How to Build a Pondless Waterfall

Create a beautiful focal point outdoors with a beautiful pondless waterfall. Learn how to build one for your backyard in this video by This Old House:

The pondless waterfall is a closed system that flows down from tier to tier to a pondless basin concealed underground.

Dig a large basin, making one area deeper for the pump vault. Square up the sides and level off the bottom. Lay down landscape fabric first, followed by a waterproof rubber membrane.

Place plastic boxes and the pump vault in the basin and fill in the remaining spaces with river rocks. Place the pump in the bottom of the vault and connect the pipe to the spillway.

Position boulders to form the waterfall and add LED lighting, then fill any voids with black expanding foam. Fill the rest of the bed with river rocks. Trim off any excess liner.

Fill up the reservoir with water, add landscaping and cover the area with mulch.