Water features as architectural elements
In a well-designed pool, a water feature earns its place through proportion, material choice and its relationship to the surrounding architecture. A blade waterfall on a pool with exposed concrete walls reads differently from the same feature on a pool with natural stone coping. The feature does not define the pool – the pool defines the feature.
The question of which water feature to specify is secondary to where it sits in the design, how it relates to the overflow edge or the pool perimeter, and what it does to the hydraulic balance of the pool.
Blade waterfalls
The blade waterfall – a horizontal slot that delivers a continuous, uninterrupted sheet of water – is the most architecturally coherent choice for a contemporary pool. It requires no natural stone, no sculpted form, no landscape concealment. It works with geometry.
The sheet quality depends on two factors: the precision of the slot machining and the stability of the hydraulic pressure behind it. Any variation in pressure produces ripple or turbulence in the water sheet – visible immediately and impossible to correct without adjusting the pump or the valve. A blade waterfall is a hydraulic precision instrument as much as a visual one.
Standard blade heights range from 30 to 90 cm. A lower drop produces a softer, more translucent sheet; a higher drop introduces sound and visual weight. The choice is a design decision, made in relation to the pool’s proportions and the viewing distance from the terrace or the house.
Stainless steel and powder-coated aluminium are the standard materials. Both are chemically resistant and dimensionally stable in pool environments.
Wall-mounted cascades
A wall-mounted cascade delivers water from a vertical surface – either through a slot integrated into the wall structure or through a spout mounted at coping level. The effect ranges from a controlled trickle to a full-width cascade, depending on the flow rate and the width of the outlet.
On an overflow pool, a wall-mounted cascade on the opposite side from the overflow edge creates a hydraulic counterpoint – water entering the basin from above while the surface drains continuously at the far edge. This produces a perceptible movement across the water surface that reinforces the pool’s hydraulic logic rather than working against it.
The wall finish determines the acoustic character of the cascade. A smooth rendered surface produces a clean, direct sound; textured stone introduces scatter and a softer acoustic profile.
Laminar jets
A laminar jet produces a solid, glass-like arc of water – no spray, no turbulence, no visible distortion. At night, with LED illumination integrated into the jet nozzle, the effect is of a continuous filament of coloured light crossing the pool surface.
Laminar jets are the most hydraulically demanding of the standard water feature types. They require a completely stable supply pressure – any fluctuation breaks the laminar flow and introduces turbulence that destroys the effect. They also require precise alignment: the arc must reach its target point regardless of wind conditions, which limits their application to sheltered or enclosed pool settings.
They are typically specified in pairs or groups, positioned symmetrically along the pool edge or on a raised feature wall.
Hydraulic integration of pool water features
This is the aspect most frequently overlooked at the design stage – and the most consequential.
Every water feature adds flow demand to the pool’s hydraulic circuit. A blade waterfall at full width may require 5 to 15 m³/h of additional flow, depending on its dimensions. A laminar jet array may require 2 to 4 m³/h per jet. This demand must be accounted for in the pump specification – the filtration pump may not have sufficient capacity to serve both the filtration circuit and the water features simultaneously.
In a correctly specified installation, water features are served by a dedicated pump – separate from the filtration circuit, independently valved, and connected to a return line that recirculates water from the pool basin. This keeps the filtration circuit unaffected by water feature operation and allows each system to be controlled independently.
For overflow pools, the additional water movement increases evaporation and the volume of water in motion at any given time. The balance tank must be sized to accommodate this additional dynamic volume. This is a factor that must be included in the hydraulic study if water features are part of the brief – it cannot be calculated retrospectively.
Morana's advice
Water features specified after the pool is built are always a compromise. The pipe runs, the dedicated pump housing and the return lines must be accommodated within a structure that was not designed for them. On a new pool, the hydraulic infrastructure for water features adds modest cost at the construction stage. Retrofitted, it can cost three to five times as much – and may not achieve the same hydraulic result.
Frequently Asked Questions – Pool water features
Can water features be added to an existing pool?
Yes, but retrofitting involves significant hydraulic work. A dedicated pump and return circuit must be installed, pipe runs must be routed through or around the existing structure, and – on an overflow pool – the balance tank sizing must be reassessed. The result is achievable but considerably more expensive than integrating the feature at the construction stage.
What pump capacity is required for a blade waterfall?
Flow rate requirements depend on the blade width and the desired sheet effect. A standard blade waterfall typically requires between 5 and 15 m³/h. This demand is generally served by a dedicated pump – separate from the filtration circuit – to ensure that neither system compromises the other’s performance.
Are water features compatible with an overflow or infinity pool?
Yes – and when correctly specified, they can reinforce the pool’s hydraulic logic rather than complicate it. A wall-mounted cascade on the opposite side from the overflow edge creates a natural water movement across the basin. The key requirement is that the water feature’s flow and evaporation impact are included in the balance tank sizing and hydraulic study from the outset.
