Pondless Fountains

Water features such as fountains are a great way to add tranquility, sound and movement to your outdoor living space. They add beauty and are appreciated for the ambient sound that can be soothing and block out less desirable noises such as traffic.  But maintaining a pond or fountain reservoir requires maintenance to keep that water looking its sparkling best and free from debris. Another option is pondless or disappearing waterfalls. These allow you the inherent benefits of a traditional pond fountain without the tedious upkeep and without taking up most of your backyard.

Pondless design simply means there is no open pond or standing water. The water reservoir is hidden underground and gravel bases work well for these designs as the water easily recirculates. You can also use other design materials such as colored landscape glass, large stones and lava rocks. Since there is no open standing water, there is no need to use (and clean!) pond filters, no fish to take care of, no mosquitos, no slimy algae to deal with, no water to refill and no safety concerns inherent with open ponds. This low maintenance option is especially great if you live in an area where there are a lot tree needles and leaves falling to the ground.

How it works:

Water flows from the upper falls, and instead of being held in a still, open pond, it pours into a lined basin that is dug in the ground and filled with rocks and gravel. The water is pumped from the bottom of the basin up to the top of the falls, creating a continuously recirculating flow of water.

Another option is a recirculating bubbling fountain. Bubblers are nice in that they require even less space than a pond less waterfall, yet still provide movement, sound, and interest to your outdoor space.

How it works:

Recirculating bubbling fountains are similar in design to pond less waterfalls using recirculating water with a pondless basin, except the water is pumped from the hidden basin up through a fountain piece, such as a cored basalt column, urn or cored boulder.