| Before installing a water feature you need to ask | | | | the area where you plan to spend most of your time |
| yourself several important questions first: | | | | out of doors. |
| What is your budget? How much can you spend on | | | | Do you want to see or hear the waterfall from |
| the entire project? You could spend $3,000 on a | | | | indoors? Consider adding an exterior patio or French |
| water feature and find out you still need an additional | | | | doors to your house to access your water feature |
| $1,000-1,500 for plants and amenities, such as a deck, | | | | area. Do you wish to have fish and other aquatic |
| gazebo, walkways, fish or landscape lighting in the | | | | creatures? Long term, a properly maintained nitrogen |
| pond, waterfall and lawn. Other possible extras are a | | | | cycle costs less than maintaining a pond that uses |
| biological filter, auto-fill for pond, skimmer, | | | | chlorine and other chemicals. Fish, plants and proper |
| back-flushable bio-filter, and more. | | | | bacteria are needed for healthy pond and nitrogen |
| How big is a water feature? If you are building your | | | | cycle. Once properly established, a healthy fish pond |
| own, then structurally size is not that big an issue! I | | | | is virtually maintenance free. |
| would charge the same price for a 3-foot high | | | | Are you willing to remove or replace certain trees or |
| waterfall as I would for a 5-foot; the same for a 3 | | | | bushes to enhance the waterfall and pond? Some |
| by 5-foot pond as a 4 by 6. There is only a $200 | | | | trees have very aggressive root systems that can |
| difference in cost between the 1,000 and 2,000 | | | | literally move concrete as they grow, causing |
| square feet of concrete shell surface. Your main | | | | cracking and upheaval. Certain trees can contribute a |
| concern about size should be space, not cost. How | | | | great deal of debris to the water feature that fouls |
| much of your yard can you sacrifice? Even if the | | | | the water and may cause premature failure of the |
| space between your house and the property line | | | | filter system. |
| fence is limited, a water feature can be incorporated. | | | | What type of rock do you want? A commonly used |
| Small ponds 1½ to 3 feet deep can facilitate a | | | | rock is cobble stone. However, because of the round |
| sump pump located within the pond. Even though a | | | | shapes, water rolls over the surfaces and creates a |
| sump pump is inexpensive, it consumes much more | | | | minimum of sound or visual effect. In contrast, |
| energy than an above-ground pump. A pond any | | | | irregular, angular, sharp-edged granite or similar rock |
| deeper than 3 feet requires an exterior pump for | | | | creates turbulent conditions similar to white water as |
| better accessibility and maintenance, and at a higher | | | | it flowsover the edges. The greater the "white |
| cost. But they pay for themselves in a short period | | | | water" the more sound is produced. Also, a side |
| of time with the energy savings. Also, larger ponds | | | | benefit is the aeration of water which benefits fish |
| require greater filtration, more cleaning and | | | | and discourages the production of algae. However, |
| maintenance. | | | | do not attempt to match the color of rock with the |
| The size of the waterfalls will determine the size of | | | | decor of the house, brick and other features of your |
| the pump needed. The higher the waterfalls, the | | | | home. Stay natural - contrast is good! |
| bigger the pump needed to supply the water and the | | | | What about electrical supply for the pump and |
| greater the cost for electricity. Height creates head | | | | equipment? In 20 years I have never seen the |
| pressure which requires more energy and is the | | | | electrical costs for supplying power to the equipment |
| major factor in operating cost. | | | | site exceed $1,200, and the average is less than |
| How much entertaining will you do? Will you need a | | | | $400. |
| deck? If so, how big? You might consider placing a | | | | What about a water supply for an automatic water |
| pond next to an existing deck. Many people do just | | | | leveling system? Water is very accessible in any |
| the opposite, they build a pond and then construct a | | | | household and getting it to the water feature site is |
| deck beside it. In this case, you can take advantage | | | | a minor expense. Simply tap into an outside water |
| of an existing deck and construct an open stairway | | | | faucet. |
| (stair bridge) to span the pond. This affords unique | | | | There are hundreds of questions that arise in the |
| access to the opposite side. | | | | course of a water feature project. It is best that |
| Will you have adequate room for table and chairs? | | | | most of these questions are answered prior to |
| Do you want a spa? Or a fire pit or barbeque? | | | | commencement of construction, it could save you |
| Enough lawn for games? Where do you spend most | | | | hundreds of dollars by avoiding mistakes. |
| of your outdoor leisure time? That is the area for | | | | Look before you leap and research before you |
| your waterfall! The waterfall will bring you the most | | | | weep. Happy koi, peace and joy. |
| enjoyment, therefore it should be located closest to | | | | |