This is the second in a series of informative blogs aimed at sharing with the landscape design community my 40 plus years of experience in designing and installing garden fountains in private residences.
Sharing the spotlight with “Splash” – “Water Replenishment”, stands at the top of the list of challenges to the construction and long term enjoyment of a garden fountain.
Few people realize how quickly water loss occurs –especially from small wall mounted fountains that hold about a gallon or less in their bowl. During continuous use it only takes a short time for the water to diminish to the point where the pump runs dry and burns out. I suspect the pump manufacturers really make their money from the re-sales of pumps that have been run dry and burned out. I’m speaking mainly of submersible pumps here, but this also applies to above ground or “open air” pumps
Keep in mind that returning a fairly new dead pump to the pump or fountain retailer with the story “it just quit” won’t get you a new pump at “no charge”. They’ve been through that drill numerous times. There are various levels of solutions. As always, pre-planning produces the best results. Building code (and your own well being) – require an anti-siphon device on the incoming water supply.
I. POST INSTALLATION SOLUTIONS
Sprinkler refill system
This is the easiest, simplest, most cost effective and possibly the most popular post installation method. Simply run a waterline from the automatic sprinklers to the fountain. It seems that most people would rather trade the overflowing fountain for a no-burned-out pump situation.
One advantage here is the sprinkler valve has an anti siphon feature. Also if you dedicate a separate valve for the fountain, a little experimentation will allow you to set the valve timing cycle to fill but not over-flow.
The next step up (if possible) is to add an overflow that connects to a drainage system.
Remote self contained buriable reservoir
Probably the best solution (for those who are handy) is to add a nearby self contained buriable reservoir with auto fill, float valve, submersible pump and incoming and out-going lines, or just as a re-fill reservoir with the pump in the fountain. The model shown here is a good example of just such reservoir, and can be adapted to both wall mounted and ground based fountains. Obviously this requires some degree of handy-man talent. I once suggested this solution to a client whose wife commented: if he can’t fix it with his mouth, it doesn’t get fixed
II. PREPLANNED SOLUTIONS
Sprinkler refill and overflow system
This is just the next level up from item “A” above, but pre-planning allows for the installation of a drain to receive the overflow. The draw-back is that the overflow is just wasted, which is a growing problem in water conscious times. This system uses an overflow pipe set at the desired water level, either in the wall or as a stand pipe up from the floor and a fill line from the sprinklers. The sprinkler line fills up the pond to the overflow outlet, and the excess spills into the drain.
Poolmiser or similar system
The Poolmiser is basically a toilet tank refill system housed in a plastic “bucket” with a 1-1\2″ – 2” equalizer pipe connecting to the fountain pond basin. Since the water level in the Pool Miser must be at the same water level in the pond, the Pool Miser usually has to be installed above ground and within 20 feet of the fountain. There is generally a spot close by where the unit can be concealed. Obviously this is only for fountains with on grade ponds. Poolmisers are available through pool supply stores.
Float valve in pond
Like the unit above this is only for fountains with on-grade ponds/basins. The simplest and least attractive of these is a low-cost float valve with a buoyant shut – off arm, attached to a supply pipe protruding from the wall. If you choose PVC Pipe, be sure to paint it to protect it from UV deterioration. It’s best to locate the pipe about 3” above the water line as the shut-off arm is adjustable. This type of float valve does not have an anti-siphon capability but if you feed it from the sprinklers you will utilize that Anti Siphon Feature. Also while not code approved, the air gap between the water surface and the valve outlet will provide Anti Siphon Protection. Hudson Valve Company makes an anti siphon float valve about the size of a beer can that costs under $40.They have an extensive listing of dealers on their website
Always use a no-leak fitting on any pipe or conduit that pieces the fountain wall. No–Leak fittings will be more fully discussed in your upcoming blogs on “Waterproofing your fountain” and “Basic Fountain Plumbing and Engineering”. Watch for these and other future blogs or add our RSS feed to your browser.
We hope you found this information helpful and if we can help you in the future, don’t hesitate to call
either Bill or Marti, who have a combined experience of nearly 50 years in fountain “stuff”.
This is the first in a series of informative blogs aimed at sharing with the landscape design community my forty plus (40+) years of experience in designing and installing garden fountains in private residences.
Since my first fountain in 1968, I have always thought of the designing and building of fountains ‘kinda’ like raising children…None of us are really qualified until we have done it a few times…and that is where grandmothers come in handy.
Well, I’m kind of a ‘Grandma’ - or Grandpa as it were - in the Residential Fountain Field.
Unlike commercial fountains, where the large budgets attract an abundance of quality fountain designers, consultants, contractors, component manufacturers, etc…The typical residential client is unwilling (or unable) to provide those big budgets, so we few “Fountain Grandpas” come out of a passion for the genre.
There are many factors that if not addressed in the planning stage will produce a disappointing fountain experience for the professional designer/installer, as well as the client.
As you drive around in residential communities, you will notice that the vast majority of fountains are not running. (Mostly pre-fabricated fountains, but custom built fountains as well). This also seems to be the case with restaurant fountains, but to a lesser degree. There are reasons behind that…and we shall address those reasons, and their solutions, in this series of blogs and newsletters.
We will concern ourselves here mainly with the custom built fountains, as the mass produced pre-cast concrete fountains have their problems built in, and short of throwing away the basin (which is the source of most of the problems) there is nothing that can be done.
Following is a list, in descending order, of the items to be addressed, - but fear not … as all of these can all be corrected if dealt with BEFORE the surrounding pavement is laid.
Splash
Water replenishment
Balanced water flow
Algae control/water quality
Leakage
Preparation/Proper planning (which is actually, kind of the overall general solution)
The first three are the main… and most common… fountain killers, with the remaining items still a major annoyance.
SPLASH I usually tell my clients that the three major problems with fountains aresplash, splash and splash. Splash creates muddy flower beds, unsightly (and unsafe) wet pavement and produces rapid water loss Item #2 above) which creates burned out pumps. After replacing the pump 2 or 3 times, the fountain owner usually gives up and shuts down the fountain. In fact, here in Southern California we are seeing fountains prohibited in front yards in communities where landscape “Guidelines” are dictated by the Home Owners Associations.
My personal formula for becoming fabulously wealthy is to figure out how to corner the “burned out pump replacement” market.
The answer to the splash problem is simple - just make the pond basin large enough to contain the splash. If you look at large public fountains, or ancient Roman and Greek fountains, you will notice they all have very large/wide basins. Contrary to popular belief this is NOT to keep children away from trying to play in the falling water. The diameter of the splash footprint is 1-1/2 times the height of the falling water - or the splash radius is 75% of the height of the falling water…
In other words if your water is falling 36″ you will need a minimum of 27″ of water surface outward from the point where the falling water strikes the pond water. Unfortunately, (I argue this point with clients all the time), it seems that the client’s don’t want to give up patio space, walkway width, etc… or, there is just not sufficient space for a proper basin where they want to put the fountain.
But…there are solutions… both before and after the fountain is constructed.
DEALING WITH AN EXISTING SPLASH PROBLEM In some cases the solution is the lesser of 2 evils
INCREASE THE BASIN WALL HEIGHT
This will create a higher barrier for the water to “jump” over. Either the water depth must be lowered (if possible)… or physically add to the wall height.
ADD A BRONZE SCREEN AT WATER LEVEL This is a highly effective method and not as unsightly as you might think. This works best if your basin has a method of maintaining constant water level. The original Rain Jet self-contained fountains used this method very effectively.
ADD VERTICAL GROWING WATER PLANTS
Besides (in my opinion) adding a special charm to your fountain the plants help to break up the splash (like the bronze screen above) and the vertical leaves interrupt the flying water. You can move the potted plants around to best block the splash.
HAVE THE WATER FALL INTO PEA GRAVEL This is also an effective splash dampener … True pea gravel works the best, as the sharp angels of the crushed rock present no flat surfaces for the water to bounce off of … kinda like a stealth fighter plane. 3/8″ size naturally tumbled stone is only slightly less effective and far more attractive. We don’t suggest the larger Mexican Beach Pebbles as they create as much splash as a water surface.
DEALING WITH POTENTIAL SPLASH WHERE BASIN SPACE IS LIMITED
PROPOSE A FOUNTAIN that Produces little or No Splash
POT FOUNTAINS
These are the latest “Buzz” and are very attractive and cost effective (cheap). The only downside to a pot fountains is they do not produce “Nature’s Music”, but they can be a good visual accent, and if properly designed and installed have the lowest maintenance requirements; need no algae control system; eliminate water loss problems, are the easiest to install; have no leak problems; and can create the best profit potential for the installer - with no call backs.This is an example of a pot fountain kit that possesses all these assets.
In 1975 I designed and installed a “Pot Fountain” (using a 12″ sewer pipe in lieu of a pot) disappearing into a beach pebble basin and now these are all the rage!
This is the First Original “Pot Fountain” with Disappearing Water Basin - Circa 1975.
WATER WALLS
Water walls work well for both interior and exterior applications with little or no splash. For interior applications they produce a pleasing and subtle sound. The single downside for interior installation is the limited reservoir capacity and adding an auto fill device can be challenging.
Laguna Water Worksproduces a line of high quality water walls for interior applications. As for constructing your own exterior water walls, we suggest you use a CUSTOM CASCADES manifold to distribute the water evenly from above.
SCP POOL PRODUCTS is a world wide distributor of CUSTOM CASCADES.
IF THE CLIENT STILL WANTS A BASIN TYPE FOUNTAIN
Include Known Splash Mitigation Solutions to Your Design: i.e. any of the solutions or a combination thereof, as per section I above.
We hope this information proves helpful. We thank you for checking our website for future blogs in this series or joining our RSS Feed.
We suggest you check our website for creative ideas and products for your fountains.
Feel free to contact us as we are always able and willing to be of service.
Fountains Unique was selected to design the The University of Southern California “Nazarian Pavilion” courtyard fountain. This fountain was created from parts found on our website including our spouts and bowls.
Visit fountiansunique.com to see our large selection of custom fountain parts and accessories and give your next project the same class and sophistication found in this million dollar project.
From the website: “Designed by Dianna Wong and LHA Architects, the Nazarian Pavilion offers visitors an inviting place for conversation and collaboration.
“Our library users’ highest desire was that we create for them a place where individuals or small groups could sit down together, maybe over a cup of tea or coffee, and discuss ideas,” said Jerry D. Campbell, chief information officer and dean of the USC Libraries, during the dedication ceremony. “Thanks to the vision of Soraya, Younes and their family, this new venue will invite personal study and reflection, as well as collaboration, all of which are essential for the university to thrive.”
Fountainsunique.com is proud to have been chosen to provide the fountain design for this new facility.
· Ships fully assembled. Just connect, plug it in and enjoy.
· Includes pump
· Available in 1-2 weeks
Instantly create a bit of ambiance with this attractive wall mounted fountain. It features a cast bronze lion’s head on a marble mosaic tile background set in a cultured limestone back plate spitting water into a cultured limestone bowl. The cultured limestone housing hides the water reservoir, pump and auto fill mechanism. Three different mosaic patterns are available.
Fountain is 39” high & 23” wide with the edge of the bowl projecting 14” from rear. Total dry weight of fountain is 91 lbs.
Includes a variable speed, U.L. listed, re-circulating fountain pump. Cord is six feet long, black and plugs into a three prong outlet. We recommend a G.F.I. outlet be used, but check local electrical codes. Cord comes out of the back of the fountain. It is possible, with a bit of planning, to hide all the wires and hoses ( see our mounting recommendations)
The fountain includes a self-filling mechanism. Tubing and self-piercing tap valve (like that used in connecting a refrigerator’s ice maker) is provided. (illustrated here)
Ships within 1-2 weeks from order date.
The fountain ships completely assembled with a mounting bracket.
