Eric Herman

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Protecting Plaster: The First 28 Days
Pool start-ups have long been recognized as a key phase where the construction process gives way to service, a time where the curing process is crucial to the appearance and longevity of pool plaster, and by dent also critical to keeping customers happy with the appearance of their new pool. ...
Preparing for a Familiar Battle
The lines are being drawn. In a narrative that has become familiar to many in the watershaping industry, pools, spas and other water features are at risk of severe filling and even building permit restrictions as a result of the historic drought impacting some of the industry’s western markets.   ...
Essential Pool Construction Goes Live & Online
The Wolfpack is preparing a perfect summer-school offering, presenting its popular Construction 2111: Essential Pool Construction live and online over six evenings in July. No need to travel or take time away to elevate your understanding of the industry’s most essential construction knowledge.  ...
Johnny Appleseed was Right: Embrace Urban Trees!
The presence of trees in cities makes life better, a fact made provable by a wide set of both measurable and purely intuitive positive effects. From economic benefits to positive emotional and social impacts to the pleasure of birds and bees, urban trees are worth hugging.   ...
Systems Thinking
Generating quality water conditions should be a primary objective in all watershape designs, asserts Steve Kenny. Raising the bar, he says, means turning to a systems-based approach to water treatment that involves all aspects and components of watershape systems that move, filter, test, heat, balance, sanitize and contain water.   ...
Sunset Dynamics
Although this project was developed and installed back in 2014, it remains one of Kevin Cobabe’s personal favorites for a handful of unusual and special reasons he explains here. Featured in Sunset Magazine's “Idea House” program, the property gained widespread attention with a design that was most certainly ready for its close up. ...
Building a Cenote
Artificial rock can be used to great effect across a spectrum of watershape settings, especially when the design is inspired directly by nature, explains Bruce Riley. Case in point, this elaborate project is designed to recreate the magic of cenotes, the legendary watery caves of the Yucatan peninsula. ...
Watershape University Taps Charlie Raphael for Certification Post
(May 19, 2022, Solana Beach, Calif.) Watershape University is happy and proud to announce the addition of Charlie Raphael, who will serve as Director of Certification and Licensing He joins the “Wolfpack” as WU continues to develop and promulgate education programs and accreditation for the design, construction and engineering segments of the watershaping industry. Raphael previously served as director of online education and certification at The Pool and Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA), a position he held since October, 2020. A 15-year veteran of professional education, licensing, certification, marketing and communication, from 2017 to 2020, he was director of education for RESNA, a not-for-profit interdisciplinary membership association for the advancement of globally recognized assistive technology professional certifications, among a variety of other key position across a spectrum of organizations. Raphael is a 1990 graduate from George Mason University Department of Communication with a Bachelor’s degree in mass communication and media studies, where he was also on the men’s soccer team. He is a licensed credentialing professional from the International Credentialing Institute. “I’m thrilled to join the Watershape University team,” he said. “My 20-plus-year journey has led me through public, private, minority owned and not-for-profit organizations of all sizes and industries. I look forward to my role developing and promoting licensing based on the WU curricula.” “Certification and licensing are keys to elevating the watershaping industry,” added Dave Peterson, co-founder of WU. “Charlie will play an important role in advancing the cause of education in our industry.” For more information contact Watershape University Co-Founder, David Peterson, P.E., IWI ([email protected]) About Watershape University: Watershape University is an IACET-approved provider of quality instruction -- live and online -- targeting the business of watershaping with design, engineering and construction programs for students of all levels in the pool, spa, aquatics and outdoor living sectors. WU supports and promotes the use of recreational and decorative water through accredited education and fosters a greater understanding of the benefits and value of aquatic activities and lifestyle.
Thursday Pools Offers Fiberglass Sports Pool
Thursday Pools (Fortville, IN) now offers a flat-bottom sports pool designed to accommodate lounging as well as active play for all ages! This pool offers full width generous steps with a long bench area that adjoins the steps providing more seating options. The flat bottom is great for volleyball, basketball, water aerobics or lap swimming. The vessel is auto-cover-ready and comes with the company’s non-skid, gel coat finish. The pool is 13’-5” wide by 40’ long with a 4’-6” depth, and holds 13,500 gallons of water. To learn more, click here.   
Heatgene Offers Outdoor Showers
Heatgene (Sterling, VA) makes free-standing outdoor showers. The unit pictured here is designed for both commercial and residential use, with a stainless steel shower head, round hand shower with hose in the middle, with a one-way or diverter for head shower or hand shower. Food-grade silicone nozzles helps reduce hard water deposit build-up on the showerhead, making it easier to clean and maintain. It delivers high-power water delivery, even when water pressure is low for a smoother, gentler, more luxurious showering experience To learn more, click here.