production Manager: Jacqui Cooper Subscriptions: 1800 651 422 Email: subscriptions@intermedia.com.au Copyright All material in this publication is copyright to the publisher and/or its contributors. No material may be reproduced without the express permission of the publishers.

Disclaimer: This publication is published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (the “Publisher”) on behalf of SPASA Australia. Materials in this publication have been created by a variety of different entities and, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher accepts no liability for materials created by others. All materials should be considered protected by Australian and international intellectual property laws. Unless you are authorised by law or the copyright owner to do so, you may not copy any of the materials. The mention of a product or service, person or company in this publication does not indicate the Publisher’s endorsement. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the opinion of the Publisher, its agents, company officers or employees. Any use of the information contained in this publication is at the sole risk of the person using that information. The user should make independent enquiries as to the accuracy of the information before relying on that information. All express or implied terms, conditions, warranties, statements, assurances and representations in relation to the Publisher, its publications and its services are expressly excluded save for those conditions and warranties which must be implied under the laws of any State of Australia or the provisions of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof. To the extent permitted by law, the Publisher will not be liable for any damages including special, exemplary, punitive or consequential damages (including but not limited to economic loss or loss of profit or revenue or loss of opportunity) or indirect loss or damage of any kind arising in contract, tort or otherwise, even if advised of the possibility of such loss of profits or damages. While we use our best endeavours to ensure accuracy of the materials we create, to the extent permitted by law, the Publisher excludes all liability for loss resulting from any inaccuracies or false or misleading statements that may appear in this publication. This issue of SPLASH! magazine published by The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd (Intermedia) may contain magazine or subscription; offers, competitions, forms and surveys (Reader Offers) which require you to provide information about yourself, if you choose to enter or take part in them. If you provide information about yourself to Intermedia, Intermedia will use this information to provide you with the products of services you have requested and may supply your information to contractors that help Intermedia to do this. Intermedia will also use your information to inform you of other Intermedia publications, products, services and events. Intermedia may give your information to organisations that are providing special prizes or offers that are clearly associated with the Reader Offer. Unless you tell us not to, we may give your information to other organisations that may use it to inform you about other products, services or events or to give it to other organisations that may use it for this purpose. If you would like to gain access to the information Intermedia holds about you, please contact Intermedia’s Privacy Officer at The Intermedia Group Pty Ltd, PO Box 55, Glebe, NSW 2037.

Chris Maher Managing Editor chrismaher@ intermedia.com.au

This summer, one crisis didn’t even finish before another began. The ongoing drought ran straight into a bushfire season from hell that took lives, property, animals and businesses in its wake. Unlike other fire seasons, this was not relegated to one region, but was all down the East Coast and into South Australia, and even into Western Australia. Personally, I’d never known so many people affected by bushfires before – dozens of families evacuating, or staying to fight the fires, or fighting as part of the RFS. Some, sadly, were very severely affected. Then ferocious winds came from the west, picking up the dry Mallee dust and dumping it across towns and cities in a brown cloud that settled over everything and filled swimming pools with mud. At long last the rain came. But as often happens after a long period without it, when it comes it floods in over everything, with some places receiving all their summer rain in one day. Trees were pulled up by their roots, power was cut and properties were inundated. For the third separate reason this summer, children were told to stay home from school and workers were told not to bother. These devastating acts of nature touched the industry in several ways: affecting homes and families, making work near impossible, and damaging their own businesses and those of clients. After all that, you’d think we’d deserve a reprieve. Then the coronavirus arrived. While we seem a long way from the heart of the epidemic, in this global world everything is connected. Like many industries, pool and spa businesses rely on goods from China, and if their production and supply chains are impacted, it affects us as well. We’re yet to see by how much. But as a whole the industry has shown resilience through these challenges. Rather than wait for better times, many people have looked for new ways to make their businesses work – from promoting water-saving innovations during the drought to finding alternative ways to satisfy customers when supply lines are restricted. Some have even shown there are ways to improve a business during hard times. A final word of thanks to the many people in our industry who take time and effort and even spend their own money to risk their lives fighting the fires as part of the RFS or other volunteer organisations. They are the best among us and we’ll always be grateful.

Proudly supported by

The views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those of the above supporters, nor should any product advertised in SPLASH! magazine be seen to be endorsed by the above.

This issue’s cover The Intermedia Group takes its Corporate and Social Responsibilities seriously and is committed to reducing its impact on the environment. We continuously strive to improve our environmental performance and to initiate additional CSR based projects and activities. As part of our company policy we ensure that the products and services used in the manufacture of this magazine are sourced from environmentally responsible suppliers. This magazine has been printed on paper produced from sustainably sourced wood and pulp fibre and is accredited under PEFC chain of custody. PEFC certified wood and paper products come from environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of forests. The wrapping used in the delivery process of this magazine is 100% biodegradable.

The cover shows the first Climate Care Certified swimming pool, built in Queensland by Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools. There is more on this and on water saving in general from page 32.

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 7

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Contents 32 25

Industry Snapshot: Elena Gosse Elena Gosse, CEO of AIS Water, explains how she would like to see more industry collaboration to help promote Australian-made products.

Best Practice and Debunking Myths to help educate consumers about water, and how it relates to their swimming pool or spa.

Reinventing the eighties A new pool and revitalised landscaping helped spark this Byron Bay renovation.

Water and air After a 12-month break, Cal Stanley is back at the laptop, helping disseminate useful information on hydraulics for pool builders.

Love affair with pools makes for summer’s bestseller Everywhere you turned this summer, someone seemed to be reading Therese Spruhan’s collection of stories on Australia’s love of the swimming pool.

Safely increasing prices Jon Mailer shows how to fairly raise your prices without putting noses out of joint or losing customers.

Industry Snapshot: Darren Milne The second in the series of Industry Shapshots this edition is Darren Milne, one of the partners of freshwater sanitisation manufacturer, Naked Pools.

First Climate Care Certified pool launched SPASA’s water and energy efficiency label, Climate Care Certified, has reached a milestone with the launch of the first Climate Care Certified swimming pool.

67 67

Debunking consumer water myths SPASA has produced a document called Water,

Clean water smooths a rock lobsters’ life Aquaculture uses many of the same principles as the swimming pool industry, and some of the equipment can be interchanged, sometimes requiring only a small tweak.

Mental first aid in aquatic and recreation centres Tim Gledhill looks at how understanding mental health is important in aquatic centres, not only for the clients but also for staff wellbeing.

Saving water – the lifeblood of the swimming pool and spa industry Veda Dante looks at the most valuable resource for the swimming pool and spa industry – water – and what products and processes are helping us preserve it more efficiently.

Automate your follow-up Brett Lloyd Abbott explains how automation in your follow-up can help make the most of your time, while keeping your pool prospects interested.

regulars News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Commercial news . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Pool DAs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

New products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Ad index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 9

news

Retail

Dust storms cause pool chemical shortage In January, monstrous Mallee dust Clearing the dust storms led to an influx of Victorian Of the two ways to handle dust in swimming pool owners seeking a fix the pools, the easiest is to add floc for their brown pools, resulting in a and then vacuum to waste. temporary chemical shortage. “But as there’s no floc available The most sought-after chemicals they’re using chlorine, phosphate were flocculant and clarifiers. remover and clarifying agents, Retail outlets in Melbourne waiting till the pool goes clear and were inundated, and one shop then giving it a backwash,” SPLASH! spoke with had more said Gaskell. than a thousand people through “Then they’re left with a layer of the door in three days. sediment in the pool which they “These have been the busiest have to vacuum to waste.” days in the pool shop in twenty He said the other important thing years,” said Chris Gaskell, owner to consider thing is that the rate the of northwest Melbourne franchise pool will get clean depends on when 1200 people went through Balwyn Simart on the Swimart Balwyn. the filter media has been changed. Thursday and Saturday prior to Australia Day “It’s all this Mallee dust coming “If they haven’t changed the sand down in the duststorm. Every pool in in their filter for ten years, it’s going my area has turned into the Yarra – in fact, the Yarra looks clearer than to be really slow to clean the pool.” the pools!” The Balwyn store also sold out of vacuum heads and hoses. Gaskell said this happened once before in the very early 2000s, “People with infloor cleaning systems don’t have the manual vacuum but his father – who has been in the industry for 40 years – can only equipment, and we’re telling them to vacuum to waste, so they have to remember it happening twice before in all that time. come in and get the manual heads and hoses.” He said pool chemicals from all suppliers ran low, with many out of Gaskell put together a kit with three chemicals and instructions, stock and retailers frantically trying to reorder. based on what he had available. It includes a kilo of chlorine, a litre of “I drove to two suppliers on Wednesday morning to get chemicals phosphate remover and a litre of clarifying agent. on the truck, and we also had two deliveries that day as well, and we “I do have some floc,” he said at the time. “But I’ve got 400 regular still ran out of stock.” customers and I’ve got to use what I have for their pools. On the Friday before the Australia Day long weekend, he again “My own personal pool at home is orange and I haven’t had a went to the suppliers to pick up chemicals and fortunately had two chance to fix it yet. The kids are yelling at me to fix it but I won’t get a chemical deliveries from LoChlor, but what he had in stock was all he chance till after Australia Day. It’s just too busy.” had for the long weekend. On top of the issues with dust storms, floods and fires, the industry More than 1200 people went through the shop between Thursday has another threat: coronavirus. See page 15 for more. and Saturday.

Manufacturing

All hands on deck to support firefighters Many hands make light work – and help put out bushfires! During the worst of the bushfire crisis, Pentair’s Australian senior management team stepped out from their usual roles to join an all-handson-deck effort to assemble and dispatch Pentair Blazemaster firefighting pumps to the bushfire-affected communities of Australia. Over an intense five-day period, approximately 400 Blazemaster units were made and despatched from Melbourne. 10 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Many parts of Australia had been affected by the unprecedented bushfires this summer. Pentair’s Blazemaster firefighting solutions play a crucial role in protecting property, livestock and communities but the recent urgent demand for Blazemaster solutions could not have been predicted. Luckily the all-hands-on-deck attitude and the tireless work of staff ensured the people in need received the right tools and solutions to help keep the fires at bay.

Bipin Gangadharan, Darren Wait, Qi Shi (Rocky) and Jason Standfield

news

The whole East Coast, South Australia and parts of Western Australia were badly affected by devastating fires this summer, with catastrophic consequences, including loss of life, loss of property and disruption to businesses

Quarterly figures high but year down

new

Oct Nov

Business Victoria is offering grants of up to $50,000 to eligible Victorian small businesses and non-profit Year old 2000 organisations affected by the Victorian bushfires. The grants are1500 intended to help pay for costs of cleanup and reinstatement of 1000 businesses that have suffered direct damage as500 a result of bushfires. Applications are open until 31 July 20200and can be FebVictoria Mar Apr made via the Business website or via a QuickLink at splashmagazine.com.au. Year old Loss of income is5000 not covered under this grants program, and 4000 neither are farm businesses, 3000primary which have their own producers’ bushfire grants. 2000 Grants are available to Victorian small businesses with 1000 between one and 19 employees that have sustained damage as a 0 Dec Jan NSW result of the Victorian bushfires. The grant recipient must be a small business owner, hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster, own a small business located in a defined disaster area

May

that has suffered direct damage as a result the Victorian bushfires commencing 21 November 2019, have been engaged Year newin carrying on the small business when affected, be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application and be intending to re-establish the small business in the defined disaster area. Council areas covered (as of February 4) include Alpine Shire, Ararat Rural City, City of Jun Jul Aug Oct Nov Dec Jan Ballarat, CitySep of Wodonga, East Gippsland Shire, Glenelg Shire, new Indigo Golden Plains Year Shire, Shire, Mansfield Shire, Northern Grampians Shire, Pyrenees Shire, Rural City of Wangaratta, Southern Grampians Shire, Towong Shire and Wellington Shire. An initial amount of up to $25,000 is available to support an initial claim. Evidence of VIC QLD WA SA the direct damage such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices or official receipts is required. A subsequent amount of up to $25,000 is available to support subsequent claims. Contact: www.business.vic. gov.au

Year old

Year new

2000

5000

4000

1500

3000 1000 2000 500

1000

Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug Sep

Year old

Yearly comparison by State

Grants available for fireaffected Victorian businesses

Three-monthly comaparison

Bushfires

Yearly comparison by month

The three-monthly swimming pool DA numbers show an increase of 22 per cent over the corresponding period last year, largely on the back of a big quarter for Queensland. The three-monthly numbers (for November-to-January) show Queensland up by a massive 84 per cent, South Australia up 25 per cent and Victoria up 17 per cent; while New South Wales is down one per cent and Western Australia is down 21 per cent. However, the annual figures to January show the DAs still down by six per cent, with Queensland up 19 per cent, New South Wales down eight per cent, Victoria down 12 per cent, South Australia down 14 per cent and Western Australia down 26 per cent.

Oct Nov Dec

Jan

Year new 3500

5000

3000

4000

2500 3000

2000 1500

2000

1000 1000

500

NSW

Quarter old

VIC

QLD

Quarter new

3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

While these figures give an indication of the way the market is trending, they are not comprehensive and don’t include all pools built or even all DAs lodged. By some estimates, the total national numbers including all types of pools could be almost double these figures. They do not include pool projects that are approved as part of a new home, smaller projects under the cost threshold, renovations that don’t require a DA, or some aboveground pools. Additionally, not all councils are forthcoming with data or report on time; councils in some states such as Queensland and Victoria are particularly reluctant. For further information, call Cordell Information on 1800 80 60 60.

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 11

news

Environment

Two more products join Climate Care Program Waterco and Sunline have seen their environmentally sustainable solutions added to the Climate Care Program after meeting the stringent requirements of SPASA Australia’s Climate Care Certified Guidelines. They join the growing list which includes Lo-Chlor for its Solar Shield product, Sunbather for its Thermal Pool Blanket, Neptune Benson with their Defender ultra-fine filter, Sancell for their Streamline Dome pool cover, Supreme Heating for the Heatseeker Dualsun hybrid system, Remco for their Swimroll pool cover system, Abgal for their Oasis pool cover, NCS for their pool cover, Sealed Air for their Suncap pool cover, Daisy for their ThermoTech and Ultradome pool covers and their AquaSaver invisible solar shield. Waterco is already part of the program for their MultiCyclone pre-filter and their MultiCyclone Dual Filtration System.

Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V Pump Waterco’s Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V Pump has met the stringent requirements of the SPASA Australia’s Climate Care Certified program. The Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V variable speed pump is equipped with the latest three-speed permanent magnet brushless DC motor which is capable of lowering its energy usage and reducing its operating noise levels. Its benefits include and energy rating of eight stars, an ultra-quiet motor and off peak operation. Energy rating of eight stars: you can operate the Hydrostorm 100 ECO-V on its low (Eco) speed setting for a majority of its running time, leading to 80 per cent savings in energy. Benefits of slow flow: even though you may need to operate the Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V longer, it is far more efficient pumping low water flow compared to high water flow and has the added benefit of improving the pool’s filtration efficiency. Ultra-quiet: the Hydrostorm Waterco’s Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V Pump 100 ECO-V operates most economically and with the lowest noise level at its low speed setting. Its low speed setting significantly reduces the pump’s vibration, motor noise and water turbulence to an ultra-low 55.5 decibels (dBA).

Keep informed by subscribing to the free online newsletter. Cleaning and maintaining swimming pools after fires During the unprecedented bushfire season, Swimart provided key information to help pool owners restore healthy water balance – and provide firefighters with a valuable resource. 12 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Off-peak operation: its low noise levels enable it to be operated at times that are not allowable for conventional pool pumps. The Hydrostorm 100 Eco-V allows you to take advantage of off-peak electrical tariff periods, without upsetting your neighbours. Variable speed options: Hydrostorm 100 ECO-V’s three speed options cater for most pool functions. • High speed – vacuuming and backwash – one per cent of the time. • Medium speed – automatic pool cleaners. • Low speed – filtration – 99 per cent of the time.

Aquavent pool cover Sunline’s Aquavent pool cover has also met the stringent requirements of the Climate Care Certified program as well as being certified by Smart Approved Watermark. It the first breathable solar pool blanket on the market. Its benefits include: • Breathes via patented vented cells. • Prevents debris in the pool. • Can heat a pool by up to eight degrees. • Reduces evaporation by up to 97 per cent. • Two-stage micro-valves allow vapours to escape but do not allow significant water evaporation.

Sunline’s Aquavent pool cover

Consumer benefits The consumer benefits of the Climate Care program include the fact that consumers can purchase with confidence knowing that they are choosing a certified environmentally sustainable solution. They will also enjoy the benefits of choosing a solution which utilises water efficiency, energy efficiency, noise reduction measures, environmentally sustainable designs or efficiency/sustainability innovations, and reduce their overall carbon footprint while saving money.

Top five online news stories

The online stories that made the news over the past two months. Dust storms cause temporary pool chemical shortage Before the fires were even under control, a series of savage dust-storms wracked NSW and Victoria, turning thousands of swimming pools brown.

Sydney moves to Level 2 water restrictions As the drought persisted, stronger water restrictions were implemented for Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Illawarra and other regions.

Audit of NSW pool certifiers to commence in January Fair Trading announced its audit program of E1 pool certifiers would commence in January 2020 with a target completion date of the end of March 2020.

SR Smith acquires Sunbather Solar pool heating manufacturer Sunbather was purchased by US-based pool deck equipment manufacturer SR Smith.

news

Upcoming events 2020 Mar7-8

Perth Pool Spa & Outdoor Living Expo, Claremont Showground

Mar28-29

Adelaide Pool Spa & Outdoor Living Expo, Adelaide Showground

Apr30-May3 Asctacon 20, Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre May 18-20

AALARA Conference, Gold Coast

June 6

Queensland Awards of Excellence, Brisbane

June 13

South Australian Awards of Excellence, Adelaide

June 27

NSW & ACT Awards of Excellence, Sydney

July 10-12

New Zealand Pool Spa & Outdoor Expo, ABS Showgrounds, Auckland

July 18

Victorian Awards of Excellence, MCEC

July 18

WA Awards of Excellence, Perth

July 28

Andrew Simons Golf Day, RACV Royal Pines, Gold Coast

July 29-30 SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre July 30

National Awards of Excellence, Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre

Aug 8-9

Melbourne Winter Spa & Pool Show, MCEC

Sep 12-13

Perth Pool Spa & Outdoor Living Expo, Claremont Showground

Oct 14-16

World Aquatic Health Conference, Omni Houston Hotel, Texas USA

More details at splashmagazine.com.au. Dates are subject to change and should be checked with the relevant organisation. Send calendar submissions to info@splashmagazine.com.au.

SPLASH! 2020 on the Gold Coast is gearing up to be the biggest event in the history of the Australasian swimming pool and spa industry

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 13 Multicyclone 16 ad with climate care logo_Splash 270mm x 90mm.indd 1

2/7/20 11:53 AM

news

Safety

In Brief SPASA Australia has announced its sponsors for 2020. “The appointment of Fluidra and Pentair as Platinum Sponsors and Hayward Pool Products as Silver Sponsor confirms that the pool and spa industry has the support of global leaders,” says Lindsay McGrath, SPASA Australia CEO. “It’s important to recognise the patronage of our sponsors, as these partnerships ensure the ongoing expansion and success of our events. They enable us to continually promote the industry, making direct benefits to members possible.” Major events proudly supported by the sponsors include the Awards of Excellence program across Australia and New Zealand; regional member networking events, meetings and forums; the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show; the Women in Business program and the Next Gen program. Fluidra also renewed its platinum sponsorship of the SPLASH! Trade Show for 2020, with Pentair and Dab gold sponsors, and AIS Water silver sponsor. AIS Water CEO Elena Gosse was guest speaker at the Shelter for a Cause event organised by business networking group, Business Chicks. The aim of the event was to raise $300,000 to fund the building of a shelter for survivors of domestic violence in the British Virgin Islands. Twenty dollars from each ticket also went to Australian bushfire relief. Gosse has a long-established history of working to help women escape domestic violence situations. 14 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Fair trading clarifies E1 certifier issues NSW Fair Trading have clarified the issue of E1 Certifiers providing CPR signs to customers, either free or for a fee, and installing the signs. Fair Trading has confirmed that it does not see any issue with a certifier either offering a CPR sign for free or for a fee as part of their inspection process, and if required installing the sign on site. However, any subsequent damage caused as part of the installation may require remediation. NSW Fair Trading has also addressed minor works more generally where a certifier, who also operates a pool repair or maintenance business, may offer their services to rectify any noncompliances identified during a pool inspection. In these instances, certifiers need to consider their status as a public official in carrying out their functions and also the conflict of interest provisions under the Building Professionals Act and Regulation, including possible perceived conflicts of interest. It is the position of NSW Fair Trading that as long as all legislative requirements are met, minor works could be offered and completed. If a

Bushfires

Rare photo auction raises $17,000 for bushfire victims

certifier offers any level of building work including minor works, they should be cognisant of the provisions contained within the Home Building Act and Regulation, if applicable, when both offering and completing the work, along with the Australian The SPASA CPR sign Consumer Law. If a complaint was received by NSW Fair Trading concerning the actions of a certifier either in their capacity as a certifier or relevant to offering and completing rectification work as part of another business, these would be reviewed and investigated in accordance with current procedures. As part of the upcoming E1 Certifier Audit, NSW Fair Trading will be surveying certifiers that are audited on this particular issue with the view that it may assist them in gaining additional information on current processes within businesses and any impact on those businesses.

“The catastrophic fires in Australia have killed dozens of people, including firefighters, devastated communities with thousands of homes lost, razed 25 million acres, left one billion animals dead, and destroyed much of the habitat for those still living,” she says. Douglas Stewart from Douglas Stewart Fine Books kindly donated the memorabilia and guaranteed the authenticity of the item. The winning bid was $6000. With the dollar matching from SPASA and Lo-Chlor, a total of $17,000 was raised.

Australian marathon swimming sensation, 31-time English Channel swimmer Chloë McCardel, hosted an auction to help the victims of the recent spate of devastating bushfires, with all the money going to the Victorian Premier’s Bushfire Appeal. What’s more, SPASA Australia dollar-matched the highest bid up to $5000 – and Lo-Chlor Chemicals dollar matched up to $10,000! Chloë McCardel with the autographed photo of first unaided channel Up for auction was an swimmer Captain Matthew Webb autographed 1875 photograph of Captain Matthew Webb. Webb was the first recorded person to swim the English Channel for sport without the use of artificial aids. In 1875, he swam from Dover to Calais in less than 22 hours. This brought him great celebrity, and he performed many stunts in public. He died trying to swim the Whirlpool Rapids below Niagara Falls, a feat declared impossible. McCardel says she wanted to support those in need following the devastating bushfire season.

news

Distribution

Coronavirus causing supply issues On top of the other issues the local pool and spa industry has been facing this summer (drought, fire, dust-storms and floods), a new threat arose in the new year: coronavirus. The spread of the epidemic in Hubei province and further afield in China has led to disruptions to the supply chain of some essentials for the industry, notably pool equipment and chemicals. Paul Simons, managing director of Lo-Chlor Chemicals, says the coronavirus is something very real and very concerning to the industry. “The ripple effect I see coming from one region in China is completely unprecedented and something that should be a real concern for all of us,” he says. “Many companies are affected from all sectors that rely heavily on manufactured parts, finished goods, chemicals and other elements that come directly out of China. While there are some local manufacturers left in Australia, our reliance on China is enormous and this is going to have an impact,” he says. “I don’t think we will see the real effects here in Australia for another six to eight weeks, but the threat is real and we could see a number of key areas of our industry affected.” Some of the chemicals affected include cal hypo, di-chlor and other chlorine based sanitisers, as well as balancing chemicals such as buffer and calcium chloride. Stabiliser is less of a concern as the season is coming to an end. Simons says that regarding specialty chemicals, companies like Lo-Chlor

Training

SPASA Training launches new calendar The 2020 SPASA Training calendar has been launched providing many opportunities for professional training around the country and online. The training opportunities are designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals looking to upskill their existing knowledge, as well as new entrants looking to start a career within the industry. The programs offered by SPASA Australia provide focused, practical training and professional development solutions to

manufacture their entire line locally so there won’t be issues regarding supply. However, he says some chemical companies rely on overseas blends either provided as finished goods or in bulk tankers. These companies will have long term supply issues and will have to seek local sources or find themselves out of stock. He says that the recent fires and dust storms have already put a strain on chemical supplies in Australia, and the effect of the coronavirus will compound those issues to an extent that is, at present, difficult to estimate. Additionally coronavirus has led to concerns with responsibility and sanitisation in public pools (see the commercial section of the magazine for more on this).

Delivering in new ways SPASA Australia has received a number of calls relating to both these topics, and CEO

Novel coronavirus (covid-19)

suit every need. They offer participants the opportunity to qualify and learn the skills relevant for today’s demanding and expanding workforce. Programs are designed to provide industry participants with a best practice approach covering current standards and legislation that will enhance both individual knowledge and business operation. To download the calendar go to www. spasa.com.au/

Lindsay McGrath says that this challenge comes on top of the drought, regulatory issues, the fires and the floods. “Our new challenge is the coronavirus which is has stretched the Asia Pacific logistics capabilities with manufacturing and shipping delays, postponements and cancellations causing difficulties to supply,” he says. However, McGrath says the pool and spa industry is in a better position than many other industries. “Fortunately a diverse supply chain is available to pool and spa businesses,” he says. “Many industries don’t have such a range of suppliers, products and services that meet similar requirements. “The variation in filtration, circulation and chemistry options are being utilised by many of our members. In times of hardship we are seeing more creativity than just swapping one brand of product that is out of stock to another supplier.” He says an opportunity lies in delivering the outcome for the customer in a way they didn’t expect. “I would encourage all proprietors to lend an understanding ear to their supply network, and to view this hardship as the opportunity it is – to educate your teams on the alternatives, get feedback from them, and provide a good result for the customer. “The customer is looking for a solution, not just a quick fix or direct replacement, and there may even be the opportunity to upsell them on a more efficient or higher quality product.”

education-training or go to splashmagazine. com.au for QuickLink to the downloadable calendar.

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 15

news

Advice

After the rains: cleaning flood-affected swimming pools Following the recent devastating East Coast storms, David Lloyd from International Quadratics offers useful advice on how to clean up and treat swimming pools after floods and storms. Storms and flooding have several effects on swimming pools, including the following: • Dirt and debris washed into the pool. • Phosphates introduced into the water. • Dilution of the chlorine causing algae to form. • Dilution of the salt and mineral content of the water. Below are some quick tips for handling the situation. Step 1. T he first step is to clean the pool of dirt and debris. Remove any large debris such as branches etc, empty both the skimmer and pump basket. In the case of the water being very dirty such as when soil has been flushed into the pool, a heavy duty floc may be required. Follow the label instructions of the floc you are using and then vacuum the pool to waste. See below for important information relating to keeping the pH high for flocs to work properly. Step 2. Test and re-balance the pool water including the addition of salt and minerals where required. Step 3. S hock dose the pool. Step 4. Add the required dose of phosphate remover to remove unwanted phosphates. Step 5. In case of cloudy water use a clarifier. Step 6. Add a winteriser treatment or maintenance algaecide.

Flocculants and coagulants This might be an appropriate time for a refresher course on flocculants and how they work. The terms “flocculants” and “coagulants” are synonymous with each other; however the process of clearing cloudy/dirty pools is in fact a two-stage process involving both coagulation and flocculation. Turbidity (or cloudiness) of water is caused by fine particles suspended in the water. These particles are typically smaller than two microns and will normally pass through the filter system. They are of low density and will therefore be suspended in the water. Most particles are negatively charged and repel each other. In order to remove these particles it is first necessary to add a flocculent (positively charged) which will coagulate the fine particles into larger “flocs” by neutralising

16 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

the negative charge, allowing the particles to come together and form a floc. Some flocs will be “light flocs” which will tend to remain suspended in the water or even rise to the surface of the pool and are then caught on the filter bed. Algae and organic matter may form lighter flocs. Soil, dust and clay, being denser will form heavier flocs which will sink and form sedimentation on the floor of the pool. This should be then vacuumed to waste. The type of flocculent used will also dictate if a light or heavy floc is formed. Aluminiumbased flocs such as poly aluminium chloride (PAC) or alum will form a heavy floc which settles on the bottom while some cationic electrolytes and natural flocs will form light flocs and tend to be caught by the filter. In the case of a really dirty pool, for example after large storms or in the case of cyclones, we would recommend the use of a heavy floc such as liquid PAC or powdered/granular alum.

The importance of pH It is important to note that aluminium flocs only work at a high pH so you must first raise the pH of the pool to at least 8 when using Alum or 7.8 when using a liquid PAC-based product. Alum has a low pH and will immediately reduce the pH of the water after addition. Common practice when using alum is to raise the pH to 8+ using soda ash and then add two to four kilograms of sodium bicarb (buffer) at the same time as adding the alum. This will compensate for any drop in pH and also increase the total alkalinity. When using a PAC-based product, the pH should be raise to at least 7.8. However, the effect on pH of the water after addition is significantly less than that of alum so further reduction is usually unnecessary. It should also be noted that alum contains typically 8 per cent Al2O3 (the active floc) while PAC may contain 23 per cent Al2O3 (three times stronger).

chlorinate using liquid chlorine (this also assists in the raising of the pH). • If phosphates are present the floc may be partially used up floccing the phosphates and slow up the process of clearing the pool. • High TDS levels or Salt will also slow up or prevent efficient flocculation. The use of a fast floc which has an inbuilt accelerator may compensate for this. • Most flocs are incompatible with DE or cartridge filters. DE filters should be set on “recirculation” or “by-pass”. • In the case of cartridge filters do not use a floc unless you have a valve to allow pool water to waste, in which case you should first remove the cartridge then vacuum to waste. If no waste valve is fitted, then a light clarifier may be used but the cartridge should be cleaned frequently to avoid a build-up of pressure. One last tip – after vacuuming and rebalancing the pool water, place a clarifier in the skimmer basket to really polish the water and leave it crystal clear.

Beware emptying pools No matter how bad you think the water might be after a storm, be aware that flood water will have made the ground conditions around the foundations of the pool very wet. Pools should not be drained until ground conditions have dried to at least the depth of the pool as the entire shell of the pool (fibreglass or concrete) can “pop” out of its original position with the change in hydrostatic pressures. Except for the most severely affected, almost all swimming pools and spas can be brought back to life after floods, storms and fire without the need to drain the water. In that instance it should always be left to a professional – a pool owner should never drain their own pool.

Floccing points Some important points to note when flocking pools are: • It is difficult to floc live algae. If there is any evidence of the presence of algae, super

Floodwaters can cause trouble for swimming pool owners

news

Safety

Heat and dust Safe Work Australia has provided information relating to heat and air pollution from bushfires. This can be hazardous and can cause harm to people working in both indoor and outdoor work environments. Employers have duties under work health and safety laws to manage these risks and protect worker health and safety. There are resources and guidelines on the Safe Work Australia website, with specific information about the potential hazards and risks associated with working in heat and air pollution. It provides information on managing the risks from air pollution including advice for persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) and information about managing the WHS risks. There is also information on air quality including advice relating to working near bushfires, a model code of practice, as well as air quality indexes for each jurisdiction. You should be aware of any bushfires near your work area. Follow instructions and advice from emergency services and ensure you are able to evacuate the area if needed. Remain vigilant and immediately report any smoke or fires that you see. Your workplace must prepare and inform you of the procedures in the event of an emergency. If you are working alone, ensure you have a means of communication with you at all times (e.g. a mobile phone). If you are working remotely or in an isolated place, your workplace must ensure you can be contacted and receive assistance in an emergency. There is also a guide for managing the risks of working in heat with information on how to manage heat risks and what to do if a worker begins to suffer from a heat-related illness, as well as a heat infographic providing a quick reference guide on ways to control risks. Go to www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au or go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink.

The infographic from Safe Work Australia Feb/Mar 2020â&#x20AC;&#x192; SPLASH!â&#x20AC;&#x192; 17

news

Expos

Hot, hot summer brings consumers to Melbourne show “It’s easy to see the correlation between a beautifully designed and presented exhibitor stand and the number of consumers milling around and engaging with the exhibitor.” The next Victorian expo will be the Spa & Pool + Backyard & Garden Show on August 8 and 9, 2020.

Chemical Tips Thoughtful ideas can help increase retail sales. What about a “Product of the Month”? Create POS material highlighting a reason to buy during a particular month or season, such as balancing products at the start of the season, algaecides in the middle of summer or clarifiers after storms. Incentivise your staff to upsell with an offer such as dinner for two at a local restaurant. If you ask your supplier to support these incentives, they could work with you to draw up and support a long term marketing and promotional plan. Another way to increase sales is to better utilise your service technicians. Get them to identify opportunities when attending pools. Are the CPR charts up to date, does the cleaner need a service, is a new rake, brush or pole needed? Print out a call report they can leave at the premises identifying any broken items or other work that needs to be done. Follow up these reports with a phone call to ask if the client wants the items replaced/fixed next time the tech calls, and give the tech an incentive for any new business they bring in. Another idea is to put a discount dump bin in a prominent position in the shop and fill it with any slow moving stock. Turn this dead stock into cash and the cash into fast moving stock. Contact: International Quadratics’ David Lloyd. (02) 9774 5550.

18 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

The quality of stands made the consumer experience engaging The weather was hot in the lead-up to the Melbourne Pool & Spa + Outdoor Living Expo, leading to an influx of eager consumers. SPASA Victoria CEO Chris Samartzis says a record spend on TV, radio, billboards, digital, social and print ensured that everyone in Victoria knew this event was on. “Consumer engagement was the focus and this expo delivered in spades,” he says. “Exhibitors were kept busy by consumers who were hungry for everything on offer. Exhibitors were wowed by the quality consumer leads received this year.” The feature garden, designed and built by Urban Horticultural Solutions, was a centrepiece of the show, and was a standout amongst many quality stands. The garden demonstrated how to incorporate clever design ideas by optimising space. “We were fortunate to have some exceptional stands built by our members and this made the consumer experience much more engaging,” says Samartzis. Ted Martin delivering a seminar at the show

The feature garden by Urban Horticultural Solutions

The hot weather brought in consumers

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Training

Sight-impaired student graduates with Cert III In January, Charbel Moussa graduated with a CPP31218 Certificate III in Swimming Pool and Spa Service, having taken just 11 months to complete his course. But Moussa’s graduation was not the standard success story – because he had accomplished this achievement despite being legally blind. SPASA training manager Peter Holland says that from the outset the standard of Moussa’s submission stood out as exceptional, and during the study his attitude and commitment was inspiring. “He completed his study using technology that translates the documents into verbal cues and he learnt his craft via the use of this technology,” says Holland. “Throughout Charbel’s training he showed great understanding of the principles he was learning and has been complimented by his trainer as having a great work ethic and demonstrating a high level of knowledge. “He made every effort to contact our staff and his trainer to ensure efficient and timely completion. It is clear that he is driven and will strive in any position that he undertakes,” he says. “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Charbel, we are sure that his journey in our industry has only just begun.”

days and enquire about which technician was servicing the pool as they were so impressed with its condition. Much to their surprise, they were told that I was in charge of the care and maintenance! Many people have the perception that just because I’m blind that this would be an impossible role for me. At the beginning of 2019, I was challenged by my older sister who is also legally blind to follow my passion and dreams, to let nothing and no one stand in my way. My sister is truly my inspiration in life. I began to investigate how I could become qualified in the industry and in 2019 I was accepted into the Certificate III of Swimming Pool and Spa Service. I worked hard in the program, which I’m proud to say

Efficient spa plumbing In order to achieve maximum performance from spa jet pumps, it’s important to ensure optimal plumbing configuration. All pipework should be as short and straight as possible, both to and from the pump. Pipes need to be correctly sized for the flow, elbows and fittings kept to a minimum. Where possible, use sweep fittings or flexible pipe/hose to limit harsh elbows. Align the pump wet end to suit the pipework approach for the suction, ensuring a minimum of approximately 400mm straight pipe entering the pump suction – this has a dramatic effect on pump capability. The wet end of most modern performance spa pumps can be easily rotated 90 degrees (some every 45 degrees) which may help in reduction of fittings to divert the plumbing towards the jet manifold.

Following a dream By Charbel Moussa My name is Charbel Moussa, I’m 33 years old and legally blind. At the age of eight years old I was diagnosed with an eye condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa. I was always an active kid growing up, with a passion for all things relating to sport – you could never keep me away from the water. As I got older my vision began to significantly deteriorate. Despite this, I continue to live my best life and always put my best foot forward. Over the years I have completed various certificates as well as gaining employment along the way. I have been extremely fortunate to live on a property with my family where we have a pool and spa. My love for being in the water, and roping others into it, developed into a curiosity to gain knowledge on how to maintain and take care of the family pool and spa. Over the years I have had numerous pool and spa technicians answer my questions. This learning was applied when I took on the task of maintaining the family pool and spa. Family and friends would come over on hot summer

Spa Tech Tips

Charbel Moussa at his graduation

resulted in me completing all the necessary work in 11 months. Throughout my time of completing the program, there have been many people along the way who have provided support and assistance to make my goal a reality. I would especially like to honour the team at Dural Pool Shop and the franchise owner of Poolwerx Dural for giving me the opportunity to build on my skills and knowledge. I might be legally blind but my desire is to be a fully active member of society in every aspect. If you are reading this article, my hope is that you would take great inspiration in my achievement of gaining my certification. I would love the opportunity to connect with you and your organisation, to bring my knowledge and experience into the team and help ensure your customers are given the best service possible.

Position the manifold centrally to the spa jets attempting to keep all jet lines of similar length from the manifold. Avoid plumbing restrictions by maintaining the same pipe size and minimising pipe fittings. For low flow circulation pumps it’s important to ensure there are minimal restrictions in both suction and return lines due to the low head nature of their operation. Often, flow error related issues are a result of plumbing design.

These tips are supplied by Adrian Lacy of Spatex. For more information call 1300 772 839. Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 21

news

Expos

In Brief Tog Box is an initiative from Water Safety New Zealand and Swimming Wellington to supply swimming “togs” to those who need them. Not owning a swimsuit can be a barrier to gaining an aquatic education for many Kiwis and children often outgrow them as often as once a term, furthering the financial burden on parents. This summer in the wider Wellington and Wairarapa regions a network of 17 clubs and 2500 members have been collecting swimsuits, caps and goggles to help out those kids and families who need them. Following a heart attack in January this year, Alvin Crosby from New Zealand company Acqua Pools and Spas had time to reflect on his life while enjoying a slow recovery. “It made me realise how short our stay is here and not to take things so seriously, so I wrote a song about pool building! The chords are easy and the lyrics are a laugh,” he says. Stay tuned! SPLASH! will upload the words and music online shortly. The Queensland Building and Construction Commission requires that building contractors performing domestic building work priced at $20,000 or more (Level 2 contracts) must give the owner a copy of the QBCC Consumer Building Guide (CBG) before the owner signs the contract. A new version of the CBG had now been uploaded on the QBCC website and should now be used. To download the guide go to www.qbcc.qld.gov.au or go to splashmagazine.com. au for a QuickLink.

22 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

SPLASH! on the Gold Coast almost sold out Registrations are open for the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show on the Gold Coast, the largest swimming pool and spa trade show in the region and the southern hemisphere. SPLASH! 2020 will be even bigger with 20 per cent more space, 200 more exhibitors and a new innovation area. Education and training will include a commercial pool technician program, the Women in Leadership seminar, the Young Leaders Forum, the informative site tour and two theatres of free education on the show floor. Networking opportunities will include the welcome drinks, the SPASA National Awards, the ALFAQ Awards and the Andrew Simons Golf Day. SPLASH! 2020 will be held on Wednesday July 29 to Thursday July 30 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, and will be opened by champion swimmer Lisa Curry on the Wednesday morning.

Show nearly sold out Businesses considering exhibiting at SPLASH! had better hurry to book. Not only is SPLASH! the biggest and most important show for the industry in the region, it only comes around once every two years. So if you miss this year, you won’t be able to participate again until 2022. At the time of writing, despite the larger floor space, only a handful of small exhibitor spaces remained, with very few left in the high volume area between the main exhibition area and the food hall. Other opportunities to promote your business at SPLASH! include: • One Silver sponsorship is still available; • Special show deals for advertising in SPLASH! magazine in print and online are available;

Already the biggest swimming pool and spa trade show in the Asia Pacific region and the Southern Hemisphere, SPLASH! will be even bigger this year

• Positions are still available in the SPLASH! directory; • There are still some Andrew Simons Golf day sponsorships available; • And some sponsorships for the National Industry Awards of Excellence held are still available. Contact: David Stennett, david@spasa.com.au; 0404 725 554. www.splashexpo.com.au

New award categories There are new and updated categories for the National Awards of Excellence on July 30. Prefabricated Composite Pool is open to any residential pool that is free standing and pre-fabricated, using materials such as but not limited to concrete, shipping containers, fibreglass etc. Community Project is open to any construction project, product, service or program that promotes social responsibility in the industry. Commercial Water Display includes waterfalls, ponds, fountains, water interactive playgrounds or as part of a pool and/or spa. Commercial Water Display Lighting is lighting used in waterfalls, ponds, fountains, water interactive playgrounds or as part of a pool and/ or spa. Retailer of the Year has been updated to Business of the Year to expand the category and better reflect industry members’ businesses. The criteria have been updated for Innovative Project, Residential Water Feature and Residential Lighting Feature to allow for projects that may not specifically include a pool or spa, to cater for industry members’ expanding repertoire.

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Industry Snapshot: Elena Gosse

ext in the series of Industry Shapshots is Elena Gosse, CEO of AIS Water.

How did you get into the pool and spa industry?

When I came to Australia back in 1994, I couldn’t speak a word of English. So I needed to do something, and being a professional actress, my understanding was very clear that I wouldn’t be able to continue my work on television or even in the theatre. I had to do something, so I finished up being in the family business.

How do you see the local market?

“My dream is for the Australian swimming pool and spa industry to regain the position of being a pioneer.”

I think our industry has great potential. Then, back in the 1990s, I looked at all they guys leading the industry and I thought, oh they are so big. I could never stand up there with them. But that probably was because I couldn’t speak English, so I couldn’t understand what they chatted about. But there was a lot of integrity back then, and a lot of innovation in the industry. What’s happening now is that people are trying to diversify; businesses are trying to diversify to meet their market demand. But what they don’t realise is that this is actually creating competition amongst ourselves and starting a price war. Which shouldn’t happen.

Where do you think the industry is heading?

Technological innovation should be a neverending process. So I believe when you stop learning something, or when you stop challenging yourself, that’s when you’re finished. So I see the industry as embracing more innovation and embracing collaboration. Because my dream is for the Australian swimming pool and spa industry to regain the position of being a pioneer. And what I would like to see is businesses going back to their core. If you’re good at selling, you should be selling. If you’re good in innovation you should be innovating and manufacturing more. If you’re good at putting things together and presenting them to the world, then that’s what you should be doing. So, collaboration to me is the key. Not competition. Another dream is for us to put Australian technology together made from filters, pumps, heaters, chlorinators - then present it as innovative technology to the world. n

More: Videos of these and other interviews are available on SPLASH! TV at splashmagazine.com.au/videos. Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 25

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Water and air By Cal Stanley

TOP: Having both negative oxygen ions and positive hydrogen ions makes water cohesive BOTTOM RIGHT; Water molecules at the surface are more attracted to each other, creating surface tension

26 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

fter a 12-month break from writing informative articles and opinion pieces for SPLASH!, Cal Stanley is back at the laptop, helping disseminate useful information for the industry. In this, his first in a series on hydraulics for pool builders, he looks at some relevant qualities of water and air.

Water

Without water there would be no hydraulics to talk about and this wonderful industry of ours would not exist. Noone would ever purchase an empty pool. We would all be pretty smelly too! Parts of the industry have suffered at times from water shortages. So, it behoves us all to ensure that as little as possible is wasted. Some facts about water: • I t is the most abundant substance in the world, covering 70 per cent of the planet’s surface. •E arth has approximately 1,360,000,000 km3 of water. That’s 1.36 billion cubic kilometres of water. •O ne cubic kilometre equals one billion litres, so we still have a considerable amount for our use. •O nly 2.5 per cent of it is fresh water with 1.7 per cent being permanently frozen at the poles leaving only about 0.8 per cent or 10,640,000 km3 available for life on the planet (other than fish!). •B ut, 96 per cent of fresh water is located underground leaving only about 425,600 km3 easily available for humans at any point in time. • The good part is that little if any of this water completely disappears – it is continually recycled. •A ustralia is the driest inhabited continent, so we have less water than others. Luckily, we also have less people than most. •H 2O – one molecule of water has two hydrogen atoms bonded to one atom of oxygen. • I t is one of very few substances that exist naturally on Earth in solid, liquid and vapour form. • It makes up 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the human body. • I t has the highest specific heat of all common substances which means it takes more energy to heat

one kilogram of water than any other substance. • Hydrogen ions are very fickle; they keep jumping to a new oxygen ion, displacing the one that is already there. Having both negative oxygen ions and positive hydrogen ions makes water molecules strongly attracted to each other (cohesive). This has the following effects: • Allowing rain drops to be formed. • Causing droplets of water to sit proud on a smooth non-absorbent surface. • Making molecules at the surface more attracted to each other creating surface tension. • Allowing light insects to walk on the surface. • Allowing light objects (leaves, etc.) to float on the surface.

Evaporation and boiling

Ever felt the pool water with your hand, jumped in and found it much colder than you thought? That is because all water bodies are warmer near the surface. This warmer water causes the action between the hydrogen and oxygen ions to become more frenetic than ever and in this process, many actually jump out of the water and are absorbed into dry air or taken away by the wind. This is why evaporation is greater on hot, dry and windy days. Though similar in some respects, boiling is different from evaporation: • The boiling point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a vapour. • Saturated vapour pressure is the pressure at which water will boil. • It varies through a parabolic curve from 0 at 0 degrees to 100 at 100 degrees. • There is a direct relationship between pressure and the boiling point temperature. • The boiling point for water at sea level is 1000 C where the air pressure is a nominal 101 kilopascals (kPa). • At the top of Mt Everest (8848 metres) where the air pressure is only 32 kPa, the boiling point is about 70 degrees Celsius. • Water vapour is heavy and condenses back into water when it comes into contact with a cooler surface but can also be absorbed into the air if outside in the wind.

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Air

We all know that water is a liquid, but we seldom think about the other substance that has a major effect on hydraulics. Although air is not a liquid like water, it is a “fluid”, in that it flows. The interaction with and effect of air on water is considerable. Although we do not feel it – the weight of air is generally undetectable by humans and other life on Earth – it does have a considerable weight and without that weight our pool filtration systems would not operate very well at all. Those that have been in this industry a long time will recall the many “gravity filters” used particularly on early public swimming pools. As a teenager in 1956, my father worked on the new town pool in Merredin, a wheatbelt town about halfway to Kalgoorlie. This was one of the first 55-yard Olympic pools in WA at the time. I was not the least interested in the filtration system - in fact, I don’t think I even knew there was one. I just spent every hour I could in that pool. I now know that it was a gravity filtration system common on all early public pools. It worked using the combined forces of gravity and air pressure to “push” the water through a bed of sand and gravel. A bit crude today but worked quite well.

Air pressure

The mean (average) air pressure at sea level is 101.3 kPa per square centimetre. At the top of Mt Kosciuszko, 2228 m above sea level (the highest peak in Australia), the air pressure is only about 70 kPa. On Mt Everest (8848 m above sea level) it is only 32 kPa. At this altitude, water will boil at about 70 degrees Celsius. Of course, the actual sea level air pressure will change from day to day but an average of just under 100 kPa is what we have to work with. What we can learn from this is? There is unlikely to be a pool pump installed in Australia at an altitude where the air pressure will affect pump performance, and that water will boil at lower temperatures in a low pressure area – such as within the volute of a pump. A volute being the “chamber” within which the impeller spins. Next edition: Pumps and how they work n For these columns, Cal Stanley draws on his experience and success in pool construction, having run award-winning Neptune Pools in Western Australia for three decades, as well as sitting on many standards committees and industry body boards, and working as a pool consultant, trainer and delivering hydraulics courses for the swimming pool industry. If you have a question regarding his columns, email him at neptunepools@westnet.com.au.

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Love affair with pools makes for summer’s bestseller

t seems everywhere you went during our hot smoky summer, you’d see at least one person reading the Memory Pool, Therese Spruhan’s collection of stories about Australians’ relationships with the swimming pool. Spruhan interviewed a wide selection of famous and not so famous Australians, from popular author Trent Dalton, filmmaker Leah Purcell, Olympic champion Shane Gould, iconic actor Bryan Brown and funny man Merrick Watts, to less well-known but equally interesting Aussie characters. They detail their experiences with swimming pools in their childhoods and how that impacted their Australian experience, and prepared them for later life. Spruhan then wrote their stories in the first person so their voices can come through strongly. For many kids the local public pool or a neighbour’s backyard pool is where they passed those halcyon summer days. This delightful, nostalgic anthology brings together reflections and recollections about the swimming pools of childhood from a range of Australians of diverse ages and backgrounds and is evocative, funny and sometimes bittersweet.

games and we were always arguing whether one of us had broken a rule. With pool basketball you had to bounce the ball on the surface of the water while you were swimming; with pool tennis the rule was you had three seconds to get the ball and hit it back.” Former Tasmanian premier, David Bartlett

Youth in the pool

“The Murgon Pool gave us freedom. We trusted the place. We relied on each other when we were there – all us kids from the five blackfella families in town.” Filmmaker and actor, Leah Purcell

Below are some quotes from some of the stories. “Paul Kelly has this beautiful song called Deeper Water and it’s one of the greatest songs about coming of age. My coming of age happened at Sandgate swimming pool with me going into deeper water constantly.” Author Trent Dalton “Right from the start I loved swimming. I loved being in the water, mucking around and diving down deep, and I loved the feel of the water over my body.” Actor and producer Bryan Brown “When I was a toddler I was already an official member of the Darwin Swimming Club based at Parap Pool – apparently ABC TV did a story on me as the youngest club member. Mum tells me I could swim before I could even walk.” Anthropologist Tess Lea “We had intricate rules and regulations for each of these 28 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Author Therese Spruhan reading by the pool

We set up our committee of five girls aged between nine and 12, we didn’t really have much idea of how much we had to raise. Lily Sisa, who as a primary schoolgirl started to raise the funds to build Lightning Ridge pool. “Mum was very loving but Dad was a difficult man. He didn’t drink for a long time, then he busted badly. When he’d been drinking and there was trouble at home, we’d escape to the pool.” Former Queensland chief magistrate Diane Fingleton “Swimming was part of the therapy I did for my cerebral palsy but I quite enjoyed it because water gave me more freedom than I had on land.” Paralympic champion Priya Cooper

The author

Therese Spruhan has a passion for swimming pools. She writes about them on her blog Swimming Pool Stories (swimmingpoolstories.com.au) and shares photos on Instagram @swimmingpoolstories. She has published articles on places to swim in the Weekend Australian and contributed words and photos to The Pool, Australia’s exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale, which was re-exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria in 2017–18. She lives in Sydney. n The Memory Pool: Australian Stories of Summer, Sun and Swimming, is published by Newsouth Books and retails for $29.99. To purchase the book go to your local bookstore, Booktopia.com.au, or go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink.

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Darren Milne Naked Pool Systems

Industry Snapshot: Darren Milne

he second in the series of Industry Shapshots this edition is Darren Milne, one of the partners of Naked Pools.

How did you get into the pool and spa industry?

We manufacture and distribute a freshwater sanitisation system for domestic swimming pools in Australia and New Zealand and parts of Asia. I got involved in the swimming pool industry through one of the business partners, Justin – he introduced me to freshwater, an alternative to swimming in chlorine. We were that impressed with

“I really believe that new systems that are coming into the market are going to eventually replace salt chlorinators as the technology evolves and we produce healthier water to swim in.” the technology that we wanted to pursue it further. Basically because of the benefits – especially the health benefits – of freshwater swimming pools. 30 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

The local market

The company’s been in the industry for three and a half years, and we’ve been actively pushing the product into the market for the past 24 months, and the uptake has been quite phenomenal actually. My highlights come in two parts. It’s seeing the builders’ response to the quality of the product after installing it. And the second highlight really is the feedback we get from the customers – the experience of water and how happy they are with their pool.

Where do you think the industry is heading?

For domestic swimming pools and chlorination, I think really we went from liquid chlorine to salt chlorinators which have been around for 30-odd years. And I really believe that new systems that are coming into the market are going to eventually replace salt chlorinators, as the technology evolves and we produce healthier water to swim in. n More: Videos of these and other interviews are available on SPLASH! TV at splashmagazine.com.au/videos.

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First Climate Care Certified pool launched

A Climate Care Certified Plunge Pool in inner Brisbane Photography by Painted Rust

32 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

PASA’s water and energy efficiency label, Climate Care Certified, has reached a milestone with the launch of the first Climate Care Certified swimming pool. Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools has achieved certified status with the introduction of their new plunge pool. This is the first swimming pool in Australia to be Climate Care Certified after satisfying the programs stringent requirements. The new Climate Care Certified Plunge Pool is a completely environment-friendly package, providing consumers with the ability to purchase a pool with confidence knowing that their pool delivers verifiable water and energy savings that have been certified by the peak industry body. SPASA CEO Lindsay McGrath says this industry first reflects the philosophy of SPASA Australia to provide sustainable solutions so consumers can love their swimming pool and the environment at the same time. Geoff Smith, director of Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools says it is the company’s vision to actively engage their customers, staff and the community in achieving a sustainable environment which fosters and inspires best practice. “We have embraced the importance of preparing and empowering consumers to become responsible for contributing to a sustainable future with our

Climate Care Certified Plunge Pools,” he says. “Our customers have welcomed the opportunity to future proof their pool by upgrading to our environmentally sustainable, energy efficient, water-saving Climate Care Package. Customers are prepared to make the investment to minimise their environmental footprint while not having to compromise on lifestyle.”

Inclusions

To meet the Climate Care Certified criteria, these pools use a range of already Climate Care Certified products including: • Daisy’s Ultradome Pool Cover; • Waterco’s Hydrostorm 100 ECO-V variable speed pump; • Waterco’s MultiCyclone filter technology. Other inclusions used to satisfy the necessary criteria include a cartridge filter, robotic pool cleaner and LED pool light. It is estimated that the Climate Care Certified Plunge Pool will save thousands of litres of water every year while at the same time reducing energy consumption, saving hundreds of dollars per annum.

The need for climate care

Spiros Dassakis, COO of SPASA Australia, says the Climate Care Certified program was borne out of the

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LEFT: The pools include several water saving and energy saving features MIDDLE: Water is filtered by a MultiCyclone and a cartridge filter BOTTOM: Sustainable swimming pools and spas and related products enjoy a distinct market advantage

products make companies and consumers feel socially and morally responsible.” He says that SPASA’s vision through its Climate Care Certified program is to promote an efficient and sustainably growing industry that continues to appeal to people who are considering purchasing residential and commercial swimming pool and spa products. n

Contacts: fact that sustainable swimming pools and spas and related products enjoy a distinct market advantage. Yet there were member and consumer concerns that it was not possible to rely on marketing claims without some form of certification. He says that governments, consumers, manufacturers, retailers and technicians are all behind it. “With greater power demand and increasing cost of supply along with concerns of water sustainability, governments and their agencies are influencing or regulating for more sustainable water and energy usage. The Climate Care Certified program puts industry ahead of government intervention, potentially resulting in collaboration, initiatives and recognition,” he says. “Consumers, now more than ever, are seeking assurance that the products they buy are sustainable and responsibly made. A more sustainable brand is often a more desirable brand.” Dassakis says many retailers and technicians know that sustainability sells, and that builders, retailers and technicians are now gaining a better understanding how to satisfy their customers’ needs and wants in the environmental space. On top of that, he says that sustainability fuels innovation and helps generate new markets. “Sustainability is a recent phenomenon and has allowed many industries to reinvent themselves and their products with new consumer benefits, and new

Brisbane Prestige Plunge Pools: www.goplunge.com.au; 1800 4675 8643 Climate Care Certified: www.spasa.com.au; 1300 021 482

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 33

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Saving water – the lifeblood of the swimming pool industry By Veda Dante ABOVE: Pool covers save a lot of water, and can also look great Image: Remco

s Australia sizzles under the intensifying climate, water preservation has become more important than ever. Record-breaking temperatures and prolonged drought exacerbated the 2019/2020 fire season while a recent Victorian dust storm left Melbourne pools with layers of sediment, causing a pool chemical shortage in Victoria. The evidence suggests the effects of climate change are creating a “problematic feedback loop” of droughts, water shortages, and increased water usage requirements. While concerning, this trend is fuelling a slew of new products and practices in the swimming pool industry, which relies on water for its very existence.

Water has a value

Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia (SPASA) COO Spiros Dassakis says that contrary to popular belief, water is not free. “Water is a valuable natural resource and our position in terms of the Climate Care Certified program is that you can love your pool and spa, save money and the environment at the same time,” he says. “That’s a good message for the modern consumer who is conscious of their carbon footprint. We’re saying to them, you can have your cake and eat it too.” Launched in 2018, SPASA’s Climate Care Certified program is helping condition consumers and the 34 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

industry to think about sustainability by providing solutions that make it easy for them to conserve water and energy. “Our process undergoes independent, third-party verification of all products, systems and installations,” Dassakis says. “It’s both credible and reliable and gives power back to the consumer who is concerned about using less water and saving money.” Environmental factors like droughts and dry spells are changing consumer behaviour, especially on Australia’s east coast which endured a summer punctuated by water restrictions, drought conditions and a devastating, unprecedented fire season. “We are seeing enormous interest in having a Climate Care Certified pool, not just from industry but also from consumers , who are more educated than ever before and want any water saving claims verified,” he says. “Their research might start with the glossy brochure but they’re now looking for that additional, independent body that makes an overarching, transparent assessment of a product, and that’s where we come in.” While a number of products have failed to meet the Climate Care Certified benchmarks, Dassakis says that doesn’t mean they’re “not good enough. It just means they haven’t passed the necessary criteria to satisfy the program. “They’re either not ready or have not undertaken the relevant testing. And, in one instance, they could

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not support the claims being made – and we don’t think they can. He insists the program is definitely not a rubber stamp approach. “Rather, it’s a robust process that engages suppliers and manufacturers with a long-term game plan. That is, they’re thinking more than just immediate sales but rather the long-term strategy that comes with developing innovative products to meet consumer demand for saving water and energy.” Dassakis says that “not just in Australia, but worldwide” any pool shop, retailer or supplier that doesn’t have water conservation at the forefront of the mind and on the tip of their tongue is at risk of becoming a dinosaur.

Providing competitive advantages

Swimart pool and spa network marketing manager Nathan Hallahan wholeheartedly agrees with Dassakis. “Our number one priority is educating consumers on how to use water wisely, not just in their pools but also around their households,” he says. “In many cases, people don’t really know what they can and can’t do with certain water restrictions, nor do they realise just how effective small changes can make to their daily water consumption. It can be a complicated topic so our mission is to make pool care easy.”

“Water is our business whereas for big box stores, it’s only a component,” he says. “Our focus is purely and solely on water because without water we don’t exist.” Waterco group marketing director Bryan Goh says the pool industry’s ongoing challenge is creating products that create significant water – and energy – savings. “For Waterco, this means constantly refining a product so that it delivers a water efficiency we believe is meaningful enough to add value to a product,” says Goh. “We are also conscious to make our equipment more water and energy efficient to help provide us a competitive advantage in a very competitive market.”

ABOVE: Swimming pool covers are required in many jurisdictions Image: Daisy

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 35

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Davey focuses on water as part of its global push Davey is redeveloping its brand as it positions itself globally. As part of this positioning it has launched a new global website (www.davey.com) and turned its attention to society’s changing attitude to water. Davey’s general manager of innovation and design, Joel Gresham, says the world of water is on the cusp of change, from the way we use it to how we store it, supply it, recycle and purify it and even how we think about it – and this has implications for businesses innovating in the water space. “Australia enjoys an exceptional global reputation not just for the reliable The new Davey website products we take to market

but for the way we think about water and what new ideas we need to consider to make the most of this most precious of resources,” he says. “As clean water becomes more valuable so too will the ways in which businesses and individuals manage their consumption and storage of it. This will create opportunities for Australian businesses to export our knowledge around the most efficient ways to manage and utilise water." He also says there will be market opportunities for cheaper and faster ways to recycle and reuse water, as a change in the understanding of what “clean water” actually is. “Much of the water we think is clean is in fact high in microplastics or chemicals. There is increasing demand for new ways to filter and treat water and it’s exciting to be part of a brand that is investing in innovation and formalising the role of innovation in its business structure.”

Despite the ongoing drought intensifying interest in water efficient products, Goh believes consumers appear more concerned with energy saving solutions. “Unfortunately, water is not always highly valued till it is scarce,” he says. “From our experience, pool and spa owners are more interested in minimising the ongoing running cost of their pool.” Goh says MultiCyclone, which was recently verified by SPASA’s Climate Care Certification program, is arguably the company’s best-seller when it comes to reducing pool water consumption.

ABOVE: Water is a valuable commodity, and the source of a lot of summer fun LEFT: Water is our business, says Nathan Hallahan of Swimart, whereas for big box stores, it’s only a component

“You can love your pool and spa, save money and the environment at the same time.” The dual-filtration system is very effective at reducing pool filter maintenance, which decreases backwash times and cartridge cleaning frequency. “Climate Care Certification helps verify our environmental claims and provides confidence to pool owners, aiding their purchase decision,” he says. “SPASA employs a very rigorous process to provide legitimacy to a product’s claims and consumer confidence for environment-friendly pool equipment.” Ecoskim – the savvy skimmer that dramatically Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 37

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reduces the need to top-up swimming pools during dry spells and droughts – is another valuable piece of equipment that conserves precious water while also reducing maintenance. “We are committed to helping residential and commercial pool owners reduce water consumption and this revolutionary device, which is exclusively distributed by Waterco, not only does this effectively but ingeniously,” he says. Ecoskim is connected by a flexible hose directly into the suction side of the pool’s filtration system. As it is a floating device, it self-levels and continues to operate regardless of the water level of the swimming pool down to 350mm below coping (or top edge). As the pool water is drawn through the device, the floating component finds a differential between the pool’s water level and Ecoskim’s water level, thus creating a weir effect that skims floating debris from the surface. “Compared with a standard skimmer box, it means that fewer water top-ups are required due to the device’s floating design and continued operation,” says Goh.

Rollers make pool covers easier to use Image: Daisy

Automated systems mean pool covers are even more likely to be used, therefore ensuring greater water saving and other benefits Image: Remco

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 39

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ABOVE: Remco covers can fit most pools

BOTTOM: Both pools and spas can be covered Image: Daisy

FAR RIGHT: Lo-Chlor’s Solar Shield liquid pool cover saves water

40 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Best-practice pool covers processes

Daisy Pool Covers are manufactured to stop 97 per cent of evaporation and also prevent chemicals dissipating into the atmosphere. In fact, managing director Derek Prince says a pool cover can reduce chemical cost by around 50 per cent. “Chlorine is a gas in its natural state, regardless of how the chlorine is added to the pool – saltwater chlorinator, liquid, granular – and it rises through the water to dissipate out of the pool water surface,” he says. “Putting a pool cover on top of the pool is a physical barrier that stops water and chemical loss – it’s that simple.” Daisy Pool Covers advocates best-practice pool cover use for consumer and environmental benefits and Prince says they invest a significant amount of time, energy and money into trade and consumer training.

“Delivering instore and onsite point of sale and training for the trade, we also educate the consumer with clever and engaging consumer campaigns throughout digital and social marketing to promote the benefits of pool covers,” he says. To ensure it makes “the longest lasting pool covers in the world”, material construction remains a priority for Daisy. “We concentrate not only on the formulation with UV inhibitors and antioxidants. Daisy embarked a number of years ago to make the first ‘perfect’ bubble to give the best material flow during manufacture into the bubble shape,” he says. “What this meant was we got more material into the thinnest part of

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the bubble making the pool cover last longer before wearing out.” All of Daisy’s pool cover base stock is made in Fawkner, Victoria; then manufactured into its signature covers in their facilities in Western Australia or New South Wales. Daisy partners with Sealed Air, the inventors of bubble wrap; and Prince says they confidently cover all warranties.

Liquid covers

There are a few manufacturers of liquid water-saving covers, and the Climate Care Certified Solar Shield liquid pool blanket is Lo-Chlor’s best-selling water saving product. Lo-Chlor’s managing director, Paul Simons, says that Lo-Chlor has always dedicated itself to problem solving solutions for pool professionals and their customers, the pool owners. “Developing a product like Solar Shield enables pool owners to reduce evaporation by more than 30 per cent, which in these trying times of drought and hardship is something the company is very proud of,” he says. “Having the Climate Care certification is the icing on the cake and we are very proud to have a product like this recognised for its water saving attributes but more importantly helping save the precious resource that is vital for our future.”

Long-term sustainable solutions

Pentair product manager Robert Sterland says the company is involved in all aspects of water purification and delivery as its ethos is to provide long-term sustainable solutions. “Cartridge filters like our Posi-Clear RP reduce water consumption by firstly eliminating backwashing and, secondly, reducing the load on the cartridge element due to the combination of the incorporated cyclonic filtration,” he says. “This extends the period between manual cleaning, which consequently reduces water use.” Pentair’s IntelliLevel automatic water levelling system, which Sterland describes as an ultrasonic smart water leveller, is designed to detect leaks and prevent overfilling. “This can be coupled with a Pentair rainwater pump to further reduce the demand for mains water,” he says. When it comes to investing in water saving products, Sterland believes there is always a trade-off. “Pool covers reduce evaporation but do you want it on during the day when most of the evaporation

Water saving tips • Choose suppliers that are members of SPASA and have a national or worldwide quality reputation. Most of these have clearly defined, rigorous testing and compliance standards and protocols as part of their overall product development process.

LEFT: Daisy’s stronger, advanced bubble technology FAR LEFT: Pentair’s Robert Sterland suggests using a cartridge filter to help save water

• Look for design and industry marks such as Climate Care Certified, Energy Rating labels, and Smart Approved WaterMarks, as these are good indicators of performance and quality. • Invest in a good quality blanket and roller. • Only backwash when you need to – check the pressure gauge and backwash only when required. • Consider switching to glass or similar media (instead of sand) or even moving to a good quality cartridge filter (no backwashing required, irregular hose clean only). • Check pool, equipment and piping for leaks and repair or replace immediately. • If possible, make the switch to a variable speed pump, as these can drastically reduce water and power consumption compared to other pumps. • Robotic cleaners are worth their weight in gold – they use very little power and take a load off the filtration system (as well as providing a better clean). Source: Pentair

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 41

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will occur?” he asks. “Cartridge filters eliminate backwashing but you will have to manually clean them. And while rainwater can be used for pool top-ups, are standard domestic tanks big enough to cover you for the long dry periods that are common in Australia?” Sterland suggests pool owners should invest in a good pool cover, store rainwater and use a cartridge filter if they want to save water. “Spend a little extra on an automated cover and you will be more likely to use it,” he says. “Switch to a cartridge filter – preferably with cyclone technology – and soak cartridges using a specific cleaning product before hosing down to reduce the water required in cleaning. Also, invest in a rainwater tank that is big enough to cover you for long dry periods and install an automatic water filler to prevent over-filling.”

Preventing evaporation while combating aggressive pool environments ABOVE: Waterco’s Ecoskim dramatically reduces the need to top-up swimming pools during dry spells and droughts RIGHT: Daisy’s liquid pool cover, the Aqua Saver

During Remco general manager Carl Voshege’s two decades in the pool industry, he has seen motorised pool covers mature to the point where they are now custom manufactured using digital technology and sophisticated materials designed to withstand Australia’s harsh environmental conditions. “Trained Remco technicians conduct a full laser measure for every new project, which is then fed into specialised design software,” Voshege says. “The result is a pool cover with perfect fit and minimal clearance to ensure that maximum evaporation prevention is achieved when the cover is on the swimming pool.” All Remco pool cover materials – from the extruded high-grade polycarbonate and PVC profiles to the cross woven polyester fabrics with UV stabilised antifungal coatings – undergo stringent testing. “This ensures that maximum water savings are achieved,” he says. “It also means the product lasts in the harsh Australian UV and what can be very

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aggressive pool environments when chemicals become unbalanced.” Designed with the end-user in mind, Remco covers are engineered to save more than 98 per cent of the water typically lost through pool water evaporation. “Remco systems are all very simple to use, with fully automatic, motor assisted and geared manual options to ensure that operation of the cover never becomes a barrier to cover usage,” he says. “After all, what good is a water-saving solution that gathers dust at the end of the pool?” The company’s Swimroll range, which can be located below- or above-ground and rolled onto the pool automatically, remains Remco’s bestseller.

“Swimroll is arguably the most advanced system on the Australian market,” Voshege says. “Its unique design allows for maximum evaporation protection but also enables rainwater to self-drain through the cover system rather than pooling on the top and evaporating like regular pool covers. “These two features combined deliver an incredible water-saving result. Better still, the system is fully automatic, so no matter how busy – or lazy – you are feeling, the cover will be on after every swim.” Voshege believes selecting a cheap pool cover will often deliver a short lifespan that correlates with the small price. “A cover that breaks down in Australia and New Zealand’s harsh UV conditions is not going to deliver

BOTTOM: Pentair’s IntelliLevel is an ultrasonic smart water levellers designed to detect leaks and prevent overfilling

“Our number one priority is educating consumers on how to use water wisely, not just in their pools but also around their household.”

the water and chemical saving benefits that you are setting out to achieve in the long-term,” he says. “My advice is to select a cover that is feasible to use every day because if the cover is too difficult to operate, the system will not be utilised,” he says. “Also, invest in automation for larger pools, the savings in heat, water and chemicals will pay for the higher price in time.”

Alleviating extreme water shortages

Elena Gosse, CEO of AIS Water, has firm opinions about the pool and water disinfection industry,

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ABOVE: Relaxing in the pool Image: Daisy

RIGHT: MultiCyclone is arguably Waterco’s best-seller when it comes to reducing pool water consumption

36 SPLASH! Oct/Nov 2019 44 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

showing leadership when it comes to water savings in order to protect our planet, people and ecosystems. “We take the business of water saving very seriously and are committed to saving and enhancing life through greater access to water,” she says. “I believe that we must be accountable not only as a company, Swimart designed a series of visual but as an industry to helphas preserve water for the aids for its Australasian franchise network, benefit of our planet and its people and ecosystems.” described as a foolproof system to help AIS Water recently commissioned independent franchise partners explain pool chemicals and university water research to substantiate its water disinfection chemistry to their customers, with nine technologyicons claims for commercial pools. to enable pool careswimming professionals to use “Conventional chlorine dosing requires swimming everyday language when discussing topics like algaecides, oxidisers and sanitisers. pool water to be dumped or continuously diluted to

“The Aussie tradition of having family and friends over for a barbeque and lots of fun in the pool still requires chlorination to remove bacteria and importantly organic matter such as dirt and dust, sunscreens, body oils and other nasty things kids can do in a pool.” While it’s important to have a residual disinfectant to maintain safe, quality water, Milne says that residual doesn’t necessarily need to be chlorine and the associated chemicals to maintain chlorine levels. “The Naked system uses a residual like the ancient Greeks and Romans used for their drinking water, which is copper and silver opposed to chlorine and these are actually more efficient than chlorine itself without the required chemicals,” he says. keep water chemistry balanced,” says Gosse. “This is Reducing need for chlorine a completely the unacceptable practice that is wasting Lo-Chlor managing director Simons trillions ofChemicals litres of water globally eachPaul year.” agrees is still required but that chlorine new methods Shethat saysresidual that AIS Water’s commercial can reduce the level of chlorine needed in awastage pool. and generation technology eliminates water Hehelp saystothe new products touting to beshortages the next that best can alleviate the extreme water thing in pool andlife spaand disinfection are typically based on are diminishing environments in traditional sanitation models. many countries. “Most are nothing new as “In thenew casesystems of our coming EcoLineout freshwater far as their ability to sanitise water,” says Simons. chlorinators, the water is of the such low salinity that it “Instead, upgrades of current can also be they’re used as revamps drinkingor water for short periods ideas whether be mineral pools, ionisation of time, such asthey in cases of emergency, without or salt chlorinators. affecting salinity levels in the body.”

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The comprehensive university study AIS Water commissioned in August 2019 tested liquid and granular chlorination methods against its inline water disinfection technology. “The Griffith University research revealed that in one long course 50-metre pool, AIS Water’s technology saves at least $40,000 per annum, per pool when compared to granular and liquid methods of water dumping if the water is dumped at 3000ppm as per guidelines,” she says. “In terms of water savings, by converting to AIS Water’s saltwater chlorination technology for a 50-metre pool will save a minimum of 1.6 million litres per annum.” The research also showed that for pools using granular chlorine, the water chemistry was balanced only 20 per cent of the time and in the case of liquid chlorine only 40 per cent of the time. For pools using AIS Water’s technology, Gosse says water chemistry remained balanced 100 per cent of the time. “I am leading the charge to ensure every 50-metre pool in Australia, including every school, university and aquatic facility, is equipped with our technology,” she says. “In a city with 100 50-metre pools, the total cost saving is at least $4 million per annum, with water savings of 160 million litres per annum. “This represents a massive saving of our planet’s most precious resource, not to mention additional savings associated with not having to procure, deliver, store, or

handle liquid or granular chlorine and the inevitable environmental corrosion.” Gosse believes the main challenge is not in developing the water disinfection products they produce but rather combating “archaic thinking and attitudes” associated with conventional chlorine dosing. “Government at all levels should be taking action to ensure that water saving, water disinfection technology is standard for all commercial and residential swimming pools,” she says.

BOTTOM: The UVprotected polycarbonate slats of a Remco automated pool cover

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Robots reduce reliance on filtration systems, saving water and energy. This one is a Vortex-Pro VX50 4WD from Fluidra which has a strong, constant cyclonic suction-power

RIGHT: AIS Water’s AutoChlor water disinfection technology keeps the Sheraton Grand Mirage Port Douglas Resort’s lagoon pools clean and safe for swimmers while saving water

BELOW: AIS Water says its commercial EcoLine can save more than a million litres of water each year for a 50m pool

“This should be the case for every commercial tender, every new aquatic facility, every new home and every new school. “In this way we’d all work together to protect our planet.”

Staying abreast of local and international legislation

Fluidra marketing director Jonas Ryberg says environmental efficiency is a key component of the company’s mission to create “the perfect pool experience”. “While this means different things to different pool owners, an increasing number want a pool that is easy to maintain as well as being sustainable,” he says. “More consumers are considering the environmental factors when building pools or replacing pool equipment, and are choosing builders, equipment suppliers and products that deliver on this promise.” Globally, Fluidra is working on a wide variety of projects where water, energy or environmental factors are key drivers. “As an example, Fluidra’s SIBO business in the Netherlands leads the world in ‘natural pools’ and alternative filtration solutions,” Ryberg says. “In the US, Fluidra’s CoverPools business is focused on improving pool covers and reducing evaporation.” Locally, Fluidra Australia continues to invest in

alternative sanitisation and filtration systems, and complete pool hydraulic solutions that will use less water and electricity. “Ultimately, to deliver the perfect pool, Fluidra will need to continue to invest in developing products and systems that are energy and water efficient,” he says. With governments around the world looking for ways to ensure products are more energy efficient and sustainable, Ryberg says staying abreast of international and local legislation is always a challenge. “We need to ensure that all the products we sell in Australia meet relevant compliance standards and this can be time-consuming and costly. While there is generally a time lag between the announcement of the legislative change and its actual implementation, it is still a significant and time-consuming task to reconfigure a product range as broad as ours to meet ever changing legislative requirements,” he says. The other key challenge, Ryberg believes, is to find more cost-effective solutions to environmental challenges. “Often the most energy efficient products are premium priced. We need to continue to look to find ways to reduce the cost of energy efficient products to encourage more pool owners to consider and select these solutions.” n

Contacts: AIS Water: aiswater.com.au Daisy: daisypoolcovers.com.au Davey: www.davey.com/au Fluidra: www.fluidra.com Lo-Chlor: lochlor.com.au Pentair: www.pentairpool.com.au Remco: www.remco.com.au SPASA: www.spasa.com.au Swimart: swimart.com.au Waterco: www.waterco.com.au

46 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

SHOW YOUR COMMITMENT TO

PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT

The Climate Care Certification Program is an initiative of the Swimming Pool & Spa Association of Australia Ltd (SPASA). It is the industry’s efficiency and sustainability certification program. SPASA is proud to deliver an industry wide program to support, protect and promote the way the swimming pool and spa industry operates and strives for best practice sustainable solutions.

BENEFITS OF CERTIFICATION CONSUMER BENEFITS ü Purchase with confidence knowing that you are choosing a certified environmentally sustainable solution ü Enjoy the benefits of choosing a solution which utilises water efficiency, energy efficiency, noise reduction measures, environmentally sustainable designs or efficiency/sustainability innovations ü Reduce your overall carbon footprint whilst saving money

INDUSTRY BENEFITS ü Highlight your product/system/installation’s environmentally sustainable qualities ü Show your commitment to preserving the environment and to industry best practice ü Demonstrate your investment in the industry’s sustainable future and inspire others to do the same

THIRD-PARTY VERIFICATION All Climate Care Certified products undergo independent third-party testing and/or verification to assess and report on claims being made such as water efficiency and energy savings. Only credible and trusted local, national and international testing and verification bodies are considered by SPASA to ensure that claims being made on energy and water efficiency and sustainability are substantiated.

SPASA is proud to have appointed Smart Approved Watermark as their certification partner for water efficient products. www.smartwatermark.org

SWIMMING POOL & SPA ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA TEL 1300 021 482 WWW.SPASA.COM.AU

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ABOVE: Go to splashmagazine. com.au to download a copy of the SPASA document

PASA has produced a document called Water, Best Practice and Debunking Myths to help educate consumers about water, and how it relates to the swimming pool and spa industry. SPLASH! has paraphrased elements of the document below, and the entire original document can be downloaded via a QuickLink at splashmagazine.com.au. We all know water is a precious commodity in Australia, particularly during periods of prolonged drought. For pool and spa owners concerned about water usage, a few simple keys facts will help you navigate common myths and allow

Check with your water provider regarding any water restrictions before committing to work on your pool or spa. you to maximise all the benefits a backyard pool provides through best practice.

Pool covers

Uncovered, the backyard swimming pool can lose up to 7mm of water per day. Pool covers provide a host of benefits: • They reduce evaporation by between 95 per cent to 97 per cent, saving many thousands of litres of water per month; • The cover helps protect your pool from external debris, meaning your pool stays cleaner for longer; • Pool covers are designed to assist with heating your pool which will in turn save you money; • You’ll have reduced cost and consumption of chemicals as the need for additional water is minimised; • Utilising a cover extends the swimming season, giving you more time to enjoy your investment. Myth: Pool covers aren’t suitable for all pools. Fact: Pool covers can be custom ordered in all shapes 48 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

and sizes to suit almost every swimming pool, including infinity edge pools and spas. Myth: Pool covers look ugly and are expensive. Fact: There are a variety of pool cover colours to suit most pools and a wide range of quality pool cover grades to suit every price point. Myth: Pool covers have no effect on heating. Fact: Heating efficiency and heat retention can be maximised through the application of a pool cover. The cover will also help minimise water loss through evaporation. Myth: Pool covers are difficult to take on and off. Fact: Pool cover rollers make using pool covers easy to operate. There’s a solution for almost every pool and spa. Your pool professional will be able to talk to you about options for your specific circumstances and needs. Myth: Pool cover rollers are expensive. Fact: There are a complete range of pool cover rollers to suit every price point. Examples include: stationary free-standing rollers; mobile free-standing rollers; under-bench and covered rollers; wall mounted rollers; and below-ground rollers.

Draining a pool or spa

Draining the water from your swimming pool: • Can cause irreversible structural damage to your swimming pool, its interior, surrounds and associated equipment if not done correctly. • M ay affect your swimming pools warranty. • S hould only be done in very specific circumstances, such as remediation or renovation work. Contact your pool builder, pool shop or service technician who can assist you. Myth: I need to drain my pool to clean it properly. Fact: Draining the water from your swimming pool is not required (nor recommended as normal practice) in order for you to clean it, a number of other treatments are available. For spas: Depending on your usage, you may need to replenish the water three to four times per year. Myth: You should drain your pool if not using it. Fact: You should never drain a pool, even in areas where temperatures get below zero. Myth: It’s cheaper for me to drain my pool than maintain it. Fact: It is much more expensive to refill your pool, add the required chemicals and have it ready for use for when you next need it. Myth: I have no choice but to drain my pool after a natural disaster. Fact: Except for the most severely affected, almost all swimming pools and spas can be brought back to life after floods, storms and fire without the need to drain the water. Myth: I can easily drain my pool and fix it myself. Fact: It is highly recommended to use a professional when conducting any repairs or renovations. A minor renovation may include replacing the equipment or coping which does not normally require the pool or spa to be drained. A major renovation may include replacing the entire interior and associated pipework which will require the water to be drained.

Filtration

The more people who swim in the pool the more filtering

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it will need. Irrespective of the type of filter media, it needs to be replaced at some point, so that the filter can safely and effectively trap contaminants. If you leave it too long between changes, the filter can become clogged and be unable to do its job properly – this can leave the pool vulnerable to poor water circulation and cause filtration issues. Myth: My pool’s filter must be cleaned every month. Fact: How long you should filter a pool and how often the filter should be cleaned depends on: • The size of the pool; • The filtering equipment; • How much the pool is used, and • Varying environmental factors, such as sunlight or wind hitting the pool. With media filters (commonly called sand filters but also using glass, zeolite or similar media), backwashing can use extra water if you don’t pay attention. By keeping the pool and filters clean, you can reduce the frequency of backwashing. The amount of water backwashed can be reduced by stopping the process when the water turns from cloudy to clear. A working pressure gauge can help to monitor elevated pressure and when to backwash. As a rule of thumb, the cleaner the filter media the lower the pressure gauge (8-10 PSI). The dirtier the filter media the higher the filter gauge (Eg. 25 PSI). Myth: The media in my filter doesn’t need replacing. Fact: Generally a filter’s media should be cleaned with a treatment twice every year and completely replaced every five years. Cartridge filters reduce or eliminate the need for backwashing by only requiring the cartridge to be removed and washed clean. The cartridge should be replaced every one to two years.

WaterLink

Sp nTouch

Pool maintenance

Untreated or improperly treated pool or spa water can be a health risk and can permanently damage the pool. You should check your pool and maintain the water balance and chlorination levels on a weekly basis. Being observant is the best way to identify and stop a leak. Look for increases in your water bill as well as changes to the pool area and the water itself. If you need to top-up your pool or spa, the use of a timer is a good idea and ensure you use a hose with a trigger nozzle. Check whether there are any time limits for topping up during periods of drought. Myth: I save time, money and water by not maintaining my swimming pool or spa Fact: A properly set-up pool or spa does not require substantial effort or maintenance. It’s more cost effective and less time consuming to simply maintain your pool or spa consistently throughout the year as opposed to being reactive and treating an untouched or improperly balanced pool. Myth: I can’t tell if my pool has a leak. Fact: A quick way to tell if your pool is leaking as opposed to normal evaporation, is to conduct a “bucket test”: • First, make sure your pool is filled to its normal level; • Fill a bucket with pool water, leaving approx. 3cm from the top; • Place the bucket on the first step of your pool; • Mark the water level on the inside of the bucket; • Shut off your pool pump; • Mark the water level on the outside of the bucket; • Turn your pump back on so it can continue operating normally; • Compare both levels after 24 hours have passed. If the pool water level that’s indicated by the mark on the outside of the bucket is lower than the water level indicated by the mark on the inside of the bucket, you likely have a leak. You will need to start over if it rains during the period that you are running the test. n .

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p 02 9624 8842 | f 02 9674 5115 e sales@lamottepacific.com www.lamottepacific.com Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 49

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Reinventing

the eighties

Project Details Architect: Those Architects Photographer: Luc Remond The owners wanted to make the most of the outdoors, the swimming pool and the beautiful Byron Bay weather 50â&#x20AC;&#x192;SPLASH!â&#x20AC;&#x192;Feb/Mar 2020

Styling: Alex Bennett Paving: Sareen Stone

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new pool and revitalised yard helped spark this Byron Bay renovation. Simon Addinall, co-director and founder of Those Architects says that as the house had good bones, they used a lot of what already existed. “The consideration of costs can also come into play resulting in the decision to renovate rather than rebuild. The risk with renovating older houses can be how much detailed demolition will be required to get it back to base level. And that can sometimes make a renovation unviable.” The Burch House had a great foundation to work with. It is double brick, none of the interior walls were structural, it has a single roof line, and the roof structure sits on top of the external walls. All of this was to their advantage, and made their job easier. The front part of the house is the original and they didn’t really change it at all, apart from windows and rendering it. Saving money by not rebuilding also meant they could spend money on the pool and landscaping. “The back of the house was removed, which gave us a clean slate to work with. The land size of the block is a standard size for Byron Bay. “It was a balancing act between keeping as much outdoor space and meeting the client’s needs for the internal space. The house overall isn’t massive, however, it still has six bedrooms. The new section at the back is two storeys. This was added to increase floor space and retain as much of the garden areas and landscaping as possible. Living in Byron Bay, summer goes well into April. Our clients wanted to be able to use the outside space as much as possible.” Initially the client wanted to use unfilled travertine for the paving, however, it was suggested that this would not be suitable as the holes in the travertine would fill with dirt, and this was not what the client wanted. “So we looked at using limestone instead. I can’t take credit for it. The client chose the stone. The client had a range of samples sent and the one chosen was by far the nicest. Addinall says the Santa Fe Limestone brings a sandy beach reference to the home. “We loved the colour as it references the sand. It is amazing how soft it is to walk on, it doesn’t feel hard like concrete. The colour of the stone adds a subtle softness, it somehow softens everything. “It is super hard wearing and perfect for a young family, and it looks new all the time. It ties into the timber and softens up the brick, and has a warm feel to it.” The sizes used were 600mm x 600mm and 600mm x300mm. n The interior and exterior blend together through the use of the large format Santa Fe Limestone pavers

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 51

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Automate your follow-up By Brett Lloyd Abbott

ALLCHLOR S3800 Allchlor’s brand new chlorinator is modern, sleek and turning the clock back to a simpler era. 100% made in Australia and assembled at Allchlor, the S3800 culminates four year of intense research and development working with the Pool trade. The S3800 is changing the way retail customers buy a salt water chlorinator. The simplicity and functionality takes the guess work out of the what to buy. With Sizing from 25G up to small commercial 60G systems.

C O N TA C T A L L C H L O R

52 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

07 3277 2554

sales@allchlor.com.au

allchlor.com.au

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n previous articles, I showed how to get prospects’ contact info. But what good is gaining client contact info if they’re not ready to buy? According to Gleanster, 50 per cent of leads are qualified but not yet ready to buy. For online searches, that figure jumps to over 76 per cent. For a long-buying-cycle item like a new in-ground pool, the ratio of “ready-to-buy-now” vs “qualified-butnot-ready-to-buy” is close to one in a hundred. That means 99 per cent of your new pool prospects – if you catch them early enough – are going to need extensive follow-up before they’re ready to buy. Without a sound follow-up strategy, you have no way of ensuring your qualified leads become buyers – or that if they do buy, they’ll buy from you. Connecting with your customers and prospects on a personal level is a powerful force that builds greater trust, value and positive response with every encounter. As human beings, we feel flattered when someone takes the time to get to know us on a deeper level. No one wants to be treated like just a face in the crowd, or an entry in a database. Ideally, your sales reps would nurture these prospects personally, maintaining steady communication until they turn opportunities into closed deals. However, your sales reps don’t have time to nurture 99 prospects when only one of them is

ready to buy. They need to be closing sales, to keep the company in business. Sure, you probably have a collection of “cold leads” in a tickler file somewhere, so when the sales people get hungry, they start reaching out, hoping to shake something loose. But it’s an ineffective system. It’s pseudo-automation, driven by humans who are subject to feelings, fatigue, and easily disrupted schedules. While your sales and marketing teams may recognise the importance of prompt and continued follow-up when trying to close deals, they’re often too busy to make it a priority. There’s always another meeting, another client to call, another fire to put out. Meanwhile, the average sales cycle has increased 22 per cent in the past five years. The importance of lead nurturing – keeping potential customers interested and engaged until they’re ready to buy – is now more critical than ever. Fortunately, there’s an upside. According to a report on lead nurturing done by the Annuitas Group, nurtured leads make on average 47 per cent larger purchases than those not nurtured – making lack of follow-up a critical error.

Wrong sort of follow-up

Too much follow-up, however, can be as ineffective as not enough. “BUY NOW!”

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 53

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“THIS DEAL WON’T LAST FOREVER!” “BUY NOW AND SAVE!” This sort of annoying persistence – or more accurately pestering – does nothing to build trust or encourage a long-term relationship. It’s more likely to get your number blocked, and your emails unsubscribed. It also takes valuable time to draft and customise communications. Worse – what if 50 per cent of that communication is with people with zero intention of ever buying? Yet you’ve told your sales team that they must follow up with everyone – isn’t that time better spent on qualified leads? Lack of effective follow-up can have other consequences. Are you leaving money on the table by missing cross-sell or up-sell opportunities? Are you reminding existing customers to purchase your products again once previous purchases are past their use-by date? Are your sales reps targeting customers who’ve purchased a specific service in the past by highlighting the benefits of an upgrade? Or are they simply so busy trying to cultivate new prospects that they’re overlooking these opportunities?

Automate your follow-up process

Companies who excel at nurturing leads generate 50 per cent more sales-ready prospects—and do so at a 33 per cent lower cost per lead. Imagine

SEEKING EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Due to significant national growth, Madimack are seeking expressions of interest from industry professionals to become Madimack Platinum installers. Being part of our team as industry leaders in heat pumps and pool heating, you will be provided with world-class training as well as full access to our sales team and industry experts. For more information please contact our national sales manager. westley@madimack.com.au CALL 1300 899 737

P O O L H E AT I N G

54 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

having a sophisticated method of timely followup, automatically running in the background, without any prospects slipping through the cracks or being forgotten? Imagine a system where your customised follow-up generates goodwill and trust, while positioning you as the authority in your market. The average buyer makes it 57 per cent of their way through their journey before they even talk to sales. A mere 25 per cent will actually reveal their interest during the early stages of that process. Most pool shoppers are operating in stealth mode in the background, invisible to you. That’s where marketing needs to grab and retain the attention of those hidden, uncertain customers for an indefinite period of time. Now here’s the big upside – once the potential buyers have completed their research and start reaching out to sales reps for a face-to-face meeting, they’ll already be educated. Your sales reps won’t have to waste time educating them from scratch, and guessing at their pain points and needs. They can focus instead on closing deals. This is the power of an effective automated drip email campaign. It lightens the load of your sales team, and sets them up for greater success with prospects who become more and more engaged over time…all in an automated fashion.

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(APVMA) variousishealth guidelines – systems where additional elements support When theand prospect readydepartment to buy, they’re chlorine, bromine hydrogen peroxide,” he says. the preferred pool or spa sanitiser.” much more likely and to buy from you. “They are the cornerstones sanitation for pools and The common supplementary products An automated system willofalso spas. If you cannot residual of at least we typically see in conjunction with an periodically “drip” demonstrate informative aemail one of these sanitisers your poolcold, or spa then it may approved sanitiser are ozone, UV, copper/ content to leads that in have gone not be safe to enter.” silver, and a plethora of algaecides, potentially re-engaging them. Renewed For the operation of a commercial clarifiers, phosphate removers and interest (such as clicking a link) can swimming pool or spa, it is and mandatory that one of these sanitisers chemicals to assist the ability of the be tracked reported automatically, is used. sanitiser to work effectively. immediately alerting your sales team to “In some locations, “The challenge for the swimming potential lead activity.hydrogen peroxide can only be used in combination a supplementary pool industry is how can we achieve the Email marketing iswith already exceptionally product,” says Briscoe. “For domestic pools and spas, ultimate swimming environment and then profitable, posting an averageswimming return of 4300 the cent. operation should adhere to the guidelines balance this with the operational costs and per Personalised email sent through an but generally this is at theisdiscretion the homeowner maintenance required,” says Briscoe. automated campaign even moreofeffective it is per notcent mandatory. It isto therefore vital that any “There is a genuine demand for alternatives to -as22.2 more likely be opened, consumer considering a sanitation chlorine that will provide a better experience such as and earning 18 times more revenue system than must understand the measurable residual sanitiser will hydrogen peroxide-based systems but there have been generic emailwhat blasts. beThis for any system challenges in delivering a long-term cost-effective could be a considered.” game changer. In additionsaves to an time approved solution for this method.” n Automation and sanitiser, money Briscoe says there arestreamlining many supplementary by the salesproducts processthat andcan enhance the set up an automated follow-up system to nurture ability of the toawork effectively. aiswater.com.au reducing the chosen time itsanitiser takes for potential lead to yourContacts: prospectsAIS to Water: buy from you. n “The reality is all of the approved sanitisers APVMA: apvma.gov.au become a customer. have limitations. Even when operated at theand upInternational www.interquad.com.au It also gives you the chance to cross-sell These articles by Pool BuilderQuadratics: Marketing’s Brett recommended there can still(and be outbreaks, Chemicals: lochlor.com.au sell, increasing levels the lifetime value revenue) ofsuch Lloyd Abbott’sLo-Chlor are part of a series designed to provide as cryptosporidium and giardia that can have severe www.maytronics.com.au your customers. pool companiesMaytronics: with unique insights that will impacts on the wellbeing of humans. Naked Pools:marketplace naked-pools.com To turbo-charge your sales and conversion efforts, help them address modern challenges. is foritthis reason,” he says, “that many health Swimart: www.swimart.com.au and“Itmake easier for your designers to close deals, Contact: www.poolbuildermarketing.com department guidelines recommend sequential disinfection Waterco: www.waterco.com.au

Naked’s NKD system

Oct/Nov 2020 2019 SPLASH! SPLASH! 55 43 Feb/Mar

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Safely increasing prices

ne of the most logical ways to combat the increase in your expenses and also raise your profit margins is to raise your prices. At Protrade United, we recommend it be part of either an annual or six-month review of your business. Most things in your business (and life) are increasing in price – and most likely will continue this way. However, when raising prices, there can be an emotional barrier for many business owners. The fear of several “what if ” scenarios. These scenarios could be: “Will I still win the work at the new price?” “What will other people think when they know what I am charging?” “Am I really worth it?” and the list could go on. Yet, I have never met one business owner who, when they put their prices up, has not said: “Gee, I could have/should have done this months ago.” Let us face facts. The increase in the expenses in your business – in particular, labour and materials – is at least four to five per cent per annum. Together with ongoing overheads such as insurance, electricity, rent and other operating expenses, it makes sense to increase your prices by at least five to 10 per cent per year.

By Jon Mailer

MODELS

G15L suitable for pools up to 45,000 litres G25L suitable for pools up to 90,000 litres G40L suitable for pools up to 150,000 litres

• Auto-clean function with overload protection • Easily to read LED lights for setting output • Adjustable chlorine control – zero to maximum • Quality Grasslin 24hr timer with battery backup • Resetable circuit breaker • Australian Standard Approved • Approval no NSW26379

CELL • Designed for maximum chlorine output • Highest quality electrodes ensure extended cell life • Clear ultra-violet stabilised casing • 40/50mm inlet-outlet ports • IP 66 rated Chogori plug system

JOY POOL SYSTEMS Unit 21/2 Richard Close, North Rocks, NSW | 02 9630 5011 sales@aquajoy.com.au | www.aquajoy.com.au 56 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

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If you pride yourself in your work, and believe you are delivering value, then it is about time you also valued your experience and expertise.

Keeping your customers

Below are some suggestions on how to safely increase your prices and keep your customers. 1. Plan your price increase in advance. Ideally this needs to be at the beginning of every calendar and/ or financial year based on past expenses and future projections. Be honest with yourself first and your customers about the reasons for your price increases without trying to hide them. 2. Communicate to regular customers. If you have regular customers (maintenance/service industry) communicate in advance that your prices will be increasing as of a certain date. Perhaps let them know that new customers will be given the updated pricing immediately. This is not only common courtesy, it also helps to continue the relationship and trust that you have built. In addition, you may wish to include a voucher that the customer may use towards your services in the future – as an incentive for repeat business. 3. Increase for new customer immediately. New customers who have not used your services before have nothing to relate to. Therefore, use the price increase immediately and reap the benefits for your business. Price increases need to be fair and reasonable. Smart

customers will compare you and don’t mind paying a little extra for great service and value, or a major uniqueness. If it is too much of a difference to your competitors then this could be a challenge. 4. Add value. Ensure that you let your customers know the extra time and energy that you are putting into growing the professionalism of your business, the training and development you are doing for your team,

“Be honest with yourself and your customers about the reasons for your price increases.” and the skillsets that you are adding. If your customers see that you are progressing as a business, then they are more likely to continue to use your services. 5. Increase slowly and regularly. You are better to increase your prices every six months by a few percent than waiting for two years and increasing them by double digits. Small increases are easy to manage on your end and also for the customers.n Jon Mailer is CEO and founder of Protrade United, a business advisory organisation for trades and construction businesses. Contact: www.protradeunited.com.au

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 57

29-30 JULY 2020 Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre

Platinum Sponsor

Media Partner

Gold Sponsors

Organised By

Silver Sponsor

Golf Sponsor

COMMERCIAL POOL TECHNICIAN PROGRAM – A TWO DAY PROGRAM SPLASH! ANDREW SIMONS MEMORIAL GOLF DAY Tuesday 28 July 2020 Join the LoChlor and SPLASH! teams to network at the Golf Day being held on Tuesday, 28 July 2020. A great way to ease into a fantastic week of pool & spa industry events. The golf kicks off at 12pm so you’ll be able to take your time getting to the GC and commence frivolities. A ttbus will depart from the Convention centre at 11:30am. Celebrate at the end of the day over dinner & drinks, then prepare for the SPLASH! expo. RACV Royal Pines Resort is a golfer’s dream and the home of championship golf in Queensland. The course is proudly home to the Australian PGA Championship and the RACV Australian Ladies Masters. Three distinct 9 hole layouts inspire, motivate and challenge the very best in golfers. The Golf Course has also recently been nominated ‘Australia’s Best Golf Hotel 2017’ by the World Golf Awards. Bond with your team and bring your clients along for an opportunity to win prizes and establish yourself as the Pool & Spa industry’ts best golfer!

SPASA Training will host the new Commercial Pool Technician Program for the first time at SPLASH!. This program is designed specifically for those that undertake servicing and maintenance of an aquatic facility or commercial operation such as hotels, caravan parks and public pools. This new program provides information regarding Commercial Pool Operations based on the following units of competency; • • • •

Identify risk and apply risk management processes Assess and treat water problems in swimming pools and spas Inspect, service and repair aquatic facility plant and equipment Establish maintenance plans for swimming pools and spas

Attendees will have the opportunity of top quality instruction in relation to identifying water quality issues, correct water testing procedures, maintenance requirements of plant and equipment and much more.

ALL SEMINARS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR CPD AND SPASA CERTIFICATION SPASA Certification & Accreditation is a continuing professional development (CPD) education and training program available only to individuals, employees and business members of the Swimming Pool and Spa Association of Australia (SPASA). The program provides recognition for members within the SPASA network for their professional skills and commitment to ongoing learning and development. Individuals and employees who are members of SPASA will automatically qualify as SPASA Certified when they achieve and retain 12 SPASA CPD points annually. Becoming SPASA Certified or SPASA Accredited gives you and your business an instantly recognisable badge of professionalism.

ALFAQ AQUATIC MANAGER’S CONFERENCE

Thursday 30 July 2020

10.30am – 3.30pm

10:30 – 12:30

The modern day Aquatic Manager is often responsible for an asset of more than $20 million+, requiring a unique skill set encompassing safety, community liaison, club stakeholder management, water quality, engineering, and people management to name a few. The conference brings a range of key note speakers in these areas – delivering critical information on best practice, legislative updates, customer service and operational excellence for the Aquatic Manager of the Future. A great opportunity to meet and network with other aquatics managers, industry professionals in addition to visiting the extensive pool industry supplier exhibition at SPLASH!.

Dan Kwaczynski, President, ALFAQ, Welcome and Annual Review Tamaryn Vincent, Managing Director, Waterwell Chemicals, South Africa, Pool Chemistry for Aquatic Centres Craig Ball, Prominent, Chemical Automation Chris Callaghan, Employment Hero, Digital Transformation in HR 1:30 – 3:30 Michael Darben, EO ALFAQ – Manager of Aquatic Centre, “MAC” Update Les Mole, President RLSQ, Topic TBA Graham Bateman, Neptune Benson, New Age Filtration David Bennison, Myrthr Pools, Myrthr Pool Technology The Annual ALFAQ Awards will be presented as part of the SPASA Awards evening. ALFAQ members (free), Non ALFAQ members $40

SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show | 29-30 July 2020

WOMEN IN INDUSTRY Following the outstanding support of the inaugural Women’s Leadership Seminar at SPLASH! in 2018, SPASA Australia is delighted to be hosting many successful female leaders this year during the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show to build on the momentum of the program. This special session will kick off with a dedicated Breakfast and Workshop with one of Australia’s decorated female Olympians, who has furthered her career in business and leadership to become remarkable. Held on the morning of SPLASH! from 7:30am, come and gather with other likeminded industry women and hear from our inspirational speaker. Keep your eyes peeled for who this Olympian will be. Following this, there will be a number of presentations in the SPLASH! Seminar Tvvheatre particularly designed to expand networks, hear success stories and share how these industry leaders have been able to accomplish their dreams. This is an opportunity to learn a range of new approaches that you can use in your roles.

The Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA) are collocating their annual Australian Swim Schools Conference on the Gold Coast, alongside the SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show. The conference will run from Monday 27th - Friday 31st July at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre and will encompass the World Everyday Safer Inclusive Swim Schools Conference. The Conference features leading local and overseas presenters. Keynotes include: Angie Baker from SwimKids Swim Schools in the USA, who is presenting on staff leadership development, water safety practices and inclusion; and Young Gun Jai Leighton, Director of F&B at the Star Gold Coast, who is presenting on ‘Inspiring Teamwork to Drive Change’. Others include David Gorman, SwimJim, USA, Theo Millward, SwimTime, UK, as well as presenters on Inclusion, Water Safety and another Young Guns session. Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year, Bruce Sullivan, will also be in attendance, MC for the 5th Annual ASSA Awards Gala as well as running a number of panels throughout the week. The core conference will be held from 27th to 29th July, and will then flow into the inaugural World Everyday Safer Inclusive Swim Schools Conference on the 30th & 31st, which will include presentations on inclusion and water safety. ASSA delegates will have free access to SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show.

NEXT GEN LEADERSHIP SEMINARS This year at SPLASH! there will be a number of presentations at the Seminar Theatre geared towards the Next Generation of leaders within the industry. There will also be a special workshop on Thursday before the expo kicks off for the day.

Jai Leighton

Star Entertainment Group

Angie Baker

SwimKids Swim School, USA

The time spent in the Next Gen program at SPLASH! this year will provide participants with invaluable insights to develop and hone skills across a range of topics such as Marketing, Business Development, Dispute Resolution and news of new technology. There will also be the opportunity for Next Gen leaders to learn from successful business people in the industry who are excited to share their knowledge and experience.

29-30 July 2020 | SPLASH! Pool & Spa Trade Show

The 2020 Awards Season is now open! The SPASA National Awards of Excellence

recognises the best of the best and isAustralia, the Available exclusively to members of SPASA the Awards of Excellence is the biggest night in pool industry. perfect platform to the showcase your company and its products, projects, and staff to the industry and consumers. Takingthe place at the conclusion of the expo the annual Make most of valuable business and marketing opportunities - enter today! awards acknowledge the best, boldest and most creative in the pool and spa community - all Gold Award winners from the regional awards go in the running to be crowned nationally for the year 2020, including for the first time the Northern Territory, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Submit your entries at awards.spasa.com.au Along with great food, drink & company the amazing entertainer for the presentation ceremony will Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss Awards Galastand-up Dinner in your state! be Jimeoin one of the the most acclaimed comedians of this generation - a true comedy QLD 6 June W Brisbane master! SA 13 June National Wine Centre Reward your staff or invite key clients to this special NSW 27 June Fullerton Sydney night. Registrations will open shortly. The Awards willNational take place at GoldGold CoastCoast Convention & Exhibition & Events Centre 30the July Exhibition Centre on Thursday 30 July.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsors

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Regulation

Commercial News Stopping the spread of coronavirus �64 Jump’s new ownership sees increasing enrolments ��64 Clean water smooths a rock lobsters’ life ��67 Mental first aid in aquatic and recreation centres ��68

RIGHT: There are new WA guidelines for splash and spray parks Image: Empex Watertoys www.watertoys.com

Updated WA aquatic facilities code of practice The WA Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Operation, Management and Maintenance of Aquatic Facilities 2020 has been updated following feedback from industry and local government.

The main amendments are listed below: • Section 6: Training Qualification Requirements have been updated to bring them into line with the new national standard. • Section 5.3 – Microbiological Standards - Backwash sampling in no longer required or assessable. Only water sampled from the main water body to which patrons are exposed are required to be sampled for compliance with section 5.3. - Testing of Pseudomonas is only required for aquatic water bodies with an operational temperature of 32 degrees Celsius or greater (ambient or artificially heated) - Previously text unintentionally captured all heated aquatic water bodies (regardless of temperature). - Revised maximum allowable total chlorine from 10 mg/L to 8 mg/L. •S ection 12 of the Code of Practice 2020 requires water spray parks/interactive

water features facilities to comply with the new Aquatic Facilities Water Spray Grounds and Interactive Water Features Application, Design & Operating Requirements Environmental Health Guide. • Appendix 6 – Slip Resistance Testing and Performance has been updated to clarify requirements for slip resistance appropriate aquatic facility pedestrian surfaces. • Australian standards have been updated and minor amendments to wording and formatting have been made to provide clarification and maintain currency. With the increase in popularity of water spray grounds across WA, new guidelines to support compliance with the aquatic facilities Code of Practice are now available. These Guidelines outline the minimum requirements for making application to design, construct and operate water spray grounds and interactive water features and must be read in conjunction with the updated aquatic facilities Code of Practice (section 12). Contact: Go to ww2.health.wa.gov.au for more, or go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink.

In Brief An Upper Hutt pool in New Zealand was closed for a weekend after a woman hurled a glass container at her partner, sending shards into the water. Newshub reported that as the woman exited the H2O Xtream aquatic centre’s changing room she threw the glass container at her partner who was in the pool. The container shattered on the side of the pool and the glass went into the water. Upper Hutt City Council’s director of community services Mike Ryan said the pool and slides had to be closed and nearly a million litres of water was drained. The pool was then vacuumed to ensure no glass fragments remained. Justin Scarr, chief executive of Royal Life Saving Society Australia, says that all six-year-olds should be able to move continuously in water for five metres, according to a new swimming benchmark designed to reverse the shocking fall in swimming and water safety skills among school children. “If you have a six-year-old, and your child can’t swim continuously for five metres, you need to think about doing something about it quickly,” he urged. Early school years was often when parents pulled their children out of swimming lessons to participate in other sports or activities, but it is important to keep the lessons up, he told the Sydney Morning Herald. Being able to swim five metres – no matter how ungainly the stroke – meant a child could likely make it to the side of a pool or the stairs if he or she got into trouble. At that age, each child should also know how to float and identify people in trouble in the water who needed help. The mayor of Sydney’s Inner West Council, Darcy Byrne, has condemned a NSW State Government proposal to place a large smoke stack just metres from the side of a children’s pool in the grounds of Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre (LPAC). The large ventilation stack is part of the NSW Government’s Sydney Metro West line, which has been proposed by the State Government to be located adjacent to the Olympic pool and children’s pools within LPAC and would be built only metres from the popular Bay Run walking and cycling path. “Leichhardt Pool had nearly 800,000 visits last year and the Bay Run is enjoyed by thousands of people daily,” he says.” To propose a smoke stack slap bang in the middle of this area is complete madness. We were looking at temporarily closing Leichhardt Pool due to bushfire smoke, but if this proposal goes ahead, we might have to close the pool permanently due to a Government-owned smoke stack”

62 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

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Funding

Public pools dragged into new sports rorts affair Stage II of the federal government’s sports rorts affair has seen further accusations of pork barrelling as $150 million earmarked for female sports programs was funnelled into swimming pool projects in marginal electorates. While the first sports rorts scandal involved projects rated highly by Sport Australia being overlooked in favour of projects in marginal electorates, this one involved a $150m fund for female facilities and safety being directed to swimming pool projects in marginal electorates on the eve of the election. Although guidelines were promised for the Female Facilities and Water Safety Stream (FFWSS) they never eventuated and the scheme was not actually opened for applications. Nonetheless, funding was awarded largely to government held marginal seats, with some councils only learning of the funding from newspaper reports without having ever applied for it. Swimming pools in 11 government-held seats were the major beneficiaries with $60 million – or 40 per cent of the program’s funding – going to two marginal seats, Corangamite in Victoria and Pearce in Western Australia. In all, of the 41 projects funded under the scheme, 27 were for female change rooms or female-friendly upgrades to sporting clubs in marginal electorates, worth a combined $132 million. The government won each of these highly contested seats except Corangamite.

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 63 Dual Stage Filtration System_Splash 270mm x 90mm.indd 1

2/7/20 11:54 AM

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childcare or university. For the latest advice on who needs to isolate, go to www.health.gov.au. While coronavirus is of concern, it is important to remember that most people displaying symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat or tiredness are likely suffering with a cold or other respiratory illness – not coronavirus. Coronaviruses can make humans and animals sick. Some coronaviruses can cause illness similar to the common cold and others can cause more serious diseases, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). This new coronavirus originated in Hubei Province, China and the disease outbreak is named Covid-19.

How is this coronavirus spread?

The coronavirus is most likely to spread from person-toperson through: • Direct close contact with a person while they are infectious; •C lose contact with a person with a confirmed infection who coughs or sneezes; or • Touching objects or surfaces (such as door handles or tables) contaminated from a cough or sneeze from a person with a confirmed infection, and then touching your mouth or face. Most infections are only transmitted by people when they have symptoms. These can include fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness and shortness of breath.

How can we help prevent the spread of coronavirus?

Practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against most viruses. You should: • Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet; •C over your cough and sneeze, dispose of tissues, and use alcohol-based hand sanitiser; •A nd if unwell, avoid contact with others (touching, kissing, hugging, and other intimate contact). Know the Signs poster

Who needs to isolate?

he Department of Health has issued a series of coronavirus (Covid-19) resources to help people identify the symptoms and help control the spread of the virus. This has been an issue of concern for public facilities including public swimming pools and aquatic centres. Below we have reproduced information from one of the resources, but there are many other resources available at www.health.gov.au or you can go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink to the relevant page.

To help limit the spread of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself in the following circumstances: • I f you have left, or transited through, mainland China in the past 14 days you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of leaving mainland China. • If you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of coronavirus, you must isolate yourself for 14 days from the date of last contact with the confirmed case. What does isolate in your home mean? People who must isolate need to stay at home and must not attend public places, in particular work, school, childcare or university. Only people who usually live in the household should be in the home. Do not allow visitors into the home. Where possible, get others such as friends or family who are not required to be isolated to get food or other necessities for you. If you must leave the home, such as to seek medical care, wear a mask if you have one.

What you need to know

What do I do if I develop symptoms?

Safety

Stopping the spread of coronavirus

There is an outbreak of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) in mainland China. If you are a traveller from mainland China or think you may have been a close contact of a confirmed case of coronavirus, special restrictions apply to you. You must isolate yourself, which means you stay at home and do not attend public places, including work, school, 64 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

If you develop symptoms (fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath) within 14 days of leaving mainland China, or within 14 days of last contact of a confirmed case, you should arrange to see your doctor for urgent assessment. You should telephone the health clinic or hospital before you arrive and tell them your travel history or that you may have been in contact

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with a potential case of coronavirus. You must remain isolated either in your home or a healthcare setting until public health authorities inform you it is safe for you to return to your usual activities. Who is most at risk of a serious illness? Some people who are infected may not get sick at all, some will get mild symptoms from which they will recover easily, and others may become very ill, very quickly. From previous experience with other coronaviruses, the people at most risk of serious infection are: • People with compromised immune systems, such as people with cancer; • Elderly people; • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; • Very young children and babies; and • People with diagnosed chronic medical conditions.

How is the virus treated?

There is no specific treatment for coronaviruses. Antibiotics are not effective against viruses. Most of the symptoms can be treated with supportive medical care. Should I wear a face mask? You do not need to wear a mask if you are healthy. While the use of masks can help to prevent transmission of disease from infected patients to others, masks are not currently recommended for use by healthy members of the public for the prevention of infections like coronavirus. Contact: For the latest advice, information and resources, go to www. health.gov.au or call the National Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080.

Franchising

Jump’s new ownership sees more enrolments Following a turbulent 2019 for Jump Swim Schools, new owner Belgravia Kids says that signs are looking positive for 2020. “There’s been a solid growth in enrolment numbers since Belgravia took over the franchise network in August last year and new site openings are underway,” says Belgravia Kids CEO Mark Collins. Belgravia opened new sites in Flemington (Victoria), Nerang (Queensland) and most recently Fyshwick (ACT). A further two sites in Baldivis and Clarkson (Western Australia) are currently at advanced stages of development. Collins says that since Belgravia became the franchisor, enrolment numbers have been steadily on the up, increasing by nearly 19 per cent to more than 23,000 swimmers each week by the end of 2019. He says that over the past few months, Belgravia Kids had been working hard to stabilise the Jump business, streamline processes and systems and was staying in close communication with existing franchisees. “The new centre openings are great for the network, expanding our reach in Queensland, the ACT and Western Australia. “We are excited now about moving forward and concentrating on growing the brand and continuing to increase enrolments nationally. Such growth will allow us to make water a safer place for more children. Drownings are still on the increase for the 0-4 age group and this is something we’re dedicated to tackling.” He says that the fact they’ve been able to achieve this growth in just under four months of ownership is a positive sign of what’s to come. Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 65

spasa.com.au 1300 021 482 | askus@spasa.com.au

For a champion performance you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t beat a SPASA member SPASA members appreciate the importance of listening, asking the right questions and applying their considerable experience, knowledge and expertise to their clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; project challenges. Contact SPASA today and find out how you can join the community and become a member!

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Clean water smooths a rock lobster’s life ABOVE: The tropical rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus) is very popular on Australian dinner tables. Image: CSIRO TOP RIGHT: Goh says Waterco’s filament winding machines produce continuous strands, creating vessels with flawless consistency and superior quality BOTTOM: In the growing water treatment industry, Waterco’s fiberglass vessels are rapidly replacing steel tanks.

quaculture uses many of the same principles as the swimming pool industry – basically water must be circulated, filtered and purified in a waterproof vessel. But there are also many differences between the industries, not least the relevant regulations and the increased level of contaminants. However, some of the equipment can be used in both – often with slight modifications – as can be seen in this Queensland aquaculture facility for rock lobsters and Moreton Bay bugs. As populations in Australia and around the world increase, so too does the demand for sustainable sources of seafood. Seafood consumption in Australia has increased substantially over the past few decades. Currently, demand exceeds the supply from domestic production – and continues to grow. Figures from Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment show that since 2002-03, the gross value of aquaculture production has increased by 12 per cent ($108 million) to more than $1 billion. Swimming pool and water treatment business Waterco has successfully segued into the booming aquaculture and agriculture industries with its “sustainable future strategy”. For group marketing director Bryan Goh, Waterco’s product innovations improve water quality, increase stock levels and feed rates, produce healthier – and larger – harvests and, ultimately, raise farm productivity. “We have a long track record selling to the aquaculture market and have also developed specific product features that are capable of withstanding the harsh environmental requirements associated with it,” Goh says.

“For example, we supply pumps fitted with marine seals that withstand corrosive sea water and filters equipped with marine grade components.”

Healthy water for healthy stock

For PFG Group Head of Aquaculture Tim Graham, healthy water means happy farmers. Earlier this year, PFG installed a range of Waterco’s commercial filtration solutions in the world’s first commercial scale rock lobster hatchery in North Queensland, breeding Moreton Bay bugs (Thenus orientalis) and the tropical rock lobster (Panulirus ornatus). “We included in the various designs Waterco’s injection moulded pumps, AquaBiome filters, Exotuf vessels and centrifugal MultiCyclone filters,” he explains. “These components, as part of the systems, help maintain clean and hygienic water at all times.” Goh says that Waterco’s strength lies in its injection moulding and fibreglass winding methods, which are used throughout the water treatment, swimming pool and aquaculture sectors. In the growing water treatment industry, Waterco’s fiberglass vessels are rapidly replacing steel tanks. “Our four-axis digitally controlled filament winding machines produce continuous strands, creating vessels with flawless consistency and superior quality,” he says. “This produces commercial filters which are free from welds or seams. And, because of their reinforced openings, some models of Waterco’s fiberglass filters can sustain up to 10-bar pressure rating.” At its Malaysia factory in Kuala Lumpur, which covers over 25,000 square metres, eight injection moulding machines, ranging from 150-tonne to 1600-tonne, produce a range of products including the Climate Care Certified MultiCyclone. Goh says that all the injection machines are operated by highly skilled supervisors who each have more than 20-years’ experience.

Contacts PFG Group: www.pfg-group.com.au Waterco: www.waterco.com.au

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 67

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Mental first aid in aquatic and recreation centres By Tim Gledhill ABOVE: Peninsula Leisure’s mental health first aiders Stewart West, Rebecca Hill, Kara Edwards and Marc Mackellin

rom RUOK? Day to Man Up, we’ve seen a surge of mental health awareness campaigns and initiatives in recent years. Last year, beyondblue’s national Mental Health in Education programs started rolling out in schools across Australia, enabling the education system to support the wellbeing and mental health of young Australians. With one in five Australians suffering from a mental illness, the launch of these programs is crucial and they demonstrate the increased value we’re placing on supporting better mental health for

“We want them to know that their safety within our leisure centres isn’t just about their physical wellbeing. It’s about their mental wellbeing too.” our communities. But the onus of recognising the signs and symptoms of mental health shouldn’t just be left to mental health organisations. We all need to be doing our part to support one another – and at Peninsula Leisure, we know that the physical health and mental health of our staff and centre members goes hand-in-hand. Within the community we serve in Frankston, 16 per cent of people experience high levels of psychological distress – and it can affect people anywhere, whether in the workplace, out at a social function or while hitting the gym. 68 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

Further, Australian youth aged 18 to 24 have the highest prevalence of mental illness than any other age group. With the majority of our 320 staff members at the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre under the age of 25, it’s essential that we address mental health issues in our community by first engaging and supporting our youngest employees.

Identifying issues

But how can you learn what it looks like when someone is suffering from mental and emotional distress? And how can you understand the right way to approach and talk to someone about it? These questions spurred us to send five of our employees to participate in mental health first aid training via Mental Health First Aid Australia. We wanted to equip them with the tools to recognise red flags among their fellow employees, to identify those who may be experiencing emotional distress and to better support employees who are affected by mental health issues. The two-day training course included participants from corporations to small businesses to government entities. It’s clear organisations across the public and private sectors are realising that mental health affects every industry in Australia. Our staff learned how to recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and how to approach someone who might be in emotional distress, focusing on not being judgmental or asking direct questions. They learned to be calm when speaking with someone who may be suffering and how to act in a crisis situation, such as a panic attack or stress reaction to trauma. They also learned about resources to steer people in the right direction to seek professional help when necessary.

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If someone at one of our leisure centres sprains an ankle or breaks their leg, they can count on us to provide physical first aid – but it’s important that amongst rising mental health issues, we’re equipped to provide mental health first aid as well. We want them to know that their safety within our leisure centres isn’t just about their physical wellbeing. It’s about their mental wellbeing too. As empowering as it is to know that you can help someone around you who may be struggling with their emotional and mental health, the mental health first aid training also teaches individuals the importance of being more mindful with themselves. We all know that trying to juggle the

Safe Work’s psychological health guide

demands of family, social and work life can be barriers to achieving a healthy balance. The training demonstrated simple steps to support your own mental and physical wellbeing, ensuring your ability to assist others with theirs. As operators of sports, recreation and leisure facilities on behalf of the Frankston City Council, it is our responsibility to support our community by providing opportunities to take care of and improve their physical health, and we believe this extends to holistic support for mental health. Mental health first aid training has been the perfect tool for us to live up to this responsibility, so we know we’re doing everything we can to support our employees and our community with the tools and guidance they need to lead healthy lives. n

Safe Work Australia has published national guidance on workrelated psychological health and safety for employers and workers. The guide describes how to build a psychologically healthy and safe workplace by identifying, assessing and controlling risks to workers’ mental health.

Prevent harm, support recovery, intervene early

Dr Peta Miller, special adviser for Safe Work Australia, says that while work-related psychological injury is expensive, we know what causes harm and that taking preventative action works. “Poor psychological safety costs Australian organisations $6 billion per annum in lost productivity. This is primarily because psychological injuries typically require three times more time off work than other injuries. “Additionally, workplaces with poor psychological working conditions accrue 43 per cent more sick days per month.” Miller says that work-related psychological injury can be caused by excessive time pressures, unreasonable deadlines and poorly managed organisational change. “Interpersonal conflict, harassment and bullying, and exposure to occupational violence are also critical causes of work-related injury. Most importantly, however, you can prevent your workers becoming ill or sustaining a psychological injury by responding to early warning signs and incidents – an increase in unplanned absence, uncharacteristic behaviour and workplace conflict are all clues that things aren’t quite right,” she says. “Workers will offer the most valuable insights – they know what causes them harm, and will have ideas about how to most effectively address the dangers to their mental health. My advice is to listen to the people doing the work.” To download the guide at www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au or go to splashmagazine.com.au for a QuickLink.

Tim Gledhill is the chief executive officer of Peninsula Leisure. Contact: peninsulaleisure. com.au; mhfa.com.au

Rural people particularly at risk Research published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health shows that distressed country people often don’t recognise their condition as mental illness. “Self‐recognition of mental health problems in a rural Australian sample” by Handley et al, showed that a third of country people who suffer moderate to high psychological distress don’t think they have a mental health problem. A survey of 2500 people from across rural and remote New South Wales was conducted by researchers at the University of Newcastle and Hunter New England Mental Health. Respondents were asked if they’d experienced any mental health problems in the past 12 months, then filled in a questionnaire that measures psychological distress. 472 people reported moderate to very high levels of psychological distress in the past 12 months. A third of these people did not report any mental health problems. The new study finds that mental illness in rural areas is often under reported because of the lack of mental health professionals working in the country. But it noted that rural people are less likely to seek help even if services are available. The study reported “poor mental health literacy” is a critical barrier to country people getting the help they need. It adds that country people are reluctant to acknowledge distress as a problem, and have a tendency to associate “mental health problems” with severe disorders that might require hospitalisation. Authors: Tonelle E. Handley PhD, Terry J. Lewin BCom (Hons), David Perkins PhD, Brian Kelly PhD. Download the report at www.ruralhealth.org.au or via a QuickLink at splashmagazine.com.au.

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 69

new products

Embracing poolside style

The Mbrace collection is a new addition to European luxury outdoor company Dedon. Designed by Sebastian Herkner, Mbrace takes an unconventional approach to outdoor furniture – combining all-weather Dedon fibre with a solid teak base. Inspired by the gesture of embracing someone, Mbrace captures the spirit of barefoot luxury. It includes an inviting and award winning range of dining, lounging and poolside furniture. All upholstery is made to order in Germany by an expert team and air-freighted to Australia for a fast turnaround time. Available exclusively through Cosh Living with showrooms in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. Contact: www.coshliving.com.au

The little nipper

Davey says its new clever and compact ChloroMatic Nipper is a little lifesaver for Aussie pool builders. Designed in Australia to be sleek and ergonomic, it is quick to install thanks to the easy-fit connection of its new high-performance reverse polarity U-shaped cell. It offers a high, consistent water velocity across the cell plates to significantly improve calcium removal and allow for uniformed gas production that results in effective chlorination flow rate. Its flow switch allows for low flow, high flow and clears gas from the cell at 80 l/m, making it suitable for use with variable speed pumps. It has a user-friendly cell plug designed for easy removal and more reliable contact with cell pins. It is easily retrofittable to other U-shaped plumbing set-ups and suits all pool types, whether natural, mineral or low salt. It comes in five models to suit a variety of requirements. Contact: daveywater.com; 1300 369 100

Swinging brightly with Sway

Sway is a unique was to illuminate your garden – a floor lamp that is suitable for outdoor use. Designed by Nick Rennie, Sway is a beautiful blend of technology, function and design. This award winning floor lamp is rechargeable, portable, and able to be used indoor and outdoor. The globular base which teeters back and forth when knocked, delivers an unexpected playful edge. Contact: www. madebypen.com

70 SPLASH! Feb/Mar 2020

new products

So cool it’s frozen

Frozen Blue sandblasted stone has been used for the surface and surrounds of this Mount Martha swimming pool. Supplier SAI Stone says it’s not slippery due to its sandblasted finish – holding a P5 (British Wet Pendulum) slippery rating (AS 4586:2013) and as such is perfect for any paving and pool application. Additionally it is resistant to salt attack (AS/NZS 4456.10). SAI Stone says it is one of the coolest stones for summer and looks magic, especially when wet. It is available in a variety of sizes including 600x600x20 paver, 800x400x20 paver, 600x350x30 pencil round coping, 800x400x30 pencil round coping, and 800x400x30 drop face coping. Contact: www.saistone.com.au

Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 71

new products

Remote controllers with energy saving capability

The BECSys5 and Sys7 controllers can turn a UV system to low output and can reduce plant flow (via an installed VSD) at times of optimum water quality and light bather loadings to save energy. UV turndown is set up by adding a total chlorine probe and flowcell to the controller sample line, so the controller gives a combined chlorine display. A UV turndown setpoint is used to reduce power consumption and extend lamplife at times of the highest water quality. Reduced plant flow and energy consumption can be achieved in the same way or using a timer, via the addition of a VSD to the recirculation pump/s. A refresh program increases flow temporarily during the night to recirculate chemicals at intervals. Additionally, the EZConnect system enables simple connection from your phone or computer to monitor and fully control the BECSys remotely. Included is building management style analysis software that automatically downloads and plots the history, creating a record for future reference. Contact: Tim Batt, 0438 889268

Protect Pool, Protect Your Your Pool, Protect Kids Protect Your Your Kids View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at View our online video showing common pool fencing faults and how to spot them at www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing www.kidshealth.chw.edu.au/projects/drowning-prevention/swimming-pool-fencing

KIH1025/0811/SC KIH1025/0811/SC

72â&#x20AC;&#x192;SPLASH!â&#x20AC;&#x192;Feb/Mar 2020

new products

Lightweight copper pipe crimper

The RP240 ergonomic pistol grip tool is 15 per cent smaller and 10 per cent lighter than the previous Ridgid RP210B tool. The RP 241 low profile inline tool weighs only 2.5kg and is ergonomically designed to help work overhead and in tight spaces.

Stainless hose reels

For many, a hose reel is just a hose reel. But if your hose reel is part of your workday equipment, you soon discover there’s a huge difference between brands in terms of ease of use and robust construction. Ramex hose reels are designed and made in Italy, and their new HR series has taken a great design and improved it with stronger support arms and a more robust body. Suitable for a variety of applications, the new range of hose reels come in powder coated steel, 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel and cataphoretic coating for harsh environments where chemical resistance is important.

Both press tools have bluetooth connectivity which means the press tool can be connected through the free Ridgid Link app to your smartphone and/or tablet, and access important tool information like cycle count, tool status, battery life, daily press cycles etc. The Ridgid compact tools connect copper 15mm to 32mm and 16mm to 40mm PEX*. A new 12V Lithium-Ion Battery provides around 140 crimps per charge. Contact: www.ridgid. com.au; 1800 743 443

Contact: www.tecpro.com.au; (02) 9634 3370

TRAINING BY THE INDUSTRY FOR THE INDUSTRY Flexible delivery & assessment to suit your circumstances

National training and accreditation for Pool Builders and Service Technicians Become recognised and rewarded by working in the pool and spa industry. Courses include: ü ü ü ü ü

Certificate IV Swimming Pool and Spa Building CPC40808 Certificate III Swimming Pool and Spa Service CPP31218 Certificate IV Swimming Pool and Spa Service CPP41312 Certificate IV in Building and Construction CPC40110 Certificate III in Landscape Construction AHC30916

P: 1800 802 482 E: training@spasa.com.au W: spasa.com.au Feb/Mar 2020 SPLASH! 73

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Spatex. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Supreme Heating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 Swimart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Waterco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 63

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ULTRATEMP

HIGH PERFORMANCE HEAT PUMP EXTEND YOUR POOL SEASON Pentair UltraTemp heat pumps will automatically heat your pool to your desired temperature so you can swim in comfort. The UltraTemp essentially steals heat from the air and transfers it to your pool with incredible efficiency. Unlike solar pool heating, UltraTemp heat pumps can reliably heat your pool rain, hail or shine and can be sized so you can swim in comfort year round, or even just extend your pool season.