Garden Fountains: Position, Recirculation and Care

A garden fountain brings calm with the sound of water, but without the right position, a recirculating system and regular care it quickly fills with algae and becomes a problem.

On a hot summer day, the sound of running water changes the atmosphere of a garden: it softens street noise, gives the seating area a sense of coolness and creates a lively focal point. A fountain can range from a small wall niche to a large composition with a basin. Whatever its form, keeping it beautiful for years depends on a properly built water circuit and maintenance planned in advance.

Choosing the spot

A fountain should be seen and heard from the house, the terrace or the seating area; otherwise its main value is lost. Several practical points also need considering:

• Distance from trees: leaves, pollen and fruit fall into the water, clog the filter quickly and spoil water quality.
• Sun: in shallow water under full sun all day, algae grow fast and evaporation is high. Partial shade is better.
• Wind: in strong wind, a tall jet sprays around, wets the paving and empties the basin quickly. In exposed spots, a low, spreading flow is chosen.
• Sound: at night, fountain noise can disturb near a bedroom window or a neighbour's seating area.
• Proximity to power and a water supply.

How a recirculating system works

Most modern garden fountains recirculate: a pump lifts water from a basin or hidden reservoir, it leaves the nozzle and returns to the basin. Mains water is not used continuously; only what evaporates or splashes out is topped up.

The main parts of the system are:

• the water reservoir: a visible basin or a tank hidden beneath gravel;
• the pump, chosen according to jet height and flow volume;
• a filter: a mechanical filter to catch leaves and debris, and in larger systems a biological filter and UV lamp;
• automatic top-up: a valve that opens the water supply when the level drops;
• an overflow to drain excess water in heavy rain;
• a drain for cleaning the basin and preparing it for winter.

A pump running dry when the level drops fails quickly; some pumps have dry-run protection for this.

Materials and waterproofing

A fountain basin can be built of concrete, stone, ceramic, metal or ready-made composite vessels. A cast concrete basin must be waterproofed inside, since concrete itself can let water through over time. Stone or tile copings around the basin are chosen from water- and frost-resistant materials.

A dark basin floor makes water look deeper and clearer, while a light floor shows dirt sooner. The surface the jet lands on changes the character of the sound: water falling on stone sounds louder, water falling into water sounds softer.

Electrical and child safety

Electricity near water demands special care. Pump and lighting cables run in protective ducts, with moisture-resistant boxes and residual current protection. Low-voltage systems are chosen for underwater lights and pumps where possible. Leave the pump wiring and outdoor sockets to a licensed electrician.

If there are small children in the family, open water is a risk. In that case "dry" fountains, where water is stored in a tank hidden under gravel and only flows out between stones and back, wall fountains or very shallow bowls are safer. The tank lid must be strong and impossible for a child to open.

Why the water turns green and cloudy

Green water in a fountain usually comes from three factors together: plenty of sun, organic debris collecting in the water and weak circulation. As leaves and dust decay at the bottom, nutrients build up, and in warm weather algae use them straight away. Relying only on chemical treatments therefore hides the problem for a while rather than solving it.

A more lasting approach is to reduce each cause separately. The pump is sized to the volume of the basin so the water does not stand still. The filter is matched to the water volume, and a basin shape without corners where sediment settles is preferred. If flower beds with soil and mulch border the basin, rain can wash them into the water; a slightly raised edge or a drainage strip prevents this. If fish or aquatic plants are planned, their needs are considered in advance, because not every product used against birds or algae is safe for living things.

When topping up with mains water, hardness also matters: evaporation leaves salts behind, which cause white marks on stone and limescale on the nozzles. Removing and cleaning the nozzles from time to time keeps the shape of the jet.

Maintenance schedule

• Weekly: remove leaves and debris and check the water level.
• Monthly: rinse the filter and check the pump intake.
• Once or twice a season: drain the basin and clean out algae and sediment.
• Before winter, where there is frost: drain the system, remove the pump and store it somewhere dry, and protect exposed pipes.

Fountain locations in Zaferoğlu İnşaat's landscape designs are set together with the garden layout and the water and power lines serving them. If you want to plan a water feature for your garden, we can look at it together on a computer model.