In most cases a waterfall will have to be constructed. For the purpose of the section we will assume this is the case.

The Backdrop:

It is important that you select the proper backdrop for your waterfall. Placing a waterfall in from of your backyard chain link fence will look like you placed it in front of a chain link fence! Not a very natural setting. But it does not have to be that way. The structure of this rock garden should not be a pile of rocks stacked up 3 ft tall. Placing the rocks carefully in layers so that they look like a natural rocky outcropping should form it. You should plan this waterfall when you construct the actual pond. It will be a whole lot easier and will probably blend better when done at the same time.

Combination Units:

Many non-do it yourself type people opt for the easiest route possible. We can't say as we blame them. Many manufacturers are designing combination filters with integrated waterfall lips. These are very popular and a very easy way to get that waterfall affect. You can see these combination units here.

They can be installed in the ground up to the waterfall lip or installed above ground with dirt and rock around them to simulate the sloped face of a hill. You can even have them dump their water into a stream first, then let the stream flow into the main pond area. The design options are many.

Can You Dig It?:

 Now that you have decided that you will start your waterfall, we need to dig it. That's right we have to have a foundation and area where any water that flows under the waterfall has a way to make it back into the pond and not on the ground. Decide if you want a cascading waterfall or sheer. The cascading waterfall uses 2 or more areas that cascade water from one section to another eventually flowing into the pond. The sheer waterfall is generally taller in stature and the water falls down the sheer rock faces of the placed rock.

Cascading Falls:

A cascade waterfall will begin by digging out a bowl shape ensuring the back is deeper than the front, so that when the pump is switched on some still water remains for a more pleasing effect. You may have more than one bowl shape one in front of another connecting them with a narrowing at the front area. When dug, use building sand and trowel smooth 2" of sand as a cushion for your liner. Line carefully with pond liner and overlap where needed. Smooth out the liner so that any folds are large and deliberate. This makes them easier to hide. Be sure that you leave enough liner to run over the existing pond liner so no leaks are created. Always work from the pond up overlapping a few inches each new piece you add. Now trim the edge of the liner and start placing rocks around the edge of the openings. You can use a flat rock in the sections between the bowls as waterfall lips. Strategically place additional rocks to finish off the look. Use river rock or gravel on the bottom to hide the liner. Now all you need is the finish touches of plants.

Shear Waterfalls:

Installing a sheer waterfall is not all that different than the cascading type. We still need to dig out an area larger than the actual waterfall, add sand, trowel and place a liner in the hole you have dug. Remember it needs to overlap into the existing pond. You can secure it using double faced repair tape. Placing them carefully in layers so that they look like a natural rocky outcropping should form the rocks. The final look will depend on how you place the rock. You may have to adjust some of them after the water flows to get it to look exactly the way you want.

Plumbing It:

Getting the water to your waterfall is accomplished by pumping water from the pond to the top of the waterfall. You can use a waterfall type submersible pump and control the flow through the use of a homemade distribution center. This flow control is made using PVC pipe, fittings and ball valves to control how much water goes where. The size of pipe depends on the outflow size of the pump itself. If it is a 1 1/2" outflow, then use 1 1/2" pipe, fittings and valves. You will need to cap one end of the main pipe. Water comes in on one end of the pipe and by using tees in that length of main pipe, you can distribute the water evenly across the waterfall. The valves are placed just after each tee section so that you can adjust the actual flow going down that section. As far as the pump itself, we do recommend that you use a separate pump for the waterfall.

The easiest way to control the flow back into the pond is with a SPILLWAY or a Biological filter with Spillway