Wellness Water, Cold Plunges & The Future of Spa Care with John Harding - Mondays Down Under

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This week on the 🇦🇺🇳🇿 edition of the Talking Pools Podcast, Lee, Shane, and Nick welcome longtime industry veteran and chemistry expert John Harding of Lo-Chlor Chemicals for a fascinating deep dive into the rapidly expanding world of wellness products in the pool and spa industry. 

John shares his incredible journey from aircraft engineer in England to becoming Technical Director at Lo-Chlor, one of Australia’s longest-standing specialty pool chemical manufacturers. Listeners get the backstory behind how Lo-Chlor was founded in 1979 after a hospital hydrotherapy pool kept turning green—and how a pharmacist’s chemistry experiments ultimately helped create one of the industry's most recognizable specialty chemical brands. 

The conversation then shifts into one of the hottest trends in the industry right now: wellness spaces featuring hot tubs, saunas, cold plunges, and recovery systems. The team discusses how modern homeowners are increasingly transforming their backyards into personal wellness retreats rather than simply installing swimming pools. 

John introduces Lo-Chlor’s new wellness-focused product lineup, including:

 Sauna cleaning and wood protection products  Waterline and surface cleaners  Cover care systems  Specialized cleaners for robotic pool cleaners  Mineral enhancement products designed to improve water feel and comfort 

One of the standout discussions centers around robotic pool cleaners and the often-overlooked issue of oils and body fats clogging robotic filter cartridges. John explains why simply hosing filters off is not enough and why degreasing and proper maintenance dramatically improves robotic cleaner performance and longevity. 

The episode also explores mineral water enhancement systems like Therapy 3 and the Iluka spa range, discussing how magnesium and potassium blends can improve water feel without significantly impacting hardness readings or chlorine systems. 

Perhaps the most thought-provoking segment comes near the end of the episode, when the hosts tackle the emerging challenges surrounding cold plunge pools and float tanks. With very little regulation currently in place, the discussion dives into:

 Water testing challenges at extremely low temperatures  Difficulties with microbiological testing due to high TDS  Lack of existing standards for cold plunge sanitation  Potential public health concerns as the market rapidly expands 

Lee and John discuss how the industry may be evolving faster than regulations can keep up, especially as wellness products become more mainstream across Australia, New Zealand, and internationally. The episode closes with an important reminder that education, chemistry knowledge, and adapting to new technologies remain critical as the pool and spa industry continues evolving. 

If you're a pool professional looking to stay ahead of emerging trends in spas, saunas, cold plunges, mineral systems, and wellness water care, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

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