California’s pool and spa industry contributed more than $5 billion to the state’s economy in 2013. That’s something policymakers should consider before issuing water restrictions that could potentially damage the industry, said the California Pool & Spa Association. The lobbying group commissioned the study so that it could arm itself with economic data to protect the pool and spa trade against drought-related restrictions.
CPSA tapped Alpharetta, Ga.-based Pkdata Inc. to conduct the study. Here’s what it found:
• In 2013, the installation and construction of all inground swimming pools in the state resulted in approximately $555 million in sales revenue.
• The retail and maintenance market amounted to $2.1 billion.
• The industry created about 55,000 “job equivalents,” a figure derived by calculating employers’ incomes to determine how many full-time employees they could hire based on the average weekly wage for retail and construction workers.
The study also analyzed other economic spinoffs, such as taxable income and increased home values, for which the industry can take credit. For example, pools and hot tubs generated more than $6 million in property taxes.
All told, the industry stimulated the economy to the tune of $5 billion.
That’s substantial, especially considering the industry was still picking up the pieces after the market crashed in 2008, said John Norwood, president/CEO of the association.
“These numbers being this large were a surprise — a very pleasant surprise, by the way,” he said.
CSPA hopes these figures resonate with local utility districts.
“In those districts, we’re saying these are small-business people who contribute substantially to the local economy,” Norwood said.
