Background
Pools, spas, and ornamental fountains with recirculating filtration and disinfection equipment can be found at homes, schools, hotels, apartments, public parks, and businesses. These features provide recreational opportunities and aesthetic and artful attractions that can benefit the community.
According to one recent study, over 90 percent of all in-ground pools and almost all above-ground pools and most hot tubs are in residential settings and thus represent the most significant portion of water use in this sector. According to a 2009 Kenilworth Media, Inc. study, there are 5.1 million in-ground pools, 3.7 above-ground pools, and 6.6 million hot tubs in the
United States. In 2007, approximately 131,000 new in-ground pools were sold with the Southwest (California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah) accounting for 23 percent of sales nationally. The number of commercial (apartments, hotels, and motels) and public pools account for only three (3) percent of existing pools, but these commercial and institutional pools are the largest in size and water capacity. The number of ornamental fountains is much smaller, but they use essentially the same type of filtration and disinfection technology as pools.