Pondless Waterfalls

Pondless Waterfalls in Tampa

A disappearing waterfall, most commonly referred to as a pondless waterfall, is one that provides the visual and auditory beauty of a natural waterfall but without the addition of a traditional pond or pool at the base. They are designed so the water flows over stones or other decorative elements, usually falling onto smaller stones, pebbles, or pavers and then disappearing into a small underground reservoir or vault which works with the pump to move water back up to the start of the falls. When designed correctly, the smallest rocks or pebbles are scattered densely over the reservoir hiding it completely from sight. The water from the fall is continuously recirculated, offering a low-maintenance and space-efficient alternative to the traditional waterfall and pond combination. While ponds do require some maintenance (or at least the right combination of fish and plants or an appropriate filter to remain clean) the pondless waterfalls require even less work to keep it looking and sounding great.

Another great feature is that by having running water in your yard, you are replicating a natural environment for the local wildlife. Bird may arrive to bath and drink from the falls. Like with ponds, dragonflies will be attracted to the water garden, and even frogs may visit to find shelter among the stones.

Turn Your Waterfall Off

Another cool feature of re-circulating waterfalls is that you can have them set up with an easy on-off switch. If you're heading on vacation or just prefer to have the water off while you're away from home each day, we can install a simple function so the pump only begins running when you hit the on button. Depending on your pond set-up, this may require a dedicated pump so as to keep the rest of the water flowing through the pond to avoid stagnation. Some sort of constant water agitation or circulation will help you spread out the cleaning cycles for your pond because water movement helps prevent settling which leads to quicker build up of all the decaying matter that makes it's way into your pond water.

Pond Safety Concerns

Although many ponds are less than two feet deep, some potential owners have worries about children or pets falling in. These are valid concerns, especially since some small ponds are not built within a fence, like pools are here in Florida. If you've been wresting with this idea but are still craving the natural sounds of a babbling brook or gently splashing water, consider a pondless water feature. The falls can create all of that lovely sound and pleasing visuals without an adjoining body of open water. 



Many pond owners expand their original idea after years of enjoyment. Some call this their second pond even though it is just an expansion. If you'd like to start with a disappearing water feature in your yard, you can reap most of the benefits of an actual pond while you wait for your toddler to grown and then renovate the poolless waterfall into a more robust aquascape with a real pond. By having the space already set aside, you will likely save money and time on the project, not to mention that if your equipment is in good shape, it can probably also be repurposed for your expansion.

Pondless But Not Plant-less

While you may assume a pondless waterfall has to be a slimmed down version of a waterfall with a pond, this is not the case at all. Just like a pond connected waterfall, a pondless waterfall can be customized with various decorative elements, such as natural stones, rocks, gravel, or plants, to create a visually appealing and natural-looking waterfall structure. Even though the end path for the water will be underground, we can still design many levels of falls if you have the space for it. Your falls could carry on for 50 or 100 feet in length and still end up at the vault being recirculated back to the beginning of the falls. An equal number, or even more plants can be designed in and around your waterfall to thrive in the environment, just like the ones that surround a pond. The water will cascade over all these elements just the same, creating the soothing sounds and aesthetic beauty of a traditional waterfall whether it ends in a pool or not.