What is a pondless waterfall?
Pondless waterfalls are simply a re-circulating waterfall and/or stream without the presence of a pond.
Instead of running into a pond, the waterfall drains through rocks and pebbles. The water is then pumped to the top of the waterfall to begin the cycle all over again.
I cannot express enough how many headaches and how much money you will save if your water feature is built with the future in mind. Using the proper waterfall supplies is an important factor in how well your water feature will maintain over years to come. A Pondless Waterfall is simply a re-circulating waterfall, or stream, without the presence of open water.
You can enjoy the sights and sounds of running water without the maintenance of a pond.
Pondless water features work by pumping water contained in a large in-ground reservoir, or basin, up through the spillway. This allows water to flow back down into the reservoir – that is typically covered with gravel. Small areas of shallow water (a bog) can be created for aquatic plants to filter water and be a resource for birds and other wildlife to enjoy.
Basics of pondless waterfall design
Pondless waterfalls work by pumping water contained in a large, in-ground reservoir up and through the waterfall spillway, allowing the water to flow back down into the reservoir.
PONDLESS WATERFALL SUPPLIES:
Pumps – Choosing the correct pump can be a challenge..
Most pondless waterfalls do not have enough elevation change or size to warrant a direct drive pump.
Many of the direct drive pumps used in this application burn out within one to two years and are out of warranty.
Asynchronous pumps generally produce all the water flow that we need for less money, both in initial cost and in electrical cost, plus they generally have a much longer warranty.
A Pump Vault should be buried in the reservoir in order to house the pump that is sized for your water feature.
Your submersible pump should have plenty of room around it.
This will allow easy access for maintenance, cleaning and repairs.
Using a home-made pump vault (for example; like using a section of a drainage pipe) that is too small for the correct pump leads to problems and will cost you more time and money in the long run… Having a smaller space for the pump may cause you to use a direct drive pump instead of an asynchronous pump.
Direct drive pumps use more electricity than asynchronous pumps.
Direct drive pumps need deeper water to stay completely submerged so they do not over heat and burn up.
Your pump vault should be made of a sturdy material that will not collapse under the pressure of the stone weight or freezing and thawing of water in the winter.
Make sure the pump vault is set lower than the rest of the basin so water flows to it. This also makes it easier to clean the basin out once a year.
Eco-Blox will displace stone and gravel used in your reservoir. A cubic foot of gravel holds approximately 3 gallons of water. A cubic foot of Eco-Blox holds approximately 7.3 gallons of water.
This allows for more water volume to ensure your pump stays submerged and that there is enough water to fill the stream without the basin running out of water.
Using eco-blox or res-cubes also reduces the amount of gravel needed for your water feature project..
Gravel fills the reservoir, covering your vault and Eco-Blox, creating the “pondless” or “pond-free” appearance.
Be sure that your pump vault does not get filled with gravel. This is important for the life of your pump.
Rinsing the gravel thoroughly before you add to your feature will save a lot of trouble down the road.
Dirt and sand will settle between the rocks in the reservoir, compacting and almost hardening like concrete.
Over time, it will clog up the stone and not let the water back to the pump quick enough to operate your feature properly. This can result in burning up the pump and/or running the water right over the edges of the liner.
Dirt and debris left in the gravel will also lead to more algae in your water feature.
Use a bucket with holes, a basket or crate – like a colander, to rinse and re-rinse the gravel. The more dirt and sand removed ahead of time, the better!
We have also rinsed gravel in a wheelbarrow, just be sure to agitate the gravel to get all of the dirt and sand out.
FastFalls is the box (diffuser) where your waterfall starts. It is easy to hide under stone to save space for more of the water feature.
Since we are not building an eco-system in this instance, there is no need for an added biological filter (like those installed in a pond).
A Fastfalls is a weir (spillway) built specifically to connect to your hose to spread water out for a more natural looking waterfall and to soften the flow of the water.
Running just a hose to the top makes it difficult to control where the water goes.
Most times, water comes out of a pipe with directed force, like a fire hose. The pressure will move stone around and make it difficult to spread out the water for your feature.
We also know that water takes the path of least resistance. A Fastfalls will aim your water to the front of the pondless feature, reducing the risk of leaks as well as keeping the water out in front of the rocks.
Easy Pro Black Waterfall Foam will fill voids behind and under rocks to also help re-direct water flow and keep it visible for more appeal.
Fastfalls or Water Diffusers come in various lengths for small to large waterfalls and can even be linked together to create larger waterfalls.
Some Waterfall Kits include a basin, instead of a liner and pump vault. Basins store the water and protects the pump. The liner and underlayment included is for creating your waterfall / stream feature.
Be sure that the basin and liner provided is large enough for the waterfall you envision.
Laying the liner flat on the sides or under the spillway will definitely allow water to escape.
You may need to purchase a separate piece of liner to accommodate your needs.
Level Ground – Building your pondless waterfall and/or stream on level ground is very important.
Using the dirt dug out from the basin to build the waterfall/stream is fine, but remember it will settle.
To stop the edges from sinking, creating a leak, we use cement blocks to form a wall along the edges and to create fall points inside the stream.
Use soil from the basin inside and outside the walls, then compact the soil inside the stream.
Cover the blocks with 2 layers of underlayment, then liner and then cover with stone and gravel to create a beautiful, durable stream and waterfall.
Now that you are armed with the knowledge of what to watch out for when building a pondless waterfall, we hope that you have a successful installation and that your new water feature brings you peace of mind.
Why choose a pondless waterfall?
The pondless waterfall is one of our most popular water features. It’s an ideal option if you want the sights and sounds of water without having a fish pond, water garden, or Koi habitat.
It might be hard to imagine a waterfall and stream without a pond, but this is where the beauty of it lies. A pondless waterfall offers some of the enjoyment a pond can bring, but with less work!
You might not want to deal with the standing water, plant life, and wildlife that often comes with a backyard pond. Instead, you can have the water flow directly into the gravel with no visible pool at all. From there, it filters back to the top and cycles through!
Pondless water features can add to your home and life in many ways.
Additional benefits of a pondless waterfall
Safety: Because there is no pool of water, a pondless waterfall is a great option for families with small children that want to play and splash in the water with limited safety concerns.
Cost: This can be a big factor when considering the type of water feature for your outdoor space. In most cases, a pondless waterfall will be cheaper than a pond, as it often requires less stone and materials.
Space: The small size of a pondless waterfall means you can build and enjoy a beautiful waterfall anywhere in your yard, and still have some yard to work with!
Maintenance: Taking care of your pondless waterfall is easy. Filling the reservoir every few weeks to compensate for water loss due to evaporation is all that is required.
