Fountains
Stone for a water wall or spillway is usually judged dry, yet it spends its working life wet. Its finish shapes the flow, constant wetting changes its color, and the work behind the veneer determines whether the stone stays put. Kareem Klisharo explains how each factor can be evaluated before the stone is cut.
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Waterfeatures and swimming pools share many of the same water-treatment principles, but their operating environments can be remarkably different. Drawing on experience in both industries, waterfeature and swimming-pool engineer Miroslaw “Miro” Grudniewski examines how filtration, circulation, contamination and dosing interact, and why successful treatment begins with understanding the water a system will actually encounter.
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A narrow side yard can easily become an overlooked space, but thoughtful watershape design can transform it into something extraordinary. In this work prosaically titled, “Side Hustle,” The Green Scene turned a challenging passageway into an intimate retreat, combining sculptural water, illuminated crystal spheres, shimmering tile, and soothing sound to create an award-winning outdoor experience.
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Some projects challenge technical abilities, while others test logistical skills, and then there are those that remind you why you entered the profession in the first place. Roman Fountains work restoring six historic fountains in Washington, D.C., ahead of America's 250th anniversary celebration, falls firmly into that last category.
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Water Odyssey introduces a new dinosaur-themed line of spray features for splash pads and spray parks. The new Dinosaur Fun Forms collection features the Dino Cera, Dino Lil Raptor, and Dino Diplo themed sprayers that deliver dynamic spray effects that encourage splashing, exploring and imaginative aquatic play. Using a simple connection and anchoring system, it’s easy to update and transform any facility into a prehistoric, immersive aquatic play environment. The features are coated with Aqua Armor, the most durable chlorine, UV, and vandal-resistant coating in the industry, the company says. They are ASTM compliant, interchangeable with other Fun Forms spray features, made in the USA with custom designs available.
Learn more here.
Water Odyssey has introduced its refreshed line of Flower Fun Forms TM Aqua Sprayers. The line includes Pretty Petunia (pictured), Blossoming Pansy, and Golden Lion Flower sprayers, now featuring more lifelike forms, richer colors, and beautifully detailed painting. Each flower emits a “bouquet” of arching streams of water from the flower’s center. These updated flower heads help transform splash pads into vibrant aquatic play spaces and foster immersive play experiences. The sprayers are coated with Aqua Armor, the most durable chlorine, UV, and vandal resistant coating in the industry, the company says.
Learn more here.
Urban parks are increasingly being asked to do more than provide green space. They’re expected to restore ecology, reflect local culture, invite participation, and serve as social condensers for entire communities. Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington, KY, is a strong example of how water—when thoughtfully designed and carefully engineered—can do all of that at once.
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As more and more cities and commercial properties recognize how themed aquatic play and inclusive design encourage interactive fun, one Arizona municipality has invested in a creative and efficient splash pad to help residents stay cool and have fun in the heat.
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The “floating faucet” sculpture pictured here has become a popular type of feature with numerous iterations around the globe. In this case, Chris Trevathan and his team from Underwater Glazing International discovered that making the slight-of-hand watershape effect stand up and function was deceptively tricky.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI-driven displays are drawing thousands of visitors each week to venues with show fountains, reports J. Wickham “Wick” Zimmerman of Outside The Lines, Inc. OTL is a waterfeature design/build and maintenance firm that has installed its own patented AI technology into two high-profile fountains that are capable of responding to and learning from fountain spectators.
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