Par Pool & Spa

More on Bio Films

It seems as if EVERYBODY is talking about biofilms (or bio films or bio-films).

Whether they are biofilms in your pool or spa or biofilms in your bathroom or biofilms in your mouth, they are there.

When we first started talking about them several years ago, people thought, "gee, that makes sense..." They proceeded with the treatment and got their pools under control. Virtually all pool and spa problems - whether chronic cloudy water, scaling, staining, White Water Mold, chlorine demand or others - have at least part of their start in the biofilm.

Lacking in D.C.

Tom Hanks character "Forrest Gump" had a truly memorable line: "Stupid is as stupid does."

Forrest was often thought of as being stupid for his lack of "intelligence." But what he lacked in intelligence, he excelled in common sense, heroism, and fidelity. Forrest Gump inspired us to do good; to do what is right and not expedient; to stick by your friends until the bitter end.

That kind of leadership and thinking IS NOT what is prevalent in our nation's capital.

Dear President Obama

Following is a recent letter sent to President Obama.

It was written in the context of the so-called Jobs Creation Summit held in Washington, DC on Thursday, 3 December 2009.

Dear Mr. President,

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

I am and have been a small business owner in Connecticut for all of my adult life. In fact this is our second generation in business. At Thursday’s White House Jobs Conference you said in your opening remarks that (paraphrasing) ‘business owners need to temporarily put aside profits and hire more people.’  I take personal offense to that completely erroneous belief.  Here are my reasons.

Pool Entrapment & Safety

On 17 December 2008, the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act was put into force.  The purpose of the legislation was to prevent pool entrapment & drownings (especially child drownings) in public swimming pools across the United States.

The law mandates certain "upgrades" be made to public pools including new main drain covers, suction grate covers, and safety vacuum release systems (SVRS).  In a nutshell, any pool that was "open" & in use on December 17, had to meet the requirements.  If the pool was closed or winterized, those upgrades have to be in place when the pool is again put into service.

The biggest problem with the legislation is the interpretation of the provisions.  Pool builders, state & local building inspectors have spent months trying to untangle it all.  A copy of the law can be found here.  A summary of the legislation provided by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) can be found here.

We'll have more information as we are educated to this very important safety issue.  Look for new products coming in February 2009.

No Rubber Ducks in California

Yes, it's true!  Rubber ducks have been banned from the state of California as of January 1, 2009!

Now this doesn't include ALL rubber, just most of them.  We can't sell them to you (certain ones anyway).  You can't buy them from us (ditto).  We will mark the ones that you can buy.  I can't make this stuff up!

Here are the reasons why (I'm shaking my head too).  A law was passed & signed back in August of 2007 to ban rubber ducks as well as certain other toys containing "phthalates."