The sound of moving water is one of the main reasons homeowners add a feature to a pool. It masks street and neighbor noise, and it gives a plain pool a clear focal point.
Many features are also built into the pool structure, which makes them easier to plan during construction than to retrofit later. A few can still be added during a pool renovation, so an older pool is not out of the running.
Below are the pool water features homeowners request most, along with what each one actually does and what to plan for.
The Pool Water Features Homeowners Request Most
Some features are about drama, and others are about a quiet, steady sound. The right choice depends on the look you want and how much you plan to run it. Here are the most popular options.
1. Waterfalls
Waterfalls are the feature most people picture first. They range from natural rock formations to clean, modern stone edges, and the water can spill from a raised wall, a spa, or a planter. A grotto, which is a small cave tucked behind or beside the falling water, is a popular add-on for a more resort-like look.
2. Sheer descents
A sheer descent sends a smooth, wide sheet of water into the pool from a raised wall or spa edge. It reads as clean and architectural, so it suits modern and geometric pools well. You can run a single wide sheet or several narrower ones side by side. The effect changes a lot with width and drop height, so it is worth reviewing samples before deciding.
3. Bubblers
Bubblers sit in shallow water, usually on a tanning ledge, and push up a low, gentle dome of water. They are quiet, kid-friendly, and add motion without a big splash. Pair two of them on a sun shelf, and you get a soft, symmetrical look that works in almost any backyard style.
4. Deck jets
Deck jets, sometimes called laminar jets, shoot an arc of water from the deck into the pool. A laminar version produces a clear, ropelike stream that looks solid in the air, and many include LED lighting for nighttime color.
Most features like these run off the pool’s circulation system or a dedicated pump. Pairing them with a variable speed pump keeps the running cost low.
5. Spillover spas
A raised spa that spills into the pool is one of the most requested features, because it works two ways. You get a hot tub when you want one, and a constant, soft waterfall sound the rest of the time. The spillway edge can be a simple sheet or a tiled spout, and the spa height changes how the water sounds as it falls.
6. Scuppers and water bowls
Scuppers are spouts set into a raised wall that send streams or sheets into the pool. Water bowls do the same thing as a decorative basin, often with fire bowls placed nearby for contrast. Both add height and rhythm to the design, and they pair well with the kind of detailed stonework you see in luxury pool designs.
7. Rain curtains
A rain curtain drops thin streams of water from an overhead beam, arbor, or pergola into the pool below. It creates a wide, see-through wall of water you can sit behind or walk through, which makes it one of the more dramatic options. The streams can run in a straight line or a pattern, and LED lighting along the top adds color after dark.
Because a rain curtain needs an overhead structure to mount on, it works best when the pergola or beam is planned alongside the pool rather than added later.
8. Vanishing edge
A vanishing edge, also called an infinity edge, lets water flow over one wall and into a hidden catch basin below, so the surface looks like it meets the horizon. It is the feature of choice for homes with a view or a slope, since the disappearing edge draws the eye outward.
This one depends heavily on the site. The pool has to be engineered for the constant overflow and the basin that recirculates it, so a vanishing edge is far easier to build into a new pool than to add to an existing one.
Plan Your Pool Water Features With Wells Pools
The best time to plan a water feature is before the plumbing and electrical are finalized, since most features need dedicated lines and the right pump sized in from the start.
Wells Pools has spent over 40 years designing custom pools and water features across Greater Sacramento and Northern California, and uses 3D modeling so you can see the feature in your backyard before any work begins, whether you are adding one to a new pool or an existing build.
Call (916) 638-8810 or request a free quote to start planning your pool water features today.