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A new year is more than a reset on the calendar—it’s an opportunity to step back, evaluate what’s working, and proactively plan for the months ahead. For commercial pool operators, facility managers, and service teams, early planning can make the difference between a smooth operating year and one filled with avoidable downtime, emergency repairs, and budget overruns. As we kick off 2026, now is the ideal time to build a clear, practical pool operations game plan that prioritizes reliability, safety, and long-term cost control.

Winter storms pose serious risks for outdoor pool, spa, and water treatment equipment. Freezing temperatures, wind chill, and sudden weather shifts can cause significant damage to pumps, filters, plumbing, and control systems—often leading to costly repairs, extended downtime, and emergency replacements. For commercial facilities, multi-family properties, hotels, and aquatic centers, freeze-related failures are more than an inconvenience. They can interrupt operations, create safety hazards, and strain maintenance budgets. The good news is that most freeze damage is preventable with proper planning, system design, and winter operating practices. This guide outlines why freeze protection matters, which components are most vulnerable, and how facility operators can safeguard outdoor equipment throughout the winter storm season.

Hot tubs and spas are at their busiest during the winter months. As outdoor temperatures drop, warm water becomes more inviting—whether at hotels, fitness centers, residential communities, or wellness facilities. However, colder weather also introduces a unique set of challenges for spa operators and owners. Without proper winter-specific care, hot tubs and spas are more susceptible to biofilm buildup, scaling, equipment strain, and heat loss, all of which can compromise water quality, user safety, and operating costs. A proactive winter maintenance approach helps prevent these issues while ensuring reliable performance throughout the season. This guide explores best practices for winter hot tub and spa care, with a focus on water quality, system efficiency, and long-term equipment protection.

Indoor and year-round aquatic facilities face a distinct set of operational challenges throughout the winter months. While the colder season often brings reduced swimmer load, it also introduces new variables—humidity management, temperature swings, increased chloramine production, ventilation stress, and the need for tighter chemical monitoring. For facilities such as fitness centers, hotels, therapeutic pools, recreational complexes, rehabilitation clinics, and community pools, a strategic approach to winter operations is essential for safety, compliance, energy efficiency, and guest experience. This guide explores the core components of winter pool management through the lens of real-world facility performance, AWWA and operator best practices, and practical field insights. We’ll cover chemistry adjustments, filtration performance, ventilation, equipment monitoring, and preventive maintenance strategies that help aquatic operations run smoothly during the off-season. Whether your facility maintains a single indoor pool or a large multi-use aquatic center, a proactive approach now will reduce downtime, prevent costly repairs, and support clearer, cleaner, and safer water all winter long.

How sustainability, smarter disinfection, and energy-efficient processes are reshaping the industry.

How real incidents shape safer, more resilient water treatment operations — and what every facility can learn.

How to Strengthen Chlorine, Caustic, and Specialty Chemical Reliability in a Volatile Market

In today’s industrial landscape, water treatment systems are evolving beyond manual control and periodic maintenance. Digital technologies — such as automation, SCADA, and smart monitoring — are transforming how facilities manage water quality, system reliability, and compliance. As industries face increasing regulatory pressures and operational costs, automation has become not just a convenience, but a necessity. From real-time water quality monitoring to predictive maintenance and remote operation, the integration of intelligent control systems is redefining what efficiency and safety look like in water treatment. In this article, we’ll explore how modern automation and smart monitoring technologies are applied in industrial water treatment, highlight trends and tools recognized by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), and explain how these systems help facilities stay compliant, efficient, and sustainable.

How industries are turning discharge into opportunity through reuse and zero-liquid approaches

Across the industrial landscape, one challenge remains constant — treating high-strength, complex waste streams that don’t fit neatly into conventional systems. From spent caustics and metal-laden discharges to sulfide-rich wastewater, these byproducts of industrial processes demand more than simple clarification or biological treatment. In 2025, as environmental regulations tighten and sustainability expectations rise, industries must find cost-effective, safe, and compliant methods to manage their toughest wastewaters. Companies that operate refineries, chemical plants, metal finishing facilities, or food processors face unique risks if systems are under-designed or poorly maintained. That’s where advanced treatment engineering and guidance from established authorities like the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Chlorine Institute (CI) play a critical role.

In today’s industrial and commercial water systems, the demands for higher purity, stricter regulatory compliance, lower discharge volumes, and improved operational efficiency are driving a shift toward advanced treatment technologies. Gone are the days when a simple sand filter or conventional media bed suffices. Instead, many facilities now apply membranes, ion exchange (IX), and hybrid systems to achieve performance levels once reserved for high-end utilities. This article explores how these technologies are being adopted by industry, key design considerations, how the American Water Works Association (AWWA) supports their use through standards and guidance, and how you can leverage them in your facility.

Chlorine and sodium hypochlorite remain foundational disinfectants in many industrial and commercial water systems. However, their powerful reactivity and toxicity require rigorous safety and operational discipline. Mishandling can lead to serious incidents, regulatory consequences, and reputational risk. In this article, we explore disinfection best practices, safety protocols from The Chlorine Institute (CI), guidelines for storage and transport, and emergency response strategies tailored to industrial systems. At the end, you’ll see how Orca Pacific can help your facility manage risk and train operators.

In industrial and commercial water systems, adhering to recognized standards is more than best practice — it's a risk mitigation, quality assurance, and regulatory alignment strategy. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) maintains a robust library of consensus standards covering chemicals, membranes, treatment processes, and system components that influence design, procurement, operation, and compliance. (American Water Works Association) For industrial water managers, understanding which AWWA standards are most relevant—and how to apply them—can streamline decision-making, tighten system reliability, and reduce operational risk. In this post, we offer an overview of the key AWWA standards you should know and how they apply in industrial / commercial settings.

In 2025, industrial and commercial water treatment has become a mission-critical concern. Facilities across manufacturing, healthcare, technology, and commercial complexes face mounting pressure to comply with strict regulations, reduce environmental impact, and optimize operations. Water systems are no longer just background utilities—they’re strategic assets tied to compliance, efficiency, and sustainability. This article introduces our new series on industrial and commercial water treatment. We’ll explore why this field matters now, outline the challenges shaping it, and highlight how standards and safety frameworks from the A American Water Works Association (AWWA) and A The Chlorine Institute (CI) provide guidance.

When the swimming season winds down and the covers go on, most people breathe a sigh of relief. The hard work of daily maintenance, water balancing, and keeping guests happy finally eases up. But while the pool might be taking a break, smart facility managers and pool owners know this is the perfect time to think ahead. Budgeting for next year’s pool upgrades isn’t just about having money set aside — it’s about making strategic decisions that save costs, improve performance, and maximize the return on your investment (ROI). Whether you’re managing a large aquatic center, a hotel pool, or a backyard retreat, now is the time to plan. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the essentials of budgeting for pool upgrades, highlight where facilities see the biggest ROI, and show how Orca Pacific can help you prepare for a better, more efficient season ahead.

No two pools are the same. Some are simple rectangles, while others feature curves, raised walls, diving boards, waterfalls, or attached spas. Add in the wide range of pool sizes—from backyard havens to large community facilities—and it becomes clear that a one-size-fits-all pool cover simply doesn’t work. That’s why custom pool cover solutions are so important. Instead of struggling with gaps, loose edges, or covers that wear out too soon, a custom-designed cover gives your pool the perfect fit and protection it deserves.

When most people think of “pool closing,” they picture dragging out the winter cover, tossing in a few chemicals, and calling it a day. But here’s the truth: closing your pool properly is one of the most important maintenance steps of the entire year. Why? Because the way you close directly impacts the lifespan of your pool equipment—from pumps and heaters to filters and plumbing. Improper or delayed closing doesn’t just make your spring opening harder. It can cause serious, expensive damage that leaves you with repair bills in the thousands. For commercial operators—whether you manage a hotel pool, an HOA facility, a municipal aquatic center, or a school natatorium—the stakes are even higher. A mistake during closing can mean not only high equipment costs, but also lost revenue, regulatory fines, or frustrated residents. This guide will walk you through why closing matters for your equipment, what can go wrong if you delay or cut corners, and how a professional closing can protect your investment.

Closing season is one of the most important times of the year for commercial pool operators. Whether you’re managing an HOA pool, a hotel resort, a municipal aquatic center, or a school facility, how you close your pool has long-term impacts on safety, water quality, maintenance costs, and even your facility’s reputation. At the center of a smart closing plan is one crucial decision: choosing the right pool cover. For commercial pools, this isn’t just about keeping out leaves or improving aesthetics. It’s about risk management, operational efficiency, cost control, and protecting your investment. The two most common options are mesh covers and solid covers—and while both are effective, each comes with specific strengths that may make one better suited for your facility than the other. In this guide, we’ll walk through everything facility managers need to know about mesh vs. solid pool covers, moving beyond simple pros and cons and into ROI, long-term maintenance, and operational ease. Along the way, we’ll highlight Mizu Pool Covers, an industry leader known for high-quality, durable safety covers that are custom-designed for both residential and commercial pools. By the end, you’ll know exactly which cover type fits your facility—and how Orca Pacific can help you make the right choice with confidence.