There are many reasons to choose a water feature as an alternative to, or possibly in addition to a pond installation. Some of the most common reasons for installing a water feature as opposed to a pond are cost, space and safety.

A water feature is pretty much any installation that brings moving water to your garden, or possibly even inside your residence as indoor features are now available off the shelf. The beauty of water features is twofold. Hopefully, if you’ve got your planning right they are aesthetically pleasing, in addition to this, the sound of running water provides a tranquil ambience to its surroundings. This latter point can be particularly beneficial if you live close to a busy road. The sound of running water will help to break up the monotony of traffic noise.

Common types of water feature are fountains, waterfalls and streams, the first two options being by far the most popular and offering enormous scope in concept.

A fountain can be anything from a humble bubble fountain installed in a quiet corner of your garden, to the majesty of the Emperor fountain at Chatsworth house. This fountain is reported to have reached the grand height of 296ft powered solely by gravity fed water. A waterfall will again encompass a similarly broad spectrum of ideas. Possibly the best way to try and classify types of waterfall would be as either attempting to imitate a natural scene, or alternatively, replicating a physical occurrence, such as a pouring jug. Needless to say, on the waterfall front, nature will pretty much trump anything you can produce if you consider scale as a key measure.

Quite simply, the only restriction on your design concept beyond cost and space will be your own imagination. Regardless of budget, if you have the desire, it will be possible to enhance your living space with the sound of running water. If you possess a creative streak, let your imagination run wild and you may just manage to create something truly unique in the process.