17/05/2026
Behind the scenes of the water feature build! You don't always get things right the first time around, but that's how you learn. In the first iteration, the catchment area just wasn't wide enough, resulting in too much water loss. Although this is topped up automatically via well water, we definitely didn't want to waste any!
So, it was back to the drawing board! The bones of it all worked well; the steel structure we created suspends the water feature above the reservoir, which is filled with small aggregate. What this basically is, is a bog filter. The basic principle involves allowing water to flow through the small stones, which naturally become colonised by thousands of beneficial bacteria that clean the water. It is important to use a smaller aggregate as it creates a much larger surface area compared to larger stones. The more surface area, the more bacteria, and the cleaner the water!
We resolved the water loss issue by more than doubling the catchment area and changing the main area that the water falls onto to gravel, softening the fall of the water and minimising the splashing. This also created an ideal area for planting marginal plants, which in time will also help to filter the water and keep nitrate levels down.
Finished off with a brick edge, this is still within the catchment area, so it still allows water to flow right through.
