Waterfalls & Water Features

OASE's rule of thumb is based on the width of the spillway lip:

• Gentle trickle: about 100 l/h for every cm of width
• Lively flow: about 200 l/h for every cm of width

A 20 cm lip needs roughly 2,000 l/h for a gentle flow, or 4,000 l/h for a lively one, at your head height, not open flow. The length of the stream doesn't change the pump size; once the water's at the top, gravity does the rest. Each OASE waterfall page also lists the pump size OASE recommends for it.

It's a feature with its own built-in reservoir and pump, so you don't need a pond. Fill it with water, plug it in and it recirculates the same water. You only need to top it up as the water evaporates: about weekly in summer, less often the rest of the year.

Self-contained features are easy to install, easy to move, and safer for small children than open ponds.

A self-contained feature is almost always the right answer. They take up little space, need no digging and are easy to move. Options that work well in small spaces:

• A water bowl on a patio: modern, low profile, usually under 60 cm wide
• A wall-mounted spout: mounts flat on a wall, takes almost no floor space
• A stacked stone column: vertical interest, works against a fence
• A spring stone over a hidden reservoir: natural look, child-safe

Indoor-friendly options exist too, but check they're rated for indoor use: outdoor features splash more than indoor rooms can take.

A pondless water feature is the safest option. Water circulates through a hidden reservoir under a grid or stones, so there's no open water for a child to fall into. It still gives you the sound and movement of water, and it's the right choice for a family garden.

If you already have a pond, you can:

• Fit a safety grid across the surface, strong enough to take a child's weight. Grids sit just below the water and are hidden by lilies and planting as the pond grows in.
• Fence the pond on all sides with child-proof fencing at least 1.1 m high and a self-closing gate.
• Choose a shallower pond (under 60 cm) with gently sloping sides and plant it densely, so a child who steps in can get out.

None of these replaces supervision. For small children, assume they will find a way to the water.