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THE ESSENTIAL E-NEWSLETTER FOR WATERSHAPE DESIGNERS, ENGINEERS AND BUILDERS
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September 19, 2018 www.watershapes.com |
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FEATURE ARTICLE
The Perfect Perch
The homeowner saw his backyard as an incurable disaster, butShane LeBlancfound great potential on its open slope — as well as a golden opportunity to test out some unique design concepts he figured he could use in transforming the unadorned space into something truly spectacular. [more]
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FEATURE ARTICLE
Dressed for Success
Set deep in the mountains of South Korea, this golf course is a monumental achievement in land contouring and water management. In his concluding article about this enormous undertaking,Ken Alpersteincovers what it took to go from compacted rubble to water-laced dreamscape.[more]
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TRAVELOGUE
It’s a beautiful sculpture mirrored by a grand reflecting pool, writes Jim McCloskey, proud of the fact that his daughter had a role in making it possible. If you want to see it — and the paintings by Georgia O’Keeffe that inspired it — you’ll need to get yourself to the Bronx sometime soon! [more]
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ESSENTIAL
Although heating water by using energy found beneath the earth’s surface is far from a new idea, watershape designer/builderDouglas Cookreports that only recently has this geothermal bounty become available for use with pools and spas. Here, he offers a primer on this emerging technology, discussing ways in which the benefits of a fully renewable energy supply are starting to turn clients’ heads — and transform the way watershapes are heated or cooled.
This article, originally published inWaterShapesin February 2010, has been digitized for all readers. Clickhereto see the full text and enlarge the images to study them in detail.
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TECHNICAL BRIEFING
Expansive Errors
If there’s one big mistake on a pool/spa installation, writesScott Cohen, correcting the situation can be painful. But if there aresevenmajor errors — as there were in the ill-fated project discussed here — you can bet the pain will also include close encounters with attorneys. [more]
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![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) WATERSHAPES WORLD
Unruly Times
For Jim McCloskey, the summer of 2018 featured way too many stories about people doing really dumb things around watershapes. Here’s a sampling of what’s been happening — and some thoughts on the threat these incidents pose to the enjoyment of significant public resources. [more]
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![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) WE BROWSE SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO . . .
Permanent Wave Dept.: Kelly Slater’s artificial breakers are shaking up the world of competitive surfing.
Here’s a deep paddle into a truly transformative technology.
No Thanks Dept.:Norwegians clamber up a diving tower to outdo one another with amazing bellyflops. [more]
Nobodyreallygoes for it, but it’s still highly cringe-inducing.
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WATERSHAPES CLASSIC
The Internet has been with us for some time, observesBrian Van Bower— but that doesn’t mean that everyone was fully on board (or satisfied) when he wrote this evaluation of the state of the art in September 2008. [more]
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Little Giant Introduces Pool-Cover Pumps
Little Giant(Oklahoma City, OK) makes pool-cover pumps that prevent the accumulation of rainwater or melted snow. They attach to standard garden hoses for easy water removal; are equipped with a removable intake screen for easy cleaning; and clear 1,700 gallons per hour with a 1/3-horsepower pump. Manual and automatic versions are available. For details, clickhere.
Basecrete Launches Crack-Repair System
Basecrete Technologies(Sarasota, FL) offers SlabStitch for the repair of concrete cracks. Designed to transfer load and stress away from the fracture while producing tensile strength across the crack for a permanent structural solution, the system includes anchor wedges, concrete-repair mortar and mesh to seal the crack and prevent water penetration. For details, click here.
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![](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==) WPN UPDATE
Are You Truly
Prepared for 2019?
If there’s one thing we’ve all learned in the past 30-odd years, it’s that the decision to purchase a watershape of any kind is a process that most often takesyearsfrom initial idea to installation.
That’s why a web forum like the WaterShapes Professional Networkis so important: It gives homeowners and decision-makers an easy, anonymous way to gather early, basic information before reaching out to make direct contact with professionals whose work they admire. Click hereto check it out — and get ready for your future!
TheNetworkis working just the way we’d hoped: Time toclickaboard?
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