Water cascadesis a great way to set the water in a garden pond in motion. Rest in such a place can be very relaxing, especially for people who like the sound of water. See how to makea water cascade in the gardenand how to build a waterfall or a waterfall over a pond and what pump to use to power such a structure.
Water cascades - a cascading stream and a small waterfall over a pond n
How to build a cascading brook
If there is a natural or specially created hill next to the pond, we can makecascading stream , which will flow from the hill to the pond through several waterfalls.To make such awater cascadewe will need a flexible foil for ponds (it can be the same lining that we used for the construction of the pond), polyester mat underlay for the lining, rock fragments to mask the edges the stream and the formation of the edge of the waterfalls (it cannot be a limestone rock, because the water will wash it away quickly), as well as small stones and pebbles that we place at the bottom of the stream. Larger structures may require reinforcement with mortar.
A flexible pipe will lead the water from the pond to the top of the stream. Forsmall water cascade construction, a rubber hose is enough. Of course, you will also need a special pond pump to pump water from the pond to the top of the stream. For most small-sized structures, a submersible pump will be appropriate, which will be placed at the bottom of the pond.
Water cascade in the garden - examples of common mistakes
When startingbuilding a water cascade , first the embankment adjacent to the water reservoir should be properly shaped. In the embankment, we drill the stream bed and create steps, bevels and cascades. It is advisable that the water does not run down diagonally all the time, but rather collects in small depressions on each step of the cascade. It will look more natural and it will be easier for us to mask the carpet. In addition, the water will remain on the individual steps of the cascade, even when the pump is stopped.
Rake the bottom of the trough, remove any protruding stones, remnants of plants and roots. Then we spread the litter (e.g. made of a polyester mat) and put the foil on it. Remember that the foil should protrude slightly beyond the edges of the stream. If we use several separate pieces of foil, place them in such a way that the pieces of foil placed higher overlap the pieces located below.
Next to the brook, dig a channel through which the pipe connected to the pump will run, bringing water from the pond to the top of the brook.If the pipe, in order to hide it, will be immersed in a tank formed at the top of the stream, it is necessary to use a non-return valve (details of this structure are presented in the diagram below). The upper end of the pipe can also be placed above the water surface. We will then hide it under the protruding fragment of the rock.
Water cascade - water cycle in the structure of a cascade brook
In the last stageof the construction of the water cascadewe move on to covering the banks of the stream and the edges of the waterfalls with fragments of rocks and stones. On the outside, we sprinkle the stones with soil to make the structure stable. After starting the water flow, we will see if the edges of the stream have been created in the right way. If the water runs out and runs off the sides or runs off at an incorrect rate, it may become necessary to adjust the finished structure.
If we have decided on a submersible pump, we place it at the lowest point of the pond.Preferably on a stone base so that it does not suck in dirt and silt from the bottom of the pond. This is especially important for clean water pumps. However, you can also buy a dirty water pump, which can easily stand directly at the bottom of our pond.
When designing a pond and a cascade , don't forget to connect the pump power cable. It is recommended that the cables are additionally shielded and equipped with devices for collecting residual current. It is worth preparing a sealed box with electrical sockets to which pumps and other devices installed in the pond will be connected. The power supply circuit of the device to the eyelet should be protected with an overcurrent and residual current circuit breaker ensuring safe use of devices powered with 230 V.
When everything works properly, cover the hill with the water flowing down.
Garden cascades - sometimes you don't even need a pond to have a cascade
Waterfalls and waterfall
Another effective element adjacent to a pond can be a waterfall or a waterfall. In this case, the water circulation will be similar to the previously discussed structures. However, the water does not flow as a stream through severalwater cascadesIts outlet is located above the upper end of a flat rock, placed vertically above the edge of the pond. The water flowing at the top of the rock falls down, creating a waterfall. Such a structure, due to the weight of the rock, as well as the steep slope of the slope, must be adequately reinforced, e.g. with mortar. We strengthen not only the embankment itself and the rocks resting on it, but also the edge of the pond, not forgetting that the reinforcement elements are hidden and do not interfere with the natural appearance of the structure.
We can also create a waterfall. For this purpose, at the bottom of the pond, in the place where the water flowing from the vertical rock flows into it, we place a properly profiled boulder.The surface of the boulder must protrude above the water surface in the tank. Thanks to this, the water will first hit effectively and splash on the boulder, and then it will run down to the pond. Due to the size and weight of the boulder used here, it may turn out that the edges of the mesh lined with foil will not be sufficiently durable. Therefore, if we want to build a waterfall, the structure of the water reservoir itself must be very solid. It can be, for example, a concrete basin (see picture below).
Water cascades - the water cycle in the structure of the waterfall
Water cascade pumps
The purchase of an appropriatepump for a water cascadeis a very important element, because the success of the entire project depends to a large extent on the parameters of the pump. Depending on our needs and the calculated required pump capacity, its purchase may cost from several hundred to even several thousand zlotys. So we cannot afford to make a mistaken choice.
High-efficiency pumps are used to supplywater cascades andstreams. The performance is selected according to the following parameters:
- maximum stream or waterfall width,
- difference between the pond water level and the outflow level of a stream or waterfall,
- Number of other connections (e.g. fountains) if supplied by the same pump
The required capacity can be estimated using formulas or reading it from the tables that can be found in the catalogs with pond equipment. It can be roughly assumed that a pump with a maximum capacity of 100 l / h is needed for 1 cm of the width of the stream (cascade). A pump for a 30 cm wide stream should therefore have a maximum capacity of not less than 3000 l / h. The required head of the pump depends on the height of the jet (cascade) and the diameter and length of the water supply hose.The longer and narrower the hose is, the higher the lifting height should be. For example, up to a cascade of 4 m high, supplied with a 10 m long and 25 mm diameter hose, the pump should have a lifting height of not less than 6 m.
