March 28, 2025: Peak End Rule in Pools
Good Afternoon,
The big news (if you're in Canada) is a federal election coming Monday, April 28, 2025. As you research candidates and political parties, consider asking about plans for infrastructure investment, particularly in recreation and aquatics, per the Canadian Parks & Recreation Association (CPRA) pre-2025 Budget Report.
I recently had a conversation with a friend whose brother purchased a pub. He's done something controversial by charging credit card fees back to customers. This LinkedIn post is not about him, but the comment section does a good job of covering the vociferous opinions both for and against and doing this as a business.
This discussion reminded me about a concept called Peak End Rule. In a nutshell, "our memories of an experience are shaped more by the most intense moments (the "peaks") and the final moments (the "end") than by the average or total duration of the experience. "
In pool operations and facility management, most of the work we do every single day is a routine grind that's not celebrated - or even noticed - until someone has a really amazing experience or, conversely, we screw up and something goes horribly wrong or doesn't get done - both intense moments or peak experiences for customers/bathers.
During my Certified Pool Operator (CPO) class this week, I really wanted to highlight with my students that yes, it would be great if we could all be lauded for our hard work and recognized for a job well done. But sometimes we could (should) also be satisfied that our customers did not have a bad peak or end experience.
What I mean is that a lot of the articles I share in this weekly newsletter are notable because something bad occurred. As you reflect back on this work week where (if you're like me) you just might feel like you didn't accomplish anything, at least no one got hurt or died and everything operated as it was supposed to. Sometimes that's enough.
The latest news from our industry this week -
International Journal of Aquatic Research & Education (IJARE) Volume 14, Number 4 (February 2025)
This quarterly academic journal is a real treat if you have a passion for water safety & drowning prevention. The latest edition is out now.
Hutt City Council to drain pools following cryptosporidiosis outbreak
Yes, Crypto is hard to kill, and not easily inactivated by normal operating levels of chlorine, but did they try other chemical protocols or are they just pandering to residents by appearing to take dramatic action? Drainage does not mean bacteria might not survive in filter media and other places in the recirculation system.
Jury finds city of San Diego not liable for teen’s Mission Beach drowning
The important legal piece for your next staff meeting is the allegation the lifeguard directed the victim to swim in an unsupervised area known to be unsafe.
Investigation Reveals Welding Error Sparked Fatal Fire at Liseberg's Oceana
Just as the report came out this week, there are reports today of a large fire at Yas Waterworld in Abu Dhabi in an area under expansion.
Abbey’s Hope Founder Embarks on Camino de Santiago to Raise Drowning Prevention Awareness
If you read last week's newsletter, we shared that Abigail Taylor's birthday would have been last week. We also recently passed the one-year anniversary of the entrapment fatality of Aliyah Lynette Jaico in Houston. This was a horrible, tragic and completely unnecessary incident for industry. Please take care if you read about the incident or watch any of our videos (below) as the content is graphic in nature.
A pool operator discusses the Houston entrapment w/photos & legal filing
Understanding pool inspection reports - the Houston entrapment death
Inside the Fatal Entrapment Location at Hilton by DoubleTree Houston
Their 3-year-old slipped out a sliding glass door and drowned. Now they want Amazon to pay
With all due respect to this grieving family, selling something on Amazon never certifies it as safe. As we've seen from the proliferation of illegal, duplicate pool drain and suction outlet covers, many online retailers are not checking 3rd-party listings or enforcing compliance when it comes to unsafe products. Yes, we absolutely should consider holding corporations to a higher standard of behaviour, but this is a much bigger ethical problem than door locks.
Vancouver Aquatic Centre rebuild won't fit a 50-metre lap pool
A few weeks ago, we talked about drama with the Vancouver Parks Board. The back and forth continues about whether it's even possible to add a 50m pool.
Queensland government proposes new swimming pool plans for 2032 Olympics
This would be totally different from the 2024 Paris Olympics competition pools temporarily constructed in La Défense Arena, after Taylor Swift's Era's concert tour.
Poolside Pause
I love, love, LOVE what this resort in the Ottawa Valley is doing to reduce the friction of an extended pool closure. Talk about turning lemons into lemonade.
Mayor Adams Announces $5.5 Million Investment to Expand Free Swim Lessons to Nearly 18,000 Students, Building Safer, More Affordable City for NYC Families
Finally, some good news we can all celebrate!!
The hardest working font in Manhattan
This article might seem random, but a lot of the signage we see on mechanical systems (at least in Canada) is definitely made up in this font.
Parents of Missing College Student, 20, Ask Police to Declare Their Daughter Dead 11 Days After She Vanished in Dominican Republic
I've avoided covering this story because it reminds me too much of Natalee Holloway (who, at the time, we thought drowned but now was murdered) but the reality is that not all drowning victim's bodies are ever recovered.
Thank you for being here, and I'll catch you back in April!
Katie Crysdale
Lakeview Aquatic Consultants Ltd.
PS. We are aware that it's currently impossible to search past topics and articles in our newsletter archive. This is a big problem, so we are working on resolving with a UXD developer.