February 7, 2025: don't buy it if you can't maintain it
Good Morning,
A few weeks ago, my washing machine started to fail. I wasn't particularly surprised: of the five new Whirlpool appliances that came with the house in 2018, the dishwasher died in 2020 and the oven's been on borrowed time since 2023.
I scoured error codes in the manual and watched YouTube tutorials. I was able to come up with a method to manually drain the drum into a bucket to do several loads of laundry before flying to SGE Camp 2025, but not a long term solution.
Fast forward to yesterday when technicians (H/T to Freedom Appliances! don't let the QVC-like website deter you) came out and had to LIFT THE STACKED WASHER/DRYER UNIT to service the motor and strainer underneath. Thankfully it was just a clogged strainer (that also prematurely damaged the drainage pump 😬), but an unskilled homeowner could not reasonably be expected to do this preventative maintenance. Two burly Russians had to lift and tilt 400+ lbs on plastic rails; someone had to be underneath with a pie dish while the unit was lowered to purge trapped water and pull the strainer.
My house was brand new, and I didn't select the appliances. Who buys equipment you can't reasonably maintain?! Lots of people, apparently: the technicians said they service this model is all over Calgary. And even though it brings them reliable revenue, they don't love the hassle either.
I see the same thing in swimming pool operations. UV lamps with insufficient vertical clearance to change bulbs. Sand filters with hatches turned to the back wall where no reasonably-sized person could fit. A "good price" on a piece of equipment that actually isn't a good price at all because it's not going to last. Something new and unproven claiming to be cheaper than something tested & true.
In your decision-making, 'value' in aquatics should be about a whole lot more than just price. Ability to maintain. Staff time. Warranty. Customer service. Safety. Brand reputation. All my appliances are stickered "Made in America" which is a great idea, in concept, but even my American husband has come to say: "That doesn't mean what it used to" in terms of quality or workmanship.
I try to keep this newsletter under 1,000 words because I know you already have a lot on your plate, and I'd like recipients to actually read it, so here's the rundown of weekly industry news, but I've significantly shortened my comments.
All the rides and attractions coming to AquArabia waterpark in Saudi Arabia
It's blatant sportswashing, but wow do these facilities look amazing.
Australia Position Statement on Alcohol Advertising
Six months after Royal Life Saving UK's viral ad campaign with Tom Daly & Malibu Rum, Royal Life Saving Australia makes an excellent point that "the link between alcohol consumption and drowning is irrefutable."
i-City suspends glass water slide operations amid police probe
I was chatting with Tube Rides, who are currently in Asia to film content, and they were not thrilled to hear they almost went down a water slide that was never permitted.
Sikh community leader behind swim classes to stem migrant drownings
We need to do more to showcase different types of swimmers.
Lifeguards found not guilty over death of swimmer
"The prosecution said that, irrespective of their training, the men should have intervened based on a common sense approach and that they had taken too long completing role handovers during a rotation of poolside duties."
Dubai is building the world’s tallest wellbeing resort
Therme group, best known for their controversial project at Ontario Place (Toronto), continues to make waves. They also have sites under development in the UK, in operation in Romania, and purchased an existing site in Germany.
Making a splash: Richardson aims to improve aquatic options with new plan
More organizations need a master plan or at least a vision for aquatics in their community long-term.
NYC lifeguard union boss retires ahead of disciplinary trial
University of Calgary’s Aquatic Centre struggling with aging infrastructure and high demand, mirroring citywide pool challenges
With all due respect to the swimmers interviewed for this article, it is not reasonable to expect there will only ever be two people at the current price point.
Unplug and Play: Governor Hochul Announces New Initiatives to Promote Kids’ Mental and Physical Health as Part of 2025 State of the State
"Governor Hochul launched NY SWIMS, the largest investment in swimming infrastructure since the New Deal, with $150 million in capital grants funding 37 pool projects across New York."
The award for the stupidest, most unsafe thing I've seen on social media this week goes to this family.
Last week I described my experience flying after the American Airlines disaster. This quote from aviation expert Jeff Wise, whose writing I've followed for a number of years, said some things in a recent article that really stuck with me:
"Aviation safety is an unglamorous, even plodding business that requires meticulous attention to establishing and following regular procedure. Every single part on each aircraft is meticulously itemized and tracked; flight crew follow written checklists for every single procedure, from start-up and taxi to landing and shutdown. If a required piece of equipment is missing, or a pilot has gone one minute past his or her allotted duty time, a flight has to be scrubbed. The end result of all this hard work, if everything goes as planned, is literally a nonevent — an absence of tragedy that is easy to take for granted. Several countervailing forces push back against such efforts, including pressure for airlines to operate more profitably and for passengers to have cheaper and more convenient flights."
Now substitute 'aquatics' for 'aviation' and it makes you realize there's a lot our industry could be doing better.
This week was INSANE in the best way possible. Thank you to our incredible clients & colleagues for getting February 2025 off to a phenomenal start, we appreciate you and never take your ongoing support for granted.
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.