The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), the trade association representing the swimming pool, hot tub, and spa industry, invites public review and comment on a proposed revision of the ANSI/APSP/ICC-13 2017 American National Standard for Water Conservation Efficiency in Residential and Public Pools, Spas, Portable Spas and Swim Spas.
Public review is an essential part of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) consensus-development process. PHTA is an ANSI-accredited standards developer committed to developing standards through an open, balanced, and consensus-based process.
The proposed PHTA-13 Standard for Water Conservation Efficiency establishes requirements and identifies technologies that support the efficient use and conservation of water in residential and public pools, spas, portable spas, and swim spas equipped with filtration and circulation systems.
The revision reflects the pool and spa industry’s continued commitment to responsible water stewardship as communities face increasing pressure on finite water resources. Its updated requirements provide practical minimum guidelines for conserving water without unnecessarily restricting pool ownership or operation.
“Reaching the public review stage is an important milestone for the PHTA-13 Standard Writing Committee and reflects the significant work that has gone into this revision,” says Matthew Ryther, Chair of the PHTA-13 Standard Writing Committee. “Our goal was to develop a standard that is practical, understandable, and focused on responsible water conservation. I encourage everyone with an interest in the industry to review the draft and provide input.”
New content developed by the PHTA-13 Standard Writing Committee includes requirements and guidance addressing evaporation mitigation, leak detection and response, water-conditioning devices, water reclamation and reuse, and other water conservation measures.
Nonmandatory best practices and additional water-saving measures previously included in the standard’s appendices have been removed and will be published separately in a complimentary PHTA-13 Resource Guide.
The revision also improves coordination and consistency across PHTA standards by incorporating current references to ANSI/PHTA/ICC-11 American National Standard for Water Quality in Public Pools and Hot Tubs/Spas, the authoritative source for applicable water quality requirements.
The proposed revision is available for a 45-day public review period. PHTA invites pool, spa, and hot tub professionals, as well as other materially affected and interested parties, to review the draft and submit comments for consideration.
The public review was announced in the September 18, 2026, edition of ANSI Standards Action.
The public review draft and instructions for submitting comments are available on the PHTA public comment webpage.
For additional information about the proposed standard, visit the PHTA-13 webpage, email [email protected], or call (703) 838-0083.
