How to Make a Water Fountain

Water fountains, either an indoor water fountain or outdoor water fountain, can add soothing ambiance to the environment. For those do-it-yourselfers, building your own water fountain can be a worthwhile project. This project requires a terra-cotta or cement pot container to serve as the fountain. It can be a small or large fountain, depending on the container you choose. You will also need a submersible pump. The size of pump will depend on the choice of container. The home supply stores will often have charts to help pair the appropriate pump size with container.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Terra-Cotta or cement pot, large enough to hold at least two or three gallons of water
• Submersible pump
• Bubbling fountain nozzle or ½ inch pipe
• Pea gravel
• Clear silicone sealant
• Waterproof sealer
• Drill
• Duck tape

1. Place the pot in the area you want the fountain. You won't want to move it later, when it is filled with water. There should be an electrical outlet nearby, to plug in the pump.

2. Coat the inside of the container with waterproof sealer. Allow to dry.

3. Drill a hole at the bottom of the pot, if there isn't a drainage hole. This will be used to run the pump cord through. The hole should be just large enough for the cord plug. Use a bit designed for the material of the pot, to avoid cracking.

4. Set the pump inside the container, and run the cord through the drain hole, or the hole you drilled.

5. Secure cord outside the pot with duck tape, to hold in place. You will be leaving just enough cord inside the container to allow you to raise the pump several inches. The rest of the cord should be outside the pot.

6. Place the pot on bricks or pot feet, to raise enough so that the cord can exit the pot easily.

7. Fill the hole around the cord with silicone sealant to seal. You want to be able to fill the container with water later, and you don't want the pot to leak. After you have filled the hole with sealant, allow to dry for 24 hours.

8. Test for leaks by adding several inches of water to the container. If there are leaks, remove water, dry, reseal, and allow to dry for another 24 hours.

9. Add three to five inches of pea gravel to the bottom of the pot. Level, and situate pump on the gravel. The pump should be in the center.

10. Attach the bubbling fountain nozzle or ½ inch pipe to the pump. The top of the pipe or nozzle should be several inches below the lip of the container.

11. Add water to the container. Plug the cord into the outlet to turn on. The electrical outlet should be a ground fault circuit interrupter.

Tips & Warnings

• A container with a wide lip provides a better view into the water.
• A container with a wide middle, and smaller lip provides a better sound.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/4/2009 Thanks for the directions. I'd love to have one on my patio. 5*

[bdcblogs]

on 2/1/2009 Great project for me and my daughters. Thanks for posting! 5*

[Elander]

on 2/1/2009 Very simple instructions for creating a fountain.

[jbechtold]

on 2/1/2009 I always wanted to do this.

[bossypants]

on 2/1/2009 Easy to follow instructions for creating a fountain. It's only a dream, in this freeze, but this would look great on my patio! Thanks!