Pondless Waterfalls: A Waterfall Without the Pond

A pondless waterfall gives you a waterfall and a running stream with no pond at the bottom. The water falls into a bed of rock, drains into a hidden reservoir underground and gets pumped back to the top. You get the sound of a creek in your yard without open water to clean, fence or lose to evaporation. For most California yards it is a smarter choice than a pond.

Pondless waterfall vs a pond

	Pondless waterfall	Pond
Open water	None	Yes
Safe around kids and pets	Yes	Needs care
Water lost to evaporation	Low	Higher
Upkeep	Top up water, clear leaves	Water quality, fish, algae
Space	A side yard or a corner	More room

If you do want fish and water lilies, see how to build a backyard pond.

How a pondless waterfall works

1. A basin is dug at the low end, lined, and filled with a reservoir vault surrounded by rock.
2. A pump sits inside the vault, where you can reach it through an access lid.
3. Tubing carries the water to a waterfall spillway at the top of the stream.
4. The water runs down a lined, rock-covered stream and falls back into the rock bed over the vault.

Choosing a pondless waterfall kit

Kits are sized by stream length. Pick the length that fits your space and the kit brings a matched pump, reservoir vault, liner, tubing and waterfall spillway. Deluxe kits come with an adjustable-flow pump. Check each kit page for exactly what is included.

Saving water? The rainwater harvesting add-on kit lets a pondless waterfall collect rain from your roof into its reservoir.

Pondless waterfall kits and parts

The rock is what makes it look natural

The kit makes the water move; the stone makes it look like a real creek. Plan on boulders for the waterfall and the edges, river rock and cobble for the stream bed, and smaller gravel to fill the gaps and cover the vault. Mixing sizes, with a few large stones and plenty of small ones, looks far more natural than one size.

River rock and gravel for the stream

How to build a pondless waterfall

1. Plan the path. Put the waterfall where you will see it from the house, and use a natural slope if you have one.
2. Dig the reservoir at the low end and the stream channel up to the waterfall.
3. Lay underlayment and liner through the reservoir and the stream.
4. Set the vault and pump, then run the tubing to the top.
5. Place the spillway and build the falls with boulders.
6. Fill the reservoir with rock around the vault and dress the stream with river rock and gravel.
7. Fill with water and test, then adjust the rocks until the water runs where you want it.

Just want the look of a creek without running water? See how to build a dry creek bed. Short on space? A bubbling rock fountain fits in a single corner.

Frequently asked questions

What is a pondless waterfall?

A waterfall and stream that recirculate from an underground reservoir filled with rock instead of an open pond. You see and hear moving water, but there is no standing water at the bottom.

What size pondless waterfall kit do I need?

Match the kit to the stream you want. Kits are sold by stream length, for example a 6 foot, 16 foot or 26 foot stream. A longer stream needs a bigger reservoir and pump, which is why the kit sizes go together.

Does a pondless waterfall attract mosquitoes?

Mosquitoes breed in still water. In a pondless waterfall the water is either moving or stored underground in the reservoir, so there is no open standing water for them.

How much maintenance does a pondless waterfall need?

Much less than a pond. There are no fish to feed and no open water to keep clear. Top up the water when the level drops, clear leaves from the stream and clean the pump now and then.

Can I turn a pondless waterfall off?

Yes. When the pump is off, the water drains back into the underground reservoir and the stream simply looks like a dry creek bed of rock until you turn it back on.

Get the materials

Shop pond and water feature kits, pond pumps, boulders and river rock, or request a quote for the kit and all the stone together. Questions? Call (800) 215-7372.