How to Make Back Yard Waterfalls
A backyard waterfall can be built in the form of a fountain, pondless waterfall or as part of a pond or swimming pool. No matter how you integrate your waterfall, the construction is based on the same concept of water pumped from a source up behind or through an elevation to splash back down into the original source to be recycled again. Once you understand the concept, you can adapt it to any style water feature to make your own backyard waterfall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Tub, basin or other water container
- Water line
- Submersible pump
- Sculpture, rock or other waterfall form or object
Instructions
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Decide what kind of water feature you want to construct. This will include the form from which the water will fall and the basin where the water will be collected. For example, if you want to build a small, natural-stone waterfall, your waterfall will look best formed with cemented stones or a large rock for the water to cascade down. Select a tub, basin or other water container roughly the size and shape you need. Later you can dress it up with more stone, rock and some plants.
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Place the tub or basin below where your waterfall will spill. Make sure the tub is deep enough to keep your pump safely beneath the water line.
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Place a submersible pump into the bottom of the dry tub or basin.
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Connect the pump output to the water tubing that will conduct the water up and out at the top of your waterfall. Lay out the pump’s electrical cord so it will reach an outdoor electrical plug. Do not plug it into the electrical supply until the waterfall is completed and ready to test.
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Thread the water-conducting tubing from the pump up around or behind the elevated area (formed with a sculpture, rocks, a water chute or whatever creates the feature from which your waterfall will spill). Attach the end of the tube to the highest point so the water pours out to create the waterfall. Taking the example of the rock waterfall above, cement the tube into place on the top of the single large rock or the stack of cemented rocks—so when the water is turned on, the water will pour down over the rocks and into the small pond below.
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Plug in the pump and test the placement of the water tube outlet until you get the waterfall effect you want. Depending on the design of your water feature, you may want to bury or hide the water line as it traces its way up to the top of the waterfall.
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Insert a filter between the pump and the end of the line where the waterfall flows out if you are constructing a waterfall for a pond. Ponds that harbor fish or pond plants need the water to be circulated through cleaning devices like leaf traps or biofilters.
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Make your backyard waterfall along these basic lines and you can create a soothing, decorative focal point in your garden. If you want to get more elaborate, you can also install timers, ultraviolet sterilizers and other conveniences that might be useful depending on how your waterfall will be used.
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Tips & Warnings
Pond and fountain pumps are designed to be run for long periods of time. You do not have to turn yours on and off unless you need to do maintenance or leave it off for an extended period like the wintertime.
Never let the water line fall below the intake of the pump. A pump that runs dry will burn out quickly.
Also, it is best to avoid using extension cords—even outdoor extension cords—to plug in your pump.
Resources
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