Pond and waterfall stepped down existing grade built by Scott Anderson Design on Long Island

A pond needs a waterfall. Not for looks.

The falls are what put oxygen in the water and keep the whole system moving. Everything else about them is a bonus.

Certified Aquascape Contractor

B.Arch, New York Institute of Technology

Building on Long Island since 2003

Jericho High School · Adelphi University

Why the falls matter

The waterfall is the engine, not the ornament.

People ask for a waterfall because of how it sounds. We build one because of what it does.

Every ecosystem pond needs oxygen and circulation. The waterfall is where both come from. Water leaves the biological filter at the top of the run, picks up oxygen on the way down, and enters the pond moving. Without it you need an air pump, and you still do not get the surface agitation that keeps a pond from stratifying.

That is why the falls are not an upsell. They are part of the specification, and the drop and width get sized to the pond volume before anything gets set.

Then there is the part people actually came for. A rock-set waterfall covers road noise, gives the yard a focal point, and is the reason most clients say they sit outside more than they used to.

Purpose: Aeration, circulation, sound
Typical drop: 12 to 48 in, sized to pond volume
Stone: Fieldstone and boulder, set not stacked
Filtration: BioFalls at the head of the run
Build time: 5 to 12 working days on site
Chemicals: None
Typical range: $14,000 to $35,000
Pairs with: Koi ponds, ecosystem ponds, streams

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How it works

Six parts. One loop. No chemicals.

Water leaves through the skimmer, gets pushed underground to the biological filter, and comes back down the waterfall. It never stops moving. Here is the whole system in cross-section.

01SkimmerPulls debris off the surface
02Living waterPlants, fish, clear water
03BioFalls filterBiological filtration
04WaterfallAeration and sound
05Rock and gravelWhere the bacteria live
06Return linePump feeds the falls

Cross-section of a Scott Anderson Design ecosystem pond. Drawn to the same spec we build to.

Built on Long Island

Ponds and waterfalls we have built.

Pond and waterfall stepped down existing grade

Rock ledge waterfall into an ecosystem pond

Ecosystem koi pond with a rock-set waterfall

Institutional ecosystem pond, Jericho High School

We are very happy with Scott Anderson’s design and work. Our water element is lovely and makes our yard a peaceful retreat.
Darlene Benz

Waterfall built into an existing campus pond at Adelphi University — Competitive bidWaterfall built into an existing campus pond

What it costs

Published, not pried out of us.

Drop, stone selection, run length and access move the number. These are the honest ranges.

Pond with a single drop

Compact falls sized to the pond

$14,000 – $20,000

Pond with a stream run

Multi-drop falls and a stream section

$20,000 – $35,000

Large feature

Heavy stone, significant grade, long run

$35,000 – $60,000+

Annual cleanout

Full drain, clean, refill and restart

From $650

Questions

The things people actually ask.

If yours is not here, call.

(516) 729-5668

Do I have to run the waterfall all the time?

If there are fish, yes. The falls are the aeration. Shutting them off for a night in summer is how people lose koi. If there are no fish you have more freedom.

How loud is it?

Louder than people expect, and that is usually the point. Drop height and how the water breaks on the stone control it. We tune it on site while the pump is running, before the stone is set permanently.

Will it cover road noise?

A well-placed waterfall masks traffic noise noticeably. It works better close to where you sit than close to the road.

What does it cost to run?

A properly sized pump on a residential pond runs a few dollars a week. We size for efficiency, not for the biggest pump we can sell you.

Can you add a waterfall to a pond I already have?

Often yes. It depends on the liner, the grade and where the plumbing runs. We will look before we quote.

Does it need to be rebuilt every few years?

No. Stone that is set properly does not move. If a waterfall is shifting or leaking after a couple of seasons, it was stacked rather than set.

Start the conversation

Tell us about the yard.
We will tell you what is possible in it.

Every project starts the same way: Scott walks the property, listens, and sketches. No pressure, no template. Consultations across Nassau County are free.

Call (516) 729-5668 Request a Site Visit