For Editorial Information:

Daniel Schoonmaker
Public Relations for Pentair Pool
616-559-2291
greenerpools@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pool Owners Advised To Look for Safety and Listen for Savings

RALEIGH, N.C. — (July 28, 2009) — Experts from one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of
pool equipment are advising pool owners concerned with safety and energy efficiency to take a few
moments to “Look for Safety” and “Listen for Savings.”

“There has been a great deal of media coverage concerning the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool
Safety Act and the dangers of entrapment in public swimming pools,” said Steve Barnes, Safety
and Compliance Manager for leading pool equipment manufacturer Pentair Water Pool and Spa,
referring to the new federal law that has required public pools nationwide to make upgrades to
prevent entrapment or cease operation. “The law does not currently apply to residential pool
owners, but all the publicity has left a great deal of pool owners wondering whether their backyard
pools require similar attention.”

Barnes is chair of the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals Technical Committee and a
member of the team that wrote the technical standard referenced in the new law. He explains that
swimming pool entrapment is by definition any accident that traps a swimmer underneath the
water. While non-suction entrapment can occur in any type of pool, suction entrapment is limited
to pools that have drains, which includes in-ground pools and some above-ground pools.

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® Registered Trademark Pentair Inc.

Look and Listen for Pool Safety and Efficiency 2 of 3

“For the average pool owner, a quick look at their pool will tell them if they should be considering
additional anti-entrapment measures,” said Barnes. “In most communities, residential pool owners
are not obligated to make any required improvements, but they should at least determine if the
following conditions exist.”

Barnes advises owners of pools with drains to Look for Safety by asking themselves:
1. Can I see two or more drains in my pool?
2. Are the drain covers secure and in working order?
3. Was my pool built within the past two years?

“Answering ‘no’ to any of these questions is a red flag and you should consider calling a pool
professional,” said Barnes. “If there is a broken or not securely attached drain cover you should call
a pool professional immediately and not use the pool or spa until the problem is corrected.”

Barnes said that pools built before 2007 did not require the latest safety drain covers required by
federal law, those certified to help prevent entrapment. Pools with a single main drain and no
safety vacuum release system (SVRS) allow a possibility for swimmers to be caught in a vacuum
seal, the cause of suction entrapment. In most cases, installing new drain covers and/or anti-
vacuum technology such as SVRS will not require the pool to be drained and can be accomplished
in only a few hours.

Barnes said that pool owners requiring SVRS should consider options that provide energy
efficiency savings in addition to the safety benefits, such as the IntelliFlo® and IntelliPro®
VS+SVRS variable speed pump from Pentair Water Pool and Spa.

“Pool pump motors can use more energy than all other home appliances combined,” said Barnes.
“Safety should be the top priority, but don’t forget about efficiency. Take the time for a simple
examination of your equipment with this in mind as well.”

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Pentair Water Pool and Spa, IntelliFlo and IntelliPro are registered trademarks of Pentair Inc.
Energy Star is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Look and Listen for Pool Safety and Efficiency 3 of 3

Jeff Farlow, Manager of Energy Programs for Pentair Water Pool and Spa and a member of the
APSP Committee on Energy Efficiency, says that in addition to Barnes’ safety test, pool owners
should Listen for Savings.

“This means you should listen to your filtration system,” said Farlow, who works with industry
leaders, municipalities and utilities nationwide to promote pool energy efficiency. “If the pump is
loud that means it is straining to perform, either because of inefficient design or because it’s
nearing the end of its service life. Not every quiet pump is an efficient pump, but a loud pump will
always offer substantial opportunities for efficiency gains. The single-speed pumps that have been
banned in some states due to inefficiency are by far the loudest. A high quality variable speed
pump can save up to 90 percent of the energy used by inefficient, single-speed models. At low
speeds, it is quieter than a whisper.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council has determined programmable variable speed pool
pumps to be an ideal solution for making pools more energy efficient, with estimated average
annual savings of $250 to $500 each year, depending on climate and utility costs. Pentair
customers have seen savings of $1,360 per pump and more. For comparison, the average total
annual savings for an Energy Star®-labeled home compared to a standard efficiency home is $250
to $700.

Farlow noted that there are additional opportunities available for lowering the operating costs of a
pool through better equipment, including more efficient lights, heaters and alternative sanitization
technologies. More information about swimming pool entrapment and swimming pool equipment
efficiency can be found at www.pentairpool.com or www.delicious.com/greensafepool.

About Pentair Water Pool and Spa

Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of premium pumps, filters,
heaters, controls, cleaners, lighting systems, water features, and maintenance products for
swimming pools and spas. Pentair Water Pool and Spa Inc. is part of the Water Group of Pentair,
Inc. (NYSE: PNR). Headquartered in Minnesota, Pentair Inc. is a global diversified operating
company serving the commercial, industrial, municipal and residential markets through innovative
solutions under strong brand names. With 13,400 employees worldwide, Pentair Inc. generated
2008 sales of $3.35 billion.
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Pentair Water Pool and Spa, IntelliFlo and IntelliPro are registered trademarks of Pentair Inc.
Energy Star is a registered trademark of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency