The Marketers’ Senate

Water walls are almost a must in today’s contemporary style
gardens. Often the focal point of the garden, this is due not
only to their grandeur but also to their tactility. Modern day
urban noise such as traffic can be drowned out by such a feature
creating a calming environment favourable to sipping a glass of
wine and enjoying relaxed conversation. Necessary to create
these impressive walls is a prefabricated unit called a Water
Wall Trough or Sheet Descent Unit. These units are specifically
designed to produce an even flow of water along the entire
length of the unit. There are two main types of Water Wall
Troughs. Made from Stainless Steel, Copper or PVC, each type
distributes the water in a different way. Below we explain the
differences between the two main types of Water Wall Troughs
available.

Sheet Descent Water Wall Unit Water Distribution Effect

Pictured above, this unit distributes the water from the trough
over the spout or lip and down the surface of the wall into a
catchment reservoir or pond (can also be used as a ‘free-fall’
unit). This unit brings subtle noise and movement into the
garden. Wonderfully tactile, it invites the onlooker to touch
the wall and feel the cool water running through the hand. The
shimmering effect of the water can be captured at night with the
inclusion of subtle lighting.

Installation

This unit should not be installed any higher than 2.0m above the
surface of the water in the catchment reservoir. If used as a
‘free-fall’ unit this height reduces to 0.8m. Flow Requirement
This unit requires approximately 4500 litres per hour per metre
width. This should produce a film of water approximately 3mm
thick. Some adjustment in flow is achievable with the use of an
inline value. See examples 1 & 2 for further explanation.

Catchment Reservoir

Waterfall catchment troughs are designed to be positioned at the
base of a sheet descent water wall where the wall surface is
fairly even ie. tiles, render, smooth stone, metal, glass etc.
They are large enough to suit most submersible pumps. Where a
surface is irregular and likely to cause splash such as with
pebbles, rock etc a larger catchment reservoir should be used to
stop the water from splashing out of the feature. Not only is
this a waste of water in times of drought but it is truly
amazing how quickly a water feature can empty when splash
becomes a problem. Rectangular Statue ponds are recommended in
these circumstances.

Pump

The pump required is governed by the flow requirement and head
height (ie. the height at which the waterfall is installed above
the surface of the water in the catchment reservoir). Example
1:- Installing a 1.0m Sheet Descent at a head height of 2.0m

This unit has a flow requirement of 4500 litres per hour (4500
(litres) x 1 (metre)) therefore requires a pump that will supply
4500 lph at 2.0m high. Check pump performance charts to find a
pump that will supply this flow at the required height. In this
example a Blagdon Amphibious 8000 will push 4980 lph at 2.0m
high and is therefore suitable. Example 2:- Installing a 0.8m
Sheet Descent at a head height of 1.5m

This unit has a flow requirement of 3600 litres per hour (4500
(litres) x 0.8 (metres)) therefore requires a pump that will
supply 3600 litres at 1.5m high. Check pump performance charts
to find a pump that will supply this flow at the required
height. In this example a Seerose UP90 Fountain Pump will push
3840 lph at 1.5m high and is therefore suitable. Projecting
Water Wall Unit Water Distribution Effect

This unit projects the water out from the wall in a clear and
even arc, re-entering the water approximately 200mm away from
the wall providing a dramatic, lively effect. This involves the
senses and proves difficult for even the most staid personality
to resist the urge to reach out and play with the curtain of
water produced by this unit. Further enrichment is accomplished
with the use of lighting at night. A simple submersible
spotlight positioned under the curtain of water is all that is
required.

Installation

This unit should not be installed any higher than 1.2m above the
surface of the water in the catchment reservoir. The water will
begin to break up if installed any higher. A high-flow
projecting waterfall is available which may be installed up to
2.0m high (please enquire).

Flow Requirement

This unit requires approximately 7200 litres per hour per metre
width. This should produce a film of water approximately 5mm
thick. Some adjustment in flow is achievable with the use of an
inline value. See examples 1 & 2 for further explanation.

Catchment Reservoir

Rectangular Statue ponds are recommended for use with a
Projecting Water Wall as the catchment reservoir needs to
protrude at least 500mm from the wall to avoid losing too much
water from splash.

Pump

The pump required is governed by the flow requirement and head
height (ie. ie. the height at which the waterfall is installed
above the surface of the water in the catchment reservoir).

Example 1:- Installing a 1.0m Projecting Water Wall at a head
height of 1.0m

This unit has a flow requirement of 7200 litres per hour (7200
(litres) x 1 (metre)) therefore requires a pump that will supply
7200 lph at 1.0m high. Check pump performance charts to find a
pump that will supply this flow at the required height. In this
example a Seerose UP150 will push 7740 lph at 1.0m high and is
therefore suitable. Example 2:- Installing a 0.8m Projecting
Water Wall at a head height of 0.5m

This unit has a flow requirement of 5760 litres per hour (7200
(litres) x 0.8 (metres)) therefore requires a pump that will
supply 5760 litres at 0.5m high. Check pump performance charts
to find a pump that will supply this flow at the required
height. In this example a Seerose UP120 Fountain Pump will push
6840 lph at 0.5m high and is therefore suitable. TIP It is
always better to ‘oversize’ the pump rather than to purchase a
pump that will only just suit. Allowances need to be made for
loss of flow through tubing and fittings. It is far more
practical to buy a pump larger than required and restrict the
output buy a valve, as it is impossible to get more performance
than the maximum specified on any particular pump.