Dewey Case of CMAHC to Aquatic Directors: Clear Water Can Still Kill

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🎙️ Talking Pools Podcast – Part 1

Dewey Case of CMAHC to Aquatic Directors: Clear Water Can Still Kill

Guest: Dewey Case — Technical Director, Council for the Model Aquatic Health Code (CMAHC); Assistant Aquatic Superintendent, Williamson County Parks & Rec, Tennessee
Host: Natalie Hood (The Grit Game)
Episode Length: Part 1 of 2

Episode Overview

It’s Halloween on the Talking Pools Podcast, and between vegan pumpkin chili, light-up unicorn costumes, and a T-Rex suit, host Natalie Hood sits down with Dewey Case, one of the most respected names in the aquatics industry.

Dewey, who serves as Technical Director for CMAHC and helps oversee operations for Williamson County Parks & Rec, joins Natalie to bust some of the most persistent and dangerous myths in aquatics — from “saltwater pools don’t use chlorine” to “if it’s clear, it must be clean.”

This conversation is as entertaining as it is eye-opening, reminding Aquatic Directors, Operators, and Lifeguards that public health and safety depend on knowing the science behind the sparkle.

What You’ll Learn in Part 1

💧 Myth #1: Saltwater pools don’t use chlorine.
Wrong. Dewey explains why salt systems are chlorine generators — and why undersized or misapplied units can cost facilities thousands.

💧 Residential vs. Commercial Realities.
Not all chlorine generation systems are equal. Dewey shares the hard lessons from pools that went green — and what every HOA and facility manager needs to understand before upgrading.

💧 The Education Equation.
You can’t go to college for aquatics management, so training and curiosity are everything. Dewey outlines where to go — CPO, AFO, AquaTech, Genesis, WaterShape University, and industry conferences — and why Google Scholar might be your new best friend.

💧 Myth #2: Clear water means clean water.
Not even close. Dewey breaks down the unseen dangers of crystal-clear water — from Crypto and Naegleria fowleri (the brain-eating amoeba) to Shigella, E. coli, and Pseudomonas lurking in low-sanitizer environments.

💧 Testing Habits That Save Lives.
Whether you manage a commercial facility, HOA, or residential route, Dewey and Natalie stress one truth: testing frequency is everything. Regulations are minimums, not goals.

💧 The Operator’s Mindset.
Dewey and Natalie share real-world stories — from misinformed HOA technicians to hot tubs that double as Legionella incubators — and challenge every aquatic professional to dig deeper than the surface.

Quotable Moments

• “A salt water pool is a chlorine pool.” – Dewey Case
• “You can’t go to college for this — your best educational tool is your desire to know more.”
• “Clear water doesn’t always mean clean water. Sometimes, it just means invisible danger.”
• “Be curious. Test often. Protect the people who trust you with their swim.”

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