water gardening

 

Pond mistakes

Pond mistakes, these usually come about through lack of planning

If you are going to build a pond or water feature, and the liner you have is too small, do not overlap one over the other as water will get out via capillary action.

Do not use newspaper or carpet as a liner underlay, as after time it will rot allowing stones through.

Never rush in building a pond or water feature, always take your time and start by making a drawing

Do not build a water feature or fountain near a wall as the water will damage the wall, and any water ingress will cause the bricks to fracture should a frost come. That said you can have a wall as part of a water feature if you seal the wall first.

You may want to see an example of how not to do it, please click here

You should also not forget to clean your pump inlets /nozzles, this picture, shows what happens when a pump inlet / nozzle is not cleaned, the water flow becomes restricted, instead of a 2 inch wide foaming jet all you get in this case is a fine spray.

This picture was taken in a public park somewhere in the U.K

 

Did you also know you are not allowed to use mains voltage lighting in a pond / water feature in the U.K. (Which is why you will not find one)

I can not find an exact rule / regulation for this so I contacted a well known pond / garden light manufacturer.

The reply is

Dear Martin
It is possible to make lights that operate on 230v and that can be submerged. However the limitations are electrical safety. there would need to be such effective water ingress prevention measures that you wouldn't be able to change the bulb.
 
We use 12v or 24v purely due to the fact that we can do this as cost effectively as possible and provide a product that would risk harm to you or those dear to you when you wanted to change the bulbs or service the unit.
 
Phill Cotterill
Customer Services Technical Support
Hozelock Ltd
Midpoint Park
Minworth
Sutton Coldfield
B76 1AB
 

But as I said, you try and find a mains operated light that is for use in ponds / fountains that is available in the UK. Yes you can import them from countries that do allow it (subject to import duty and VAT) but you wont find one, try that you might.

There is also a revised lighting safety standard (june) I am trying to find more information on this.

  This is a genuine picture 

We are only showing it to show some of the daft things people actually do.

yes that is a swimming pool and yes that is a powered drill he has, and if you look carefully you will see that his "overalls" are darker up to the waist, so he must have jumped in the pool with ladder and drill, "but at least he has his safety goggles on." i think his eyes are the last thing to be concerned about.

 

You may also want to see our advice page  click here

If you have a "thing not to do" then why not send it in to me here at your watergarden, click here to email me

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