Skip to content
VillaPool

—Design decisions

Adding water features to a pool

Moving water adds sound and movement. Each feature also adds plumbing, pumps and some evaporation.

Water features range from wall spouts and sheer descents that pour a sheet of water into the pool, to deck jets that arc water in from the edge and bubblers in shallow ledges. They are fed by the circulation system or a dedicated pump, with their own valves and controls.

Design guides set out the choices that are hard to change once the shell is built.

Moving water evaporates faster and can cool the pool slightly, which is helpful in summer. Sound can be calming or intrusive depending on location. Features need pipework planned during construction, and they need occasional cleaning to keep nozzles clear of scale.

01Summary

What matters most here

  • Sound and movement

    Features change the pool’s atmosphere.

  • Extra plumbing

    Pipes and sometimes a pump.

  • More evaporation

    Moving water loses more.

02Detail

Feature types

  • Wall spouts

    Water pours from a raised wall or planter into the pool, adding sound and a focal point visible from the house.

  • Sheer descents

    A smooth, thin sheet of water falls from a slot in a wall; it needs a steady flow and a level outlet to look even.

  • Deck jets

    Small nozzles set in the deck shoot arcs of water into the pool, popular with children and easy to switch off.

  • Bubblers

    Low fountains rising through the water in a sun ledge, adding movement without much noise.

  • Controls

    Features can run on a timer, from a switch, or from an automation system, so they are on when the pool is in use and off when it is not.

03Before you start

Before adding features

  • Consider sound

    Near bedrooms or neighbours.

  • Plan control

    Switching features on and off.

  • Allow for evaporation

    And top-up.

—In practice

How to use this

Choose features for the effect you want — sound, movement or a sense of cooling — and ask what each adds in plumbing, pumps, valves and controls. Consider evaporation and splash onto the deck, especially in wind. Plan isolation and controls so features can run independently of filtration and be switched off when not wanted.

Mistakes worth avoiding

Ignoring splash and wind
Features that throw water onto the deck waste water, stain surfaces and make them slippery. Test the throw against the wind direction.
No separate control
Features tied to the filtration pump run whenever it does. Separate control lets them run only when people want them.

04FAQ

Common questions about this

Do features need a separate pump?
Often, depending on flow; the design decides.
Can features cool the pool?
Moving water and evaporation can lower temperature slightly.
Do features need cleaning?
Nozzles can scale; occasional cleaning keeps them working.
Can features be added later?
It is easier when pipework is planned at construction.
Are features noisy at night?
They can be. Placing them away from bedrooms, or switching them off at night, avoids disturbing the household and neighbours.

05Read next

More pool guides on this

Filed under new pool construction. Every pool guide is listed on the pool guides page.

—NEXT

Want water features?

Tell us what you have in mind. We will explain what each needs.

Describe your pool+971 56 181 0106WhatsAppNew Pool Construction