Water's Story (w/ Jim Lauria and Terry Arko)

When Renaissance Genius Meets Modern Pool Chemistry

What if I told you that one of history's greatest minds had already figured out the secret to understanding pool systems—over 500 years ago? In a fascinating episode of the Rule Your Pool Podcast, host Eric Knight and recurring guest Terry Arko sat down with Jim Lauria, a chemical engineer and storyteller from Mazzei (the company behind those Venturi injectors you know and love), to explore how Leonardo da Vinci's observations about water can revolutionize how we think about pool chemistry today.

This isn't your typical technical discussion about chlorine levels and pH balance. Instead, it's a journey through da Vinci's revolutionary understanding of water as a living system—one that bears striking similarities to how we should approach pool maintenance and water treatment.

The Master's Vision: Water as the Body's Blueprint

Leonardo da Vinci didn't just paint the Mona Lisa and design flying machines. He was obsessed with water, calling it "nature" itself. Through his anatomical studies and dissections of human cadavers, da Vinci discovered something profound about the relationship between water systems and living organisms.

He saw the earth as a macrocosm and the human body as a microcosm. The way blood flowed through the body, the way water flowed through the earth's surfaces, as I mentioned, the hydrological cycle.

— Jim Lauria, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This insight led da Vinci to understand that water systems—whether in nature or human-made—function remarkably like the human body. The parallels are striking when you think about it: pumps act as hearts, pipes serve as arteries and veins, filters function like kidneys, and disinfection systems mirror our immune system fighting off bacteria.

For pool professionals and enthusiasts, this perspective shift is game-changing. Instead of viewing your pool as a collection of mechanical components, you can understand it as a living system that needs balance, circulation, and protection—just like the human body.

From Ancient Wisdom to Modern Pool Systems

Terry Arko, who has spent over 40 years in recreational water management, immediately recognized the power of this analogy. In fact, he'd been using similar comparisons in his training programs for years:

When I have taught trainees, I had a pool business in Southern California. And we would bring in new trainees in the summer to service swimming pools. And I used to think, what's the best way for me to describe the system of a swimming pool to somebody who's just totally new and doesn't understand? That's exactly what I thought about was the human body.

— Terry Arko, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This body-system analogy extends beautifully to modern pool technology. The heart (pump) circulates life-giving water throughout the system. The kidneys (filters) remove waste and contaminants. The immune system (sanitizers like chlorine or ozone) fights off harmful bacteria and algae. Even chemical controllers can be viewed as the brain, monitoring conditions and making adjustments to maintain optimal health.

Understanding your pool this way helps explain why balance is so crucial. Just as a human body can't function properly with a damaged heart or failed kidneys, a pool system breaks down when any component isn't working harmoniously with the others.

The Art and Science of Water Storytelling

Jim Lauria brings a unique perspective to water treatment through his podcast "Water's Story," which focuses on finding the best storytellers in the water industry. Rather than getting bogged down in technical specifications and pump curves, Lauria emphasizes the importance of connecting with both the brain and the heart:

We wanted to actually find out from the best water storytellers how they were telling their stories. And we always like to think that, okay, you want to talk to their brain, but you also want to talk to their heart. Right? So it's an emotional connection to a story that really gets people enthused.

— Jim Lauria, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This approach recognizes something fundamental about water: it's not just H2O. Water represents life, joy, recreation, and peace. People don't buy pools for the chemistry—they buy them for the experience. They want the laughter of children playing Marco Polo, the tranquility of floating on a summer evening, and the satisfaction of hosting memorable gatherings.

Understanding this emotional connection helps explain why waterfront properties command premium prices and why the sound of flowing water is universally calming. Da Vinci understood this duality too, recognizing both water's life-giving properties and its destructive potential during floods and storms.

Leonardo's Darker Vision: The Deluge Drawings

Da Vinci's relationship with water wasn't purely romantic. Having witnessed the devastating flooding of Florence as a child, he understood water's dual nature. Near the end of his life, he created a series of drawings called the "deluge drawings" that depicted water's turbulent, destructive power.

This darker understanding of water resonates with anyone who's dealt with pool emergencies, equipment failures, or water damage. The same element that brings joy and relaxation can quickly become a source of stress and expense when systems fail or chemistry goes awry.

Modern pool professionals can learn from da Vinci's comprehensive view of water. Effective pool management requires appreciating both water's beneficial aspects and respecting its potential for problems. This balanced perspective leads to better system design, more proactive maintenance, and ultimately, more reliable and enjoyable pool experiences.

The Future of Pool Intelligence: Sensors as Senses

Da Vinci's anatomical studies revealed how the human body uses various senses to monitor and maintain health. Today's pool technology is evolving to mirror these biological sensing systems:

You've got optical sensors that can see turbidity. You've got pH sensors that can kind of taste acidity. You've got acoustic sensors that can hear leaks. So as time goes on, the brain is going to be the most important part of controlling all these different aspects.

— Jim Lauria, Rule Your Pool Podcast

This technological evolution represents the natural progression of da Vinci's human-body analogy. Just as our bodies constantly monitor temperature, chemistry, and threats, tomorrow's pool systems will feature increasingly sophisticated sensing and response capabilities.

Smart controllers already monitor pH and sanitizer levels, but future systems will likely detect equipment problems before they cause failures, automatically adjust chemical feed rates based on bather load and weather conditions, and even predict maintenance needs based on usage patterns.

Practical Applications of Da Vinci's Water Wisdom

So how can pool owners and professionals apply these Renaissance insights to modern pool care? Here are several practical approaches:

Think systematically: When troubleshooting pool problems, consider how different components interact, just like organs in the body. A cloudy pool might indicate problems with circulation (heart), filtration (kidneys), or sanitization (immune system).

Prioritize balance: Just as human health requires balanced nutrition, exercise, and rest, pools need balanced chemistry, adequate circulation, and proper filtration. No single component can compensate for deficiencies in others.

Embrace monitoring: The human body provides constant feedback about its condition. Similarly, regular testing and monitoring help detect pool problems before they become serious.

Respect water's power: Remember da Vinci's deluge drawings. Water systems demand respect and attention. Regular maintenance and prompt attention to problems prevent minor issues from becoming major disasters.

Conclusion: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Waters

Leonardo da Vinci's insights about water systems remain remarkably relevant five centuries later. By understanding pools as living systems rather than mere collections of equipment, we can provide better care, solve problems more effectively, and help others appreciate the wonder of properly managed water.

Jim Lauria's work at Mazzei and his storytelling approach remind us that the pool industry isn't just about moving water—it's about creating experiences, solving problems, and bringing joy to people's lives. Terry Arko's decades of teaching experience confirm that the human body analogy remains one of the most powerful tools for helping others understand water systems.

Whether you're a seasoned pool professional or a homeowner trying to understand your backyard oasis, remember da Vinci's fundamental insight: water is nature itself, deserving of both wonder and respect. By approaching pool care with this Renaissance perspective, we honor both the science and the art of water management.

The next time you look at your pool, don't just see pumps, filters, and chemicals. See a living system that mirrors the very essence of life itself—one that da Vinci would have undoubtedly found fascinating to study and beautiful to contemplate.

Episode Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
• 03:00 Jim Lauria's Background and Mazzei Company
• 08:00 Leonardo da Vinci's Water Philosophy
• 12:00 Pool Systems as Human Body Analogy
• 18:00 Water Storytelling and Emotional Connection
• 22:00 Da Vinci's Deluge Drawings and Water's Dark Side
• 25:00 Future of Pool Technology and Sensing