A headless angel looks down on a tired little pond, in need of a facelift… The lower pond is approximately 10’X15’X24” with a brittle liner, and our client has asked us to rehabilitate the pond, install new liner, rework the rock edging and create a new stepped waterfall stream.
	Views from above and in front… …great raw material. The pond is perfectly sited and at one time was a showpiece. It can be again… It’s a bit of a challenge working around existing landscaping, but our crews are experienced, and more than careful when it comes to preserving the work area… …especially this beautiful patch of cinnamon fern that the owner transplanted from her original home in Florida.
The old liner has been removed, and some work has been done on building up the back wall to blend with the existing landscaping.		Cutting a pond into the grade is much more interesting than leveling it all out. Graded worksites always lead to water features that definitely appear more organic and natural.
	The old stream has been cleared away and the new waterfall box has been installed and leveled. We use top quality overflow boxes to capture water coming from the filtration system, allowing it to rise up within the box and flow out naturally. This is a 16” box, which will contain filter media, and should accommodate the 3600gph flow. Flexible 1.5” PVC pipe is used for the connection, allowing for the best flow from the pump, and protection against ground heaves in the winter.
	Nick’s big 14’s are stomping in the SAVIO compact skimmer, another high quality product, built to last and not deform like many other boxes on the market. This box is also one of the few on the market with the option to add internal UV sterilization directly to the skimmer, very convenient! . The front weir opening is stabilized with some rocks, and the unit is backfilled with sand to keep it level if the ground should heave during the colder months. Plumbing connections are threaded through a brick lined channel to allow for maintenance access. All will be covered with rockwork and plantings.
	Heavy, woven polyester rock mat is used as an underlayment to protect the EPDM rubber liner from damage, and is laid out liberally. This is undoubtedly the best product on the market. The 45mil EPDM liner is then installed. We use only Pondguard liner from Firestone, guaranteed for 20 years against breakdown caused by UV light, and most definitely 100 % safe for fish and other wildlife. You can also see the beginnings of the submerged rock border, which creates the illusion of rock-lined pond, while allowing for more efficient filtration and ease of maintenance. By keeping the deep sections of the pond clear and smooth, debris remains in the water column where it can be removed by the filtration system. Maintenance is also much easier here than in a rock-lined pond, since the pool may be partially drained and then simply vacuumed.	…nice taper down on the back wall. Makes the feature appear to be cut into the hill, very natural. This is the view from the waterfall box. You can also see the continuous stream liner and the sculpted steps for the cascades. By using a single piece of liner, no overlays or pieced-in scraps, we avoid many potential leaks in the future as the pond shifts around due to seasonal changes. We need to work out a few wrinkles yet, but the 12” deep planting shelf is also shaping up. The shallow section ahead of the skimmer also helps to keep things clean by increasing the water velocity at the surface where it enters the weir.
Construction was completed in four days, and the following pictures were taken a week later.
View from the top of the waterfall, where a new pair of angels relaxes in the shade.		Coming down the stairs from the deck, a visitor sees this view of the main pool.
	Lovely view from the high level deck. Rare to see water features from this unique perspective. The lower patio made much more intimate… …with the comforting rush of the main waterfall.