How to Put in a Waterfall Fountain
A waterfall adds class and beauty to your yard. The fountain can be installed regardless of whether you have an existing pond or pool. To get the enjoyment of a waterfall without the maintenance of a pond, install a pondless waterfall, where the water falls down and disappears into landscaping stones covering the water basin that feeds the waterfall. Building a waterfall alongside a pool or pond is actually more complicated than putting in a pondless waterfall, so it's best to have a good knowledge about the pump and filter system and experience working with water structures. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Installing a Pondless Waterfall
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1
Decide on the location and structure of your waterfall. Mark out the location of the water basin with spray paint, marking chalk or the tip of your shovel. Mark out another location for the top portion of the waterfall.
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2
Dig out the location for the lower basin. It should be deep enough to hold the pump and pump housing. Consult the instructions that came with your kit for specific information.
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3
Install a liner for the basin. The edges of the liner should extend roughly 6 inches outside the edge of the basin. Cut off any extra liner material except in the location of the waterfall, where you'll want it long enough to reach to the top.
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4
Place the basin or weir at the location where you want the waterfall to start. Check to see if it's level, then tip it slightly toward where the water will flow out. Overlap the basin and the liner.
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5
Attach the hosing that connects the pump to the basin at the top of the waterfall. Place the pump and the pump housing or vault into the bottom basin. Check to see that the electrical cord for the pump will reach an electrical outlet, or have an electrician install a new outdoor outlet within reach. Finish off the waterfall by back filling around the top basin and placing rocks around the top and at the edges of the waterway.
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6
Fill in the bottom basin, first with rocks and gravel, then with water. First, pile a double layer of 3- to 4-inch rocks around the pump housing. Then add large gravel in a thick layer that covers the basin almost to the top. Or, if your pump doesn't come with a protective vault, cover the basin with a screen and put rocks on top of the screen. Then fill the bottom basin with water.
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7
Turn on the pump.
Adding a Fountain to a Pond or Pool
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8
Decide where along the edge of your in-ground swimming pool or pond to place the waterfall. Don't worry about finding a location where the ground slopes upward away from the water's edge--you can always make a small hill for the waterway, or build it out of large rocks. Or just build a structure that allows water to spill straight down, directly into the pool, from a rock overhang.
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9
Hook up the water line. The water line will have to draw water from your pool or pond, so it is best to tie it into the water line that goes to your filter. It will take water from the filter system and pump it to the top of the waterfall.
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10
Build the waterfall. Use a kit, with rocks pre-cut and ready to assemble, or build it yourself. Decide whether you want the waterfall running all the time. If not, have a switch installed so you can turn it off. How and where to install the water line depends on the structure you chose for your waterfall.
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11
Turn on your waterfall.
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