Below is a series of pictures from a pondless waterfall we just finished in Cupertino.
This feature is 4 ft tall and falls for about 15 ft into a pondless basin.
We built this feature complete with landscaping and low voltage landscape/ aquatic lighting.
The only part of this design I would have changed is the width of the waterfall mound. When we are constructing waterfalls on flat ground I like to make the width of the waterfall mound about 5 times the height of the falls. This gives the feature a more natural look. Anything less than this can make the feature look like a 'volcano'.
This waterfall is approx. 12 ft wide and 4 ft tall. We were able to give it a more natural look with the plantings, but would still prefer to have it around 20 ft wide.
We started this waterfall on flat ground, building up a waterfall mound of compacted road base and soils.
We installed a cinder block retaining wall to support the soils.
Then we dug out a 4x4 ft pit at the bottom of the mound to house the pondless basin.
The size of your basin should be able to hold approx. 3 times the amount of flowing water in your feature. We assumed 120 gallons of moving water for this waterfall.
Once the basin is excavated we install the liner and 'Matrix Boxes'. The Matrix boxes will simply hold space in the basin to maximize the amount of water we can use in the waterfall.
At this time we will also install the 'Snorkel' or pump housing.
We used a 15 inch PIP pipe that we perforated for the snorkel.
The snorkel allows clean access to the pump and gives us a place to pump out the basin durning routine maintenance.
Perforated Snorkel.
With the pondless waterfall basin complete, we can now stretch out the waterfall liner. We used a 45 mil EPDM rubber liner. The liner is protected with a geo-textile fabric underlayment.
We start placing the initial waterfall stones using dry-laid stone work techniques. Stones and boulders are placed with minimal gaps between the stones. The stone work is backfilled with 3/4 inch gravel so there are no empty spaces.
We will occasionally use mortar or waterfall foam behind the rock to push the water to the face of the falls rocks. Predicting where the water will flow takes experience and imagination at this point in the construction.
When the the falls are complete, we can install supporting and accent boulders around the waterfall mound. We will take special care at this point to cover all the liner along the edges of the feature, and install cobblestones into the streams and pondless waterfall basin.
The feature is finished with plants, low voltage landscape lighting and cedar mini-bark.
Plants include a dwarf Japanese Maple, Hydrangea and a variety of grasses.
