The Quiet Bromide Ban, the Sudden Pentair Cap, and the PIC Bond That Could Save You

Talking Pools Podcast

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Pentair just dropped a bombshell on pool pros: effective immediately through August 31, 2025, they’re capping purchase orders at 30% above your July–August 2024 levels. Anything above that? Denied.

Pentair caps your buying power. The EPA quietly bans sodium bromide. And bonding? Finally, some clarity.

In this episode, we tackle three major updates shaking the pool industry. First, Pentair announces a sudden cap on purchase orders—effective immediately, you're limited to just 30% above your July–August 2024 volume. We unpack why tariffs are likely behind it and what this could mean for your inventory, pricing, and timelines.

Next, we break down the Pool Industry Council’s landmark study on equipotential bonding. Conducted by SunSmart Engineering, the research confirms that both #8 AWG single wire loops and copper bonding grids reduce 120 VAC fault current to safe levels when installed correctly. This could finally settle the perimeter bonding debate with hard data.

Finally, Rudy Stankowitz exposes the silent EPA regulation that outlawed the outdoor use of sodium bromide. No headlines, no warning—just a quiet shift that leaves pool pros carrying the burden. We discuss bromate risks, industry backlash, and what comes next.

This episode is your no-fluff survival guide to navigating shifting rules, shrinking supplies, and the science that still keeps your pools safe.

• Sodium bromide was quietly outlawed for outdoor use.
• The burden of compliance shifted unexpectedly to pool professionals.
• Regulatory decisions were made without consulting industry experts.
• The label change for sodium bromide has significant implications for pool care.
• Bromate, a byproduct of sodium bromide, poses health risks.
• The EPA's decision was based on precautionary principles due to insufficient data.
• Pool professionals need to educate clients about these changes.
• Alternatives to sodium bromide may come with higher costs and longer treatment times.
• Industry voices must unite to advocate for fair regulations.
• Future studies may provide data to challenge the current ban on sodium bromide.

Sound Bites

• "It was bureaucracy doing what it does best."
• "The human cost of silent regulation."
• "You were never considered in this decision."

Chapters

00:00
The Silent Regulation of Sodium Bromide

01:36
Silver Algaecide: Treatment for Black Algae

02:00
Blu-ray Algaecide: How It Works

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