Borates, Global Supply Chains, and Pool Chemistry

We can't tell if the chemistry is good by looking at it, it wasn't clear yesterday!

From the last time, the saltwater pool is a chlorine pool!

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Oh!

Could the supply chain that moves boric acid into the United States get squeezed?

Now, before anybody runs out and panic buys borax like its toilet paper in 2020, let's calm down.

There is zero evidence that boron production itself is declining.

The minds are still operating. The element boron did not vanish from the periodic table.

Welcome to Friday.

I'm Ernie Stankwitz. This is the Talking Pool's podcast, and I just want to start by saying thank you for checking in with us.

I love the opportunity to get to reach out to everyone who's listening every week, and I absolutely appreciate you.

Last week, I had interrupted my own episode with some news about a potential borate shortage in the US due to shipping issues.

Not happening right now.

It's just the signs are set up so that it looks like it's going to.

It's a lot like trying to predict the weather.

Everything is all pointing towards a major snow event, but then sometimes we don't get any snow.

So right now, everything is pointing toward trouble in shipping out of Turkey, which is where the boron is.

But with that said, I thought, okay, being that we're going through the chemistry of things now might be a good time to touch on borates again.

Why not? And I know a lot of you use them.

I know some don't and some are curious, but you know what?

Maybe there's some uses that some of you that use it don't know that you could use it for if that makes any sense.

So I want to talk about the chemical reaction pathways, a little bit about the supply chain issue.

And then I want to talk about the regulatory debate over the product.

Here's a news for this week as if this entire episode was not news.

Florida lawmakers push new pool safety rules for vacation rentals.

It's about fucking time.

One of the most important stories for pool service professionals right now is unfolding in Florida where lawmakers are advancing legislation that would require additional safety measures at vacation rental properties with pools.

The proposal would require features such as pool alarms, fencing, and self-flatching doors for rental homes that have a pool or anybody of water nearby.

The legislation is being driven by rising concerns about child drowning incidents as spring break and summer tourism approach.

If passed, this could directly impact how service companies document safety features, advise property managers, and protect themselves from liability when servicing short term rental pools.

Full pros working with an Airbnb or verbal properties may soon find themselves expected to verify safety compliance as part of routine service visits.

That's okay.

Guess what?

You can sell all those items to this person.

That is extra sales that give you a warm fuzzing because you did something good to protect children.

So I would be on top of that.

Read that full story at Fox 13 News.

For term rental pools under growing government scrutiny, the regulatory pressure around pools used in short term rentals is not limited to Florida.

Across the U.S. regulators are increasingly treating residential pools rented to guests as public aquatic facilities, which would require them to meet commercial pool health codes.

The Minnesota regulators have already begun cracking down on residential pools rented through platforms like Swimplay, arguing that once the pool is rented to the public should meet the same licensing and safety requirements as a public fucking pool.

This debate is now spilling into legislation and lawsuits over whether residential pools should fall under strict public pool regulations for pool service professionals.

This could reshape how rental pools are maintained, how they are inspected and documented in the future.

Read that full story at the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Pool service industry is tightening up.

Another story getting attention in the industry media is the evolving state of pool service market outlook industry reporting indicates the pool sector is not collapsing after the pandemic boom.

But it is tightening meaning companies are focusing more on efficiency, service quality and maintenance revenue rather than explosive growth.

For service professionals to take away is that the industry is shifting from new construction frenzy of the early 2020s toward Renault's maintenance and operational efficiency.

In other words, service companies, you may see fewer brand new pools going in, but guess what?

Those that are there, stronger demand for maintaining and upgrading the millions and millions already installed.

Read the latest industry coverage at pool magazine.

Major changes coming to pool industry trade publications on the media side of the industry.

There are also structural changes underway and how information reaches pool professionals.

Industry publications, pools and spa news and aquatics international are undergoing significant updates to both print and digital forms including redesign publications and expanded newsletter distribution beginning in 2026.

These changes are expected to increase the frequency of industry updates and create more specialized content streams for service professionals, builders and aquatics facility operators.

The goal is to provide more targeted information as the industry grows more complex and regulated. Read that full report at aquatics international.

That's what I have for the news this week. Now back to more news in the Borade saga.

So again, something in the past week, something outside the pool industry managed to shove boron compounds back into the spotlight.

And no, it wasn't algae. It wasn't a worldwide chlorine shortage. Do you remember Pullmageddon?

It definitely wasn't another revolutionary piece of pool equipment. Nope. It was fucking geopolitics because when tensions start heating up around Iran, guess what happens?

The shipping lanes start to get nervous and shipping lanes are where the real world lives.

Not the marketing brochures. See, that region happens to contain a few of the most important maritime choke points on the entire planet, the Strait of Hormuz, the Bob L Mandab, Bob L Mandab, or as George W would have said the movie, Doobie Dobby.

Red Sea corridor traffic heading through the Suez Canal runs right through that neighborhood like it's the interstate of global trade.

And that's when things start getting spicy over there. Shipping companies don't sit around going, gee, I hope this works out. No, they start rerouting ships.

They start slapping war risk insurance premiums on cargo freight prices start to climb. And then suddenly that nice clean supply chain everybody assumed would always exist starts looking a little fragile.

Now, here's the key point. None of this stops the chemistry. The minds don't disappear. The periodic table doesn't wake up one morning and say, you know what?

Element number five is canceled. War on is still there. The chemistry still works. But the movement of the material, that's where things get interesting.

Because Bork acid isn't some boutique laboratory chemical made by a guy in a lab coat. No, it's a bulk industrial mineral, which means its entire life depends on ships, freight containers, and ports behaving themselves.

And it almost the exact same moment global shipping started getting weird US distributors that historically brought war on compounds into the American market quietly stepped out of that business.

Now, that company wasn't digging war on out of the ground. They weren't out there in Death Valley. They were middle men, the logistics bridge, the people connecting overseas producers, mostly Turkey,

with buyers here in North America. And Turkey is kind of a big deal in this story because Turkey holds the largest boron reserves on earth. Their state owned producer Eddie modern supplies a massive chunk of the global boron market.

So when a domestic distributor steps out of the picture and global shipping routes start getting twitchy around a geopolitical powder keg, a pretty reasonable question pops up. Could the supply chain that moves Bork acid into the United States get squeezed?

Now, before anybody runs out and panic buys Bork acts like it's toilet paper in 2020, let's calm down. There is zero evidence that boron production itself is declining.

The minds are still operating. The element boron did not vanish from the periodic table.

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I've been getting service industry news since I first stepped into this business and every time it landed, I did the same thing.

Flip straight to the horror file. The weird installs, the absurd finds the stuff only pull pros ever see. Then I'd go back and read the articles.

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There is zero evidence that boron production itself is declining. The minds are still operating. The element boron did not vanish from the periodic table.

But supply chains almost never break because the chemistry disappears. They break when ships stop moving.

Or when moving those ships suddenly becomes slower, more expensive and wrapped in enough insurance paperwork to choke a cargo crane.

And when that happens, even something as boring as boric acid, a white powder most people only think about when they're trying to keep a pool balance, suddenly becomes part of a much bigger story.

Welcome to global logistics where the chemistry is the easy part and getting the stuff to the pool. That's the real fucking adventure here.

And that brings us to a subject that has sparked debate in the pool industry for decades.

Borates in swimming pools to understand why borates became popular and why their role has been debated. We need to start with the chemistry itself.

When pool professionals talk about borates, they usually are referring to dissolved boron compounds present primarily as boric acid and its related species.

The most common products used to introduce borates into pool water are boric acid itself or sodium tetra borate commonly known as borax.

Once dissolved in water, boric acid behaves differently from most acids, pool operators, and counter.

Traditional acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid donate hydrogen ions when they dissolve.

Boric acid behaves primarily as a Lewis acid rather than donating protons directly, work acid accepts hydroxide ions from water molecules.

This equilibrium establishes a weak buffering system between boric acid and the tetrahydroxyborate ion.

Understanding this equilibrium is key to understanding how borates behave in swimming pools.

Every buffering system in water chemistry operates through equilibrium between two related species and the carbonate buffering system by carbonate and carbonate ions interact to stabilize pH.

Borates create a secondary buffering system layered on top of that carbonate equilibrium.

At normal pool pH, roughly between 7.2 and 7.8, the majority of dissolved boron exists as boric acid.

Only a smaller fraction exists as the borate ion. The reason lies in the acid dissociation constant of boric acid, which has a PKA of approximately 9.24.

Because the PKA lies above the normal pH of pool water, the equilibrium strongly favors the boric acid form.

This is why borates primarily resist increases in pH rather than aggressively lowering pH themselves.

The buffering effect becomes most noticeable when hydroxide ions begin to accumulate in the water.

Boric acid reacts with those hydroxide ions to form borate, effectively consuming some of the chemical drivers of pH rise.

To understand why that matters, we need to take a look at the main mechanisms that cause pH drift in swimming pools.

One of the primary drivers is carbon dioxide loss.

Swimming pool water contains dissolved carbon dioxide in equilibrium with carbonic acid by carbonate and carbonate species.

So when carbon dioxide escapes from the water through aeration splashing waterfalls or simple gas exchange just at the surface, the equilibrium shifts.

That shift results in an increase in pH. Salt water chlorine generators can accelerate this process inside a salt cell.

Electrolysis produces chlorine gas at the anode and hydrogen gas at the cathode.

The hydrogen gas forms bubbles that increase aeration. There's a constant bubbling in that cell.

That accelerates carbon dioxide loss.

As carbon dioxide leaves the water, the carbonate equilibrium shifts and pH rises.

Borates help slow this upward drift by providing an additional equilibrium pathway that consumes hydroxide ions.

They do not replace the carbonate buffering system, but they supplement it.

And this is one reason Borates became popular among pool service professionals, particularly as salt water chlorine generators became widespread.

Now, let's talk a little bit about the operational concentrations used in pools.

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So I want to take a minute before we get further into today's episode.

I want to talk about something that is incredibly important to me.

And honestly, it should be important to everyone in this industry.

Mentorship.

Every single one of us learned this trade from somebody.

Nobody just woke up one morning knowing how to balance water, diagnose equipment problems, or build a successful pool service business.

Someone showed us. Someone took the time.

Maybe they helped you through your first green pool.

Maybe they gave you advice that helped you turn your route into a real business.

Whatever it was, somebody helped you get to where you are today.

And now it's time to say thank you.

Beginning March 15th, we are opening nominations for the Talking Pools Podcast 2026 Mentor of the Year Award.

This is your opportunity to recognize the person who made a difference in your career.

All you need to do is send us their name.

Tell us how they helped you in your business.

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The mentor selected will receive the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor of the Year Championship Belt.

Yes, an actual championship belt just as we had done last year.

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We will be accepting nominations from March 15th through May 15th.

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Don't wait. If somebody helped shape your career, tell us about them now.

You can submit their names by visiting cplclass.com,

forward slash pool-news, forward slash mentor-award.

Or you can go to cplclass.com and then just click on the Talking Pools Podcast Mentor Award tab.

Probably the easier way.

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Mentorship is one of the things that make the pool industry different from a lot of other industries.

People here still take the time to help each other succeed.

So let's recognize the people who helped us along the way.

Who is your mentor? Go nominate them today.

Borates are typically maintained at levels between 30 and 50 parts per million when measured as boron.

Industry guidance commonly places 50 parts per million as the upper recommended level.

Below roughly 30 parts per million, the buffering benefit becomes less noticeable.

Above 50 parts per million, there's generally very little operational advantage.

So you get pretty much as much as you're going to get at a 50 parts per million as you would out of anything higher.

And adding borates can be done using either boric acid or borax.

Boric acid has the advantage of dissolving with minimal pH change.

Borax on the other hand raises pH significantly and must typically be followed by the addition of acid to restore balance.

Once added, borates remain relatively stable in water.

They don't evaporate. They're not destroyed by sunlight.

They're not consumed in oxidation reactions.

Instead, borate concentration decreases primarily through dilution.

Backwash in your filter, splash out leaks, water replacement.

Testing for borates is typically done with specialized test strips or titration kits designed to detect boron concentration.

Although borate testing is not typically performed weekly, periodic checks do allow the pool texts to confirm levels remain within the desired range.

Now we should address the question of algae.

Borates are frequently described as having aldistatic properties.

The term aldistat refers to a substance that inhibits the growth or reproduction of algae rather than killing algae outright.

Laboratory studies suggest boron compounds can interfere with certain biological processes within the microorganisms.

Possible mechanisms include enzyme inhibition, disruption of cellular metabolism, and interaction with biological molecules required for growth.

Earlier explanations sometimes suggested that borates suppress algae by depriving algae of carbon dioxide.

However, research examining these claims suggests that the mechanism is more complex than simple carbon dioxide deprivation.

Borates should not be considered primary algae sites.

Chlorine remains the primary disinfectant and algae control agents and swimming pools.

Another area of interest involves secondary reaction pathways.

Borates participate in the Aquia's chemistry of pool arc and can influence certain reaction equilibria.

For example, research examining chlorination chemistry has shown borate buffers can influence the distribution of certain disinfection byproducts under the pool.

For example, research examining chlorination chemistry has shown borate buffers can influence carbon dioxide byproducts under specific experimental conditions.

Findings do not necessarily imply negative outcomes in pool operation, but they do illustrate an important principle.

No chemical additive is completely inert.

Every compound introduced into the pool water participates in the broader network of reactions occurring within that system.

Corrosion processes in some water systems, borate compounds, boron compounds are used in certain industrial corrosion inhibition applications.

And some studies suggest they may alter mineral equilibria within water.

However, the extent to which these effects translate to swimming pools is still an area of ongoing study.

Another observation frequently reported by pool owners involves the way the water feels many people describe water containing borates as feeling smoother or silky.

Although these reports are common, the precise chemical mechanisms responsible for that sensation are not fully established in recreational water research.

Now, we should discuss potential downsides because no chemical addition comes without trade-offs.

One concern occasionally raised involves ingestion risk for pets, boron compounds appear in certain pest control formulas, and very high ingestion levels can be harmful.

At a typical pool at concentrations of 30 to 50 parts per million, the risk is considered super low under normal conditions.

The pool owners should still discourage animals from drinking pool water regularly.

Another operational consideration is permanence.

Once borates are added to the pool, they remain in the water until delusion occurs, like cyanide acid or calcium hardness.

If tech decides they no longer want borates in the system, the only realistic removal method is water replacement.

Cost is also a factor.

Establishing a 30 to 50 part per million borate concentration requires a substantial initial dose, especially in large pools.

For some techs, the benefits justify that cost. For others, they know.

So we should also discuss the regulatory side of this topic.

Today, many public pools operate under health department codes that require chemicals used in recreational water to meet certain certification standards.

Two standards commonly referenced are NSF NSI 50 and NSF NSI 60. NSF 50 covers equipment and chemicals used in recreational water systems.

NSF 60 covers chemicals used in drinking water treatment.

In the early 2000s and early 2010s, borates were widely discussed in pool chemistry literature and educational materials, industry presentations and technical sessions,

reference their buffering ability, possible algeostatic properties and typical dosing ranges of 30 to 50 parts per million.

During this time, some boron compounds already carried NSF 60 certification for use in municipal water treatment, which guess what?

That means you could use them in swimming pools, but discussions of borates sometimes referenced NSF certification without always specifying which standard applied to what product.

And this contributed to a perception among some pool professionals that borates themselves broadly certified in reality certification typically applied to specific products, rather than the borate concept as a whole.

Change occurred in 2015 introduced annex R to NSF NSI standard 50 annex R established formal health effects evaluation procedures for pool and spa chemicals under this framework chemical formulations seeking certification had to undergo toxicological review, swimmer exposure modeling and contaminant evaluation.

Manufacturers were required to submit detailed formulation data and undergo more rigorous review.

This increased both the cost and complexity of maintaining certification following these changes many niche additives were not pursued for certification under the updated framework.

So as a result, borate additives largely disappeared from modern NSF 50 chemical listings.

This does not necessarily mean that borates were banned more often it reflects that no manufacturer chose to maintain certification for those products under the revised requirements.

This shift occurred sometime around the same time that the CDC's model aquatic health code began influencing health department rules MAHC guidance recommends that chemicals used in public aquatic facilities meet regulatory or certification standards such as EPA registration NSF 50 certification or NSF 60 certification.

These regulatory developments change the environment in which chemical products were approved for use in commercial pools.

The timeline often cited by industry professionals reflects this sequence.

Borates widely discussed in the early 2000s educational materials referencing certification in the early 20s annex R introduced in 2015 by the late 20s.

Borate added is were largely absent from modern certification listings because these changes happen gradually through standards committees and regulatory frameworks many people remember the transition differently.

Districts industry standards development often involves collaboration between manufacturers regulators toxicologist testing laboratories and industry representatives meetings occur at multiple locations and overextended periods the final published standards reflect the consensus of that process.

So the history of borates and pools is not simply a story about chemistry. It's also a story about evolving regulatory framework and certification requirements.

We now take a moment for a random heavy metal riff.

Today, borates remain widely used in residential pools where regulatory certification is not required.

In commercial pools, your pool operators must follow the rules established by their local health authorities and any applicable standards and that brings us back to the present.

The chemistry of borates, it's not changed. The mines producing boron, they've not disappeared but global supply chains that move those materials can shift quickly when geopolitical conditions change and in a world where industrial minerals travel thousands of miles from mine to dock to warehouse before reaching the pooled service pro.

The stability of those supply chains matter because sometimes the most complicated part of pool chemistry, it's not the chemistry in the water.

It's the global system that delivers the chemicals to the pool service pro in the first place. That's all I have for you this week. I hope you have a kick ass weekend. I hope it's fucking phenomenal.

Look, whatever you do, tag me in a picture. If you if you post a picture of something fun, you do this weekend, tag me in it. I'll share it, but you know, it's fun just to see that people out having fun.

It's fun to see pool people doing non pool things. So and you know what? And I'll do the same. So I'm really stank with this is the talking pools podcast until next time. Be good. Be safe.

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I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for listening today. I'm hoping you enjoyed the episode as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

It's been a couple of wacky crazy screwed up years from pandemic to pool again. I just want you to know that we are all in this together. If there's anything that we can do for you send me an email at talking pools at gmail.com again. That's talking pools at gmail.com. We're here. This is your podcast. We are the pool people's podcast of the pool people for the pool people by the pool people's podcast. This one is about you. So thank you for tuning in and listening. Do me a favor click subscribe before you go.

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