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Build a waterfall
by Michael O'Brien
If you are looking to build a waterfall for your garden or
pond, there are several simple steps that can be followed that will
allow you to construct a solid, reliable, and beautiful structure
that will also add to the health of a pond instead of detracting from
it. There are, after all, many important benefits to building a waterfall
besides beauty.
The basics on how to build a waterfall
The first thing to consider when it comes time to build a
waterfall is size. A huge, high waterfall doesn't make much sense
unless you are also dealing with a huge pond. The goal should be to
create a peaceful, gentle flow. This means not only having a waterfall
that isn't too high, but that cascades over a gently slanted hill
of rocks down to the pond below.
The next step is in placing the rocks. There are several schools
of thought on this. Some believe using natural rocks in fully creating
the waterfall formation itself is best. Others promote the use of
fiberglass, pre-molded rock formations for greater structural stability
and ease of construction. Either way, you want the base structure
of the waterfall to be trough or hill shaped, possibly even lined
with the same material you used to line the pond in order to prevent
water runoff. Then the stones can be placed to cover it up.
Upstream
Since an artificial backyard waterfall doesn't have a river
feeding it, the water that flows into the pond will need to be re-circulated
back to the top with a water pump and PVC pipe. This circulation will
help to purify the water, and add oxygen for the fish. The addition
of a filter to the pump can also help keep the water clean.
