WaterShapes World Blog
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
There is no question that watershaping industry is on fire right now. Over the past two-plus months, every single builder I've talked to, without exception, has said that they are busier than they've ever been with a constant stream of homeowners looking to either install a new pool or upgrade an existing one. I've heard the same thing from pool and spa retailers and pond builders. As I previously described in this space, the current surge in
Pool industry pioneer, Howard Arneson, passed away of natural causes, June 16th in San Rafael, Calif. He was 99. Although many people in today's pool industry may not be old enough to remember Arneson, he is largely credited with changing the industry in the early 1960s by popularizing the
Looking at water resource issues it's easy to despair. Starting with the fact that over a billion people experience some level of water scarcity is obscure to those of us who have lived our entire lives without having to even consider the availability of water beyond
Back in March I received a call from my long-time friend and industry legend, Vance Gillette. For those who might not be familiar with Vance, he has been a beloved business leader in the pool and spa industry for more than 40 years and even now in retirement, he still is. Vance called me to share
For all of its ubiquitous nature, it's fair to say that most people in the industrialized world take water for granted. Since the introduction of public water treatment in the early 20th Century, our supply has been so safe and reliable that we carelessly assume it will always be there. Clean water flows out of the tap, and the bad water goes down the sink or
Locating pools and other types of watershapes adjacent to natural bodies of water presents a range of exciting design opportunities. Perhaps the most familiar is the iconic vanishing edge, a design feature that remains a popular choice for water-side sites where
Back when we launched WaterShapes, just over 21 years ago, the magazine surprised lots of people for a variety of reasons: Its broad focus on all types of water systems; the fact that it's written in the first person by industry experts and not
The cliché is true; to know where you're going you've got to know where you've been. Like all professions, watershaping has a rich history of innovation and groundbreaking achievements. Unlike other more heralded fields, however, there is no watershaping hall of fame - but if there were, you'd find many an inductee covered in these pages. Most every field of human endeavor has its
By any measure, the past year has been a time of tumultuous change - and I'm not referencing the current microbiological situation. (In fact, let's just declare this space a "virus-free" zone for now.) Rather I'm talking about the tumbling dominoes that have been falling throughout the pool and spa industry since last spring. Dating back to the
