August 9, 2014 | by Sara Speen

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Self Contained Waterfall System

Water features within a landscape can range from fountains to ponds, cascades and waterfalls to streams. Long ago these systems were present in landscapes and were mostly powered by gravity. Currently, the majority of water features are powered by electrical pumps. There is an increasing range of innovative designs as the market becomes more established and people become more aware of alternate installation methods, such as solar power. The advantages of using solar power include environmental benefits, no electrical lines in the garden, and free energy.

Modern water features are typically self-contained, meaning that they do not require water to be plumbed in; rather water is recycled from either a pond or a hidden reservoir, also known as a sump. The sump can either be contained within the water feature, or buried underground (in the case of an outdoor water feature). Most water features are electronically controlled, ranging from simple timer actuators to sophisticated computerized controls for synchronizing music to water and light animation.

Decorative koi pond in a garden

Koi Pond in Garden

The benefits of a water feature include adding sound, texture and movement to your landscape. It also provides a calming effect to help you relax after a long day. Incorporating a water feature into your landscape can be a very rewarding experience, here are a few samples of some landscape water features.

Long exposure of a backyard waterfall and pond surrounded by green foliage.

Waterfall in to Pond

Swimming Pool With Waterfall

Swimming Pool With Waterfall