Why some Chicagoans are splashing in stock tanks

A galvanized metal trough could be the coolest way to beat the summer heat .

Why it matters: Typically meant to store water for horses and cattle, stock tanks are making a splash in backyards across the country.

• They're less expensive than a swimming pool and sexier than other above-ground options, according to Amanda Shaftel, co-founder of Cowboy Pools .
• "Cowboys would hop in the pool after a long day at work," Shaftel tells Axios.

The big picture: The Texas-based company, which ships stock tank pools starting at $3,450 nationwide, reports pool sales are up roughly 30% year-over-year.

• It's one of several businesses, including Stock Tank Love and Gypsy Pools , that launched in recent years (most in Texas or Florida), as the pandemic kept people home.

What they're saying: "These pools are the perfect size and are very easy to maintain," says north suburban Gurnee homeowner Diane Poehler, who slotted hers into a deck , near a row of stock tank planters .

Zoom in: For upkeep, Poehler tells Axios she uses a floating chlorine dispenser and some pool clarifier, scoops out debris and changes the filter yearly.

• She installed a plastic stock tank in May, because her metal one "rusted out" after three years.
• Some people also prefer the plastic tanks because kids are less likely to get hurt if they hit their heads on them, a national sales pro told Wirecutter .

What's next: A small but swelling number of social media posts are tagged #StockTankPool and #StockTankPools .

• Posts using those hashtags jumped nearly 12% during the first half of this year compared with the same period last year, according to TikTok.

Reality check: The swimming pool industry is drowning, largely due to the same factors cooling the U.S. economy , Axios' Courtenay Brown reports.

• New pool construction could be down as much as 20% from last year, distributor Pool Corporation reported in late June, pointing to "cautious consumer spending on big ticket items."

Between the lines: In-ground pools cost between $28,000 and $66,500 on average, per HomeAdvisor.

How it works: Cowboy Pools come pre-assembled, ranging in size from 6 to 10 feet in diameter, and can be taken apart in the winter.

• They need a completely level surface and access to outdoor electricity for a filter pump system that's included, along with other maintenance supplies.
• The company says most cities don't require permits to install the 2-feet-deep pools, but homeowners considering one should check local rules.

People can set up the pools themselves or hire pros.

• Some savvy homeowners DIY the whole thing, buying troughs from farm supply stores. (Cowboy Pools and Stock Tank Love supply kits with everything but the tank for under $1,000.)

The bottom line: Move over, farm animals — we're taking a dip.