WaterShapes World Blog
During the chill of winter, when most pools are closed and covered, and many natural bodies of water iced over, some intrepid souls brave the cold and take the plunge anyway. It's a form of discomfort, they say, that comes with significant benefits not found in warmer temps.
Saying goodbye to 2020 has become an unofficial national, if not an international, pastime. As Eric Herman points out in his year-end homily, that's especially true now as the holidays approach and a new year unfolds with the prospect of better, hopefully virus-free days ahead.
While residential activity is booming these days, the exact opposite is true in the commercial pool market, where sales are slow and most facilities are closed. Dark days indeed, notes Eric Herman, but also a good time to consider the role "public water" plays in both the industry and society.
At their best, watershape designs make artistic statements that compliment and amplify the surrounding environment, while reflecting the personality of both the designer and homeowner. As Eric Herman relates, it's a feeling that's hard to define, but yet unmistakable when present.
Sharing time in a pool has a way of carrying everyone involved to a relaxed state of mind that lets the rigors of daily life temporarily slip away. It's a sensation Eric Herman recently experienced with a group of friends, all of whom lead energetic, stressful lives.
Dealing with watershaping professionals should be as trouble free as possible, but sometimes it's not. As Eric Herman argues, it's time for the industry to open its collective ears to the messages from consumers who have had both positive and negative experiences.
Will a flood of litigation compromise the watershaping industry's reputation and/or success -- and how might 'alternative dispute resolution' fit into the picture? Here's Eric Herman's take on both fronts.
Back in our June 24 edition, we ran a provocative feature by Texas designer/builder and Watershape University instructor, Mike Nantz. As the title "Charging for Design" suggested, Nantz used the space to make a case for pool designers requiring a fee for their design work, rather than using it purely as a sales tool. It's a subject that has been tossed around for a long time and always seems to touch nerves, especially among
Back in March, the Western Pool & Spa Show was set to open in Long Beach, Calif., when live events were suddenly and summarily canceled in the state due to the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. It was unsettling, massively inconvenient for everyone involved, and even a little spooky as an unseasonal downpour rolled through the region. At the time no one knew how long such prohibitions would be in place and unfortunately five month later, we still don't. We do know that the live trade-show cancellation trend is continuing. In recent days, organizers of the International Pool|Spa|Patio Expo announced
Every year during fire season, we see aerial news footage of houses that have burned down next to swimming pools full of water. It always makes me despair and wonder, had there been a way to use that water to stave off the fires, would those houses have been saved? And, are there scenarios where an available water source might even save lives? Growing up in Southern California where wild fires are part of life, I've seen the destructive power up close. I've been evacuated three times, have had friends lose their homes and have witnessed what it's like to live in a community that's been devastated by the flames. It's a sudden tragedy that often unfolds in a few terrifying minutes
