Swimming pools used to be 20-foot x 40-foot rectangles. They sloped from 3 - 5 feet and had a diving board at one end. In fact, every pool followed the same format found in virtually every YMCA. It was boring! Not that square isn’t beautiful, but as Frank Lloyd Wright said, design and form should follow function. You should consider this when designing your swimming pool - adding a water feature to your swiming pool might make all the difference.

What do you want from your pool and patio? Can they work together harmoniously, or should they be separate spaces for varying entertainment? These are questions that you should discuss with your pool or patio contractor. A pool builder in Florida explains it best:

When you are sitting on the lanai with your back to the sun, reading the paper on sunday morning, and enjoying a cup of coffee, you still should enjoy your pool.

The key is some kind of water feature for your swimming pool. This is a way to not blend your pool into your patio, but it is a way to literally bring the outdoors in on those days too brisk to swim, but perfect for airing the house with open windows. Every pool and patio needs some kind of water feature. It can be as simple as an urn pouring into a basin, or as elaborate as a tropical waterfall oasis.

The Sound of Silence

Water moving creates a wonderful white noise. The best quality of this sound is that it drowns out many of the other sounds you don’t want. The sound of falling water can bring relaxing calm and peace to your life. Let’s take a look at some of the basic water features and identify some of the the pros and cons of each.

• Bubblers (spring jets) - These are a fantastic addition to your pool. The require very little water and are economical to run around the clock.

• Spillways (spillover, spillover spa) - Refers to water spilling from one body of water to a second at a lower grade. If built correctly, they can be somewhat economical to run. If a large pump is used to overcome poor construction practices, it can result in an expensive operational cost.

• Waterfalls - Much larger than a spillway, typically associated with rocks or boulders. These can require extremely large volumes of water. Beautiful for that oasis look, but very expensive to operate.

• Artistic Statuaries - There are many examples, from spitting dolphins to the little boy doing his business, that make for fantastic pool side water features. Keep in mind that it doesn't take a lot of water to operate these and they can make a beautiful sound. A well place urn spilling into the pool can be simple yet stunning. High wind can be a concern.

• Laminar Jets - These are very sensitive to correct installation, but will fascinate your guests. With almost a glass-rod like appearance, everyone is typically drawn to touch the stream of water. Economical to operate, but sensitive to high winds. Can be dramatically lighted with fiber optic lights.

You can see examples of all these in the Swimming Pool Water Features Image Gallery.