Planning a waterfall for your pool
If you’ve ever spent any time at a high-end resort, then you know that the most attractive part of the grounds is the resort-sized pool and its waterfall. Even in the National Park systems, some of the most visited scenic areas in the parks are the waterfalls on the slopes of the mountains. The sights and sounds of falling water are mesmerizing and can have a very calming effect.
Incorporating a waterfall into your own backyard pool just takes a little planning during the design or redesign phase if you want to remodel an existing pool. For the purposes of this article, I will deal only with planning a new pool.
Your first decision is the placement of the water effect. You must decide where the feature should be visible from. The architects use the visual impact of a waterfall to draw the attention of visitors through and out of the house. Your decision about the location and its proximity to the pool is solely yours.
Once you have completed your location decision, you need to decide on the type of water source. Your choice is endless and only limited by your imagination. Look for examples in design magazines, resorts, and even commercial properties like shopping malls and large mobile business campuses. Another source of inspiration is looking at the fountains in and around resorts in Las Vegas, Hawaii, and Disney properties.
From a mechanical perspective, water features are a very basic addition to your typical backyard pool. Generally, it is best to incorporate a separate pump and plumbing system and leave the function of the pool’s filtration network independent. That way you can control the volume and timing of the water being drawn and returned to the pool or sink reservoir through and over your water effect.
The amount of water you want to move through or over the water feature becomes your next decision in the planning process. Looking for a raging waterfall effect or a tranquil backyard babbling brook atmosphere? Large, grotto style or swim under rock waterfalls require a large volume of water that must be drawn from the pool and returned at various points within and on top of the structure. Pipe and pump sizing requires some calculations based on a variety of factors, such as distance, pipe bends, and the distribution or allocation of water to key areas of the feature.
A typical pool simply requires a separate suction line to draw water from the pool. Be sure to incorporate split suction to minimize entrapment issues. The other side of the pump, the return side, needs a separate series of valves or return lines for each drop. The mechanics of a water feature don’t have to be complicated, just like with everything else, it requires a bit of pre-planning. With the right plan and location, your backyard can become a favorite destination for the whole family and even the entire neighborhood.