Pondless Waterfalls 101: Common Questions About Pondless Waterfalls

The yard is a major component of any San Diego home. A well-designed and maintained yard not only boosts the property’s street appeal and increases its real estate value, it also serves as a great location for relaxation, outdoor parties, family gatherings, and even staycations. One of the best ways to truly make your backyard pop is by adding a pondless waterfall. In addition to looking great, a quality pondless waterfall design also enables children and pets to cool down and have fun in the water. In our previous articles, we explained how pondless waterfalls are built and how they achieve their waterfall effect. Now we’ll shed some light on a few common concerns homeowners have about pondless waterfalls. Read on to learn more.

How much water does a pondless waterfall need?

Pondless waterfalls are a custom-made landscape feature that’s specifically designed to fit in a particular backyard. Since no two pondless waterfalls are quite the same, the amount of water your waterfall requires will vary depending on its size and the effect you’re going for. As a general rule of thumb, every inch of spillway needs at least 100 gallons of water per hour in order to achieve a standard waterfall flow. If you want your waterfall to be more splashy, you can use as many as 200 gallons for every inch of waterfall spillway per hour.

Which pump do I need for a pondless waterfall?

For streams and waterfalls, your pump should be able to pump at least 100 gallons per hour for every inch of waterfall width. If you want your waterfall to be noisier and have the “white-water” effect, you’ll need a pump with a flow rate of 200 gallons per hour per inch of waterfall width. Your pump should be able to pump out about 50% of the water volume in your waterfall on an hourly basis. For example, if your waterfall holds 1000 gallons, you should get a pump that can move 500 gallons per hour.

Does a pondless waterfall need a filter?

It doesn’t. Unlike backyard ponds, pondless waterfalls don’t contain fish or plants, and therefore don’t need the same biological filtration systems that a fish pond requires to stay clean. Furthermore, the gravel and rocks that form a typical pondless waterfall serve as natural filters, This helps ensure the water in your pondless waterfall always looks crystal clear. That being said, debris buildup can clog the pump on your pondless waterfall and make it difficult for water to circulate to the top of the waterfall. Always take a moment to remove debris while maintaining your pondless waterfall.

Can I have plants or fish in my pondless waterfall?

Yes and no. While marginal plants will thrive along the water’s edge and can be used to really enhance the look of your waterfall, deeper aquatic plants such as water lilies and lotus simply can’t survive without a pond. Like deeper aquatic plants, fish can’t live unless they’re in an actual body of water. Since a pondless waterfall doesn’t have a pond, the fish would just end up getting circulated through the waterfall system. Needless to say, they wouldn’t be able to survive for long in such conditions.

Where can I get a top-notch pondless waterfall design and installation in San Diego?

Installing a pondless waterfall is an affordable and low-maintenance way to give your backyard a truly unique look. The relaxing sounds from a pondless waterfall are known to improve sleep and make the time you spend home more pleasant regardless of whether you live in La Jolla or in one of the downtown districts. Here at Pacific Dreamscapes, we specialize in providing our fellow San Diego homeowners with an extensive range of first-rate landscaping features. Reach out to us today.