Three decades on from its inception, Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group (PWTAG) is making some important organisational changes.
The election of Janice Calvert as Chair and Ralph Riley as Vice Chair at the recent AGM signalled a new emphasis on boosting membership and increasing the independent organisation’s influence in the pool sector.
One key to this is a contract with TC Media, the Tamworth-based company who already handle the administration of the Water Management Society and Legionella Control Association. TC Media will take over the coordination of PWTAG’s work – meetings, book-keeping, website, social media, membership etc. This will free up the current technical secretary, Brian Guthrie, to focus on editorial work.
POCKET POOL
Top of the editorial list is a new edition of PWTAG’s authoritative book, Swimming Pool Water: treatment and quality standards for pools and spas. But before this is published, around the end of this year, work must continue on updating PWTAG’s online code of practice so that it marries with planned new Health & Safety Executive guidance. PWTAG’s technical notes will continue to appear online; one on gassing incidents is out now. Beyond that there are also plans for a pocket swimming pool book.
All this emphasises the need for PWTAG to extend its influence, both through its membership and beyond. TC Media will be closely involved in this. PWTAG is planning to revise the scope of its membership. New categories will be introduced and membership widened. Its initiatives in the training field will continue, and the Poolmark badge of excellence will be promoted vigorously.
This is Janice Calvert’s second term as chair after a three-gap. She is clear that this is an important time for PWTAG, and the industry: “It is pretty well-known how good pools should be managed. Clearly new developments must be assessed, but if more or less traditional standards of hydraulics, filtration and disinfection were applied throughout the industry, swimmers would be guaranteed a good, safe experience,” Janice comments.
“So we will redouble our efforts to spread the word. And involving the industry in our work is key to that. Our industry forum, now in its third year, is working well and is an approach we want to develop further.”
