SpaRetailer's "Leading Ladies" article features eight women who are shaking up the hot tub industry with bold moves and inspiring stories. Read the article to learn more about PHTA President and CEO Sabeena Hickman and what she enjoys about the industry.

The Texas Pool and Spa Coalition (TPSC) and PHTA participated in the Building Officials Association of Texas (BOAT) annual conference in Austin-Georgetown, Texas. TPSC Chairman Rick Hagan and PHTA Director of Government Relations Jason Davidson met with code officials from cities all across Texas promoting the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) and connecting them with PHTA ISPSC instructor Kevin Tucker. With the looming threat of drought in Texas, the conference presented an excellent opportunity for Rick and Jason to talk about drought with representatives from local jurisdictions and learn firsthand about the conditions in their city. Rick and Jason provided building officials information on the ANSI/APSP/ICC-13 2017 American National Standard for Water Conservation Efficiency in Residential and Public Pools, Spas, Portable Spas and Swim Spas as a solution to help reduce the impact of water use and position PHTA as a leader in water conservation efforts.

PHTA is pleased to launch a new member-driven series, Industry Insights. We talk to pool professionals as well as outside sources to provide the most up-to-date information on industry trends and challenges. Our first article is Push & Pool: What's causing supply chain disruptions – and how to secure the products you need at a reasonable price. Take a look!

Roy Vore, Ph.D., was recently interviewed by NBC 5 Dallas-Forth Worth regarding splash pad water quality and safety, after the tragic death of a young boy who contracted a serious illness from an amoeba after visiting a Texas splash pad in 2021. Dr. Vore is a CPO Instructor and member of the PHTA Recreational Water Quality Committee (RWQC). In the interview, Dr. Vore said the best practice is to monitor the water more than once a day and recommends Texas revise its code to adopt the CDC standard.

PHTA is excited to announce that the Let's Pool Together campaign is expanding to other western and southern states. Let's Pool Together, originally created to help the California Pool & Spa Association (CPSA) spread awareness about water conservation practices in California and the role of the pool industry during drought, has now launched a Texas-specific portion of the website with information for pool builders and consumers in Texas.

Want to know everything PHTA and GENESIS® are doing at PSP/Deck Expo this November? Download our guide, which includes a schedule at a glance, education and certification information, featured resources, and much more.

The four-day Advanced Builder Workshop teaches the advanced skills you need to build a structurally sound water vessel and will put you on the path to acquiring your Certified Master Pool Builder & Design Professional certification. This workshop includes two GENESIS® courses, E245: Standards, Codes, and Ordinances: A Builder's Guide to Proper Implementation and C410: Advanced Pool Construction. Class starts virtually September 19! Register today.

PHTA is partnering with NESPA to host C260: GENESIS® CONSTRUCTION SCHOOL: Vinyl Liner / Fiberglass Pools on September 15-17 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Day one will cover 8 hours of required hydraulics for both vinyl liner and fiberglass pool installations. Days two and three will cover the fundamentals of installation, structural components, automatic pool covers, and additional water features for both vinyl liner and fiberglass pools. C260 is a required course to become a Certified Builder Professional (CBP). Register today!

Attending WAHC and want to get even more education? We're hosting a Certified Pool & Spa Maintenance Specialist (CMS) Course starting Friday afternoon after the last WAHC session! The CMS Course provides students a breakdown of required education to safely and adequately maintain a water vessel. Students will examine multiple modules, including chemistry, calculations, water quality, structures and finishes, circulation, heaters, controls, filtration, and electrical components.

AQUA Live will welcome three-time Olympic gold medalist Rowdy Gaines as its Keynote Speaker. Gaines, who is also PHTA's Vice President of Partnerships & Development, will speak on the importance of taking risks, staying dedicated, teamwork, and more.

CPSA/PHTA and the International Code Council are hosting a virtual event to help you understand the importance of adopting updated swimming pool and spa codes. The free webinar will be held 1-2 p.m. PT (4-5 p.m. ET) on August 23 and will present an overview of the residential provisions of the 2021 ISPSC and how it integrates into the 2022 California Residential Codes. Participation is limited for this free event, so register today!

Check out Page 17 of the Equip Exposition Brochure to see the PHTA and GENESIS® courses being offered live and in person in Louisville, Kentucky! Learn from experts Jason Brownlee, Paul John Boulifard, and Skip Phillips.

Did you know that every five seconds, a homeowner turns to Angi Leads looking for a pro? PHTA is excited to help maximize your online presence and offer a 25% discount on Angi Leads for your first 30 days to get you started. Franchisees considering joining Angi Leads have a dedicated sales team to answer questions about the program.

The Dr. R. Neil Lowry Grant is a $5,000 grant that honors a public health official or department who has made outstanding contributions to advance the public’s health and safe use of recreational water in pools, spas, and waterparks through educational, safety, operational, and technical programs. The Lowry Grant winner will be honored during the World Aquatic Health Conference in October. The deadline to apply has been EXTENDED to Friday, August 26. Submit your nominations today!

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Reauthorization Act (VGBA) continues to gain support in both the House and Senate. PHTA has endorsed the bill, which seeks to reauthorize and update 2008 legislation requiring every public pool in the US to install safe drain covers that prevent suction entrapment.  

PHTA continues to support the H-2B Workforce Coalition's efforts to gain meaningful H-2B cap relief. The coalition is currently negotiating with a bipartisan group of lawmakers and organized labor to reach a compromise on H-2B reform legislation.

On August 12, the House passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The reconciliation bill passed the Senate earlier last week by a vote of 51 to 50 along party lines, with Vice President Kamala Harris providing the tie-breaking vote. The IRA details a scaled-back version of the Biden-Harris Administration economic agenda, after months of negotiations. The bill largely focuses health care, investments in disadvantage communities, and climate investments.  

Sign up for the PHTA Government Relations Newsletter! Get the latest news on our advocacy efforts at the federal, state, and local levels, and find out ways you can get involved. Plus, get legislative alerts when there's an upcoming event or action item in your area.