Water Features

Add beauty, serenity and fire protection to any garden with an eco-friendly water feature. The soothing sound of water cascading over natural stones, the serene vision of a beautiful pond where fish glide peacefully, or the inviting blue waters of a natural swimming pool will make your landscape a vacation paradise right at your home or office. Additionally, these water features will become part of the natural ecosystem of your area, providing shelter, a water source, food and a safe harbor for the wildlife. Caring for the environment and your family, we are able to incorporate biological filtration systems without having to use harmful chemicals.
Our team of designers at Outdoor Environments Unlimited have many years of experience designing and building hundreds of the most beautiful and creative ponds, waterfalls, creeks, fountains and natural swimming pools/holes to match our clients’ taste and personality. We also offer water capture systems that can collect precious rain and fog water for reuse.

Click here to watch a video to give you ideas of what is possible.

Ponds

Our years of designing ponds and waterfalls enables us to have an eye for details. We work closely with our clients to choose the right elements so as to create harmonious chemical-free mini-ecosystems; from the placement of the pond and/or waterfall on the property, to the selection and positioning of the actual falls, plants and boulders.

Filtration Systems

We, at Outdoor Environments Unlimited believe using the correct filtration systems for your pond is essential to maintaining a healthy, crystal clear and balanced ecosystem. The best pond equipment we have found is the biological filtration system by Aquascape Inc. Their products are far superior and last longer than any other product on the market

These healthy ecosystem ponds include two steps of filtration: a biological and mechanical filtration. Initially, the larger debris, such as leaves and excess fish food, pass through the Mechanical Filter (skimmer) which consists of a series of pad filters. Next, any smaller debris that did not get caught by the skimmer, will then pass through the Biological Filtration system. This system has various chambers that are used to filter different size and type of debris by breaking down the contents with Beneficial Bacteria (probiotics).

Step 1 Skimmer (mechanical filter)

Housing your pump and skimmer basket, this device traps debris from the water’s surface to prevent the accumulation of organic material on the pond floor, pre-filtering your pond water for the next step.

Step 2 BioFalls (biological filter)

The water that passes through the skimmer is then pumped into the biological filter. This removes excess nutrients by breaking them down with natural pond probiotics called “Beneficial Bacteria”.

Waterfalls and Creeks

Backyard gatherings and romantic evenings under the stars will take on a whole new meaning with the beauty and sounds of an exquisite waterfall or meandering stream. The soothing sight and sound of cascading water will add ambiance to your outdoor living space and mask unwanted noise. It will become a sweet reminder that you don’t need to travel to the ends of the earth to experience a lingering sense of well-being.

Waterfalls can be built using already existing features on a property such as ponds, streams, or swimming pools or they can be built from scratch. They can include a pond or they can be pondless. This option reduces maintenance significantly and might be wanted for the safety of young children or pets.

By using natural materials, we will give your waterfall a much more genuine look.

Pondless Waterfalls

Concerned that you do not have enough space on your property? Pondless waterfalls can be designed to take up less room and maintenance than a waterfall with a pond. We can design and install a pondless waterfall system customized to the size and shape of your space. Another advantage is that they are safe when young children and pets are around. It is always possible to add a pond later on, but the filtration system will need to be upgraded at that time.
Where does the water go? The pondless waterfall has an underground water collection unit that holds the water and returns it through a filter to the top of the waterfall.

Swimming holes and Natural pools

Natural pools are not as well-known here as they are in Europe, but they are rising in popularity in the U.S for many reasons. The main one being, it is better for your health and for the environment than a traditional pool. If you’ve ever spent a day in a traditional swimming pool, you’ve probably dealt with red or stinging eyes as the result of chlorine and in the long run, these chemicals are known to damage your hair and skin. With a natural ecosystem pool, you can say goodbye to these chemicals all-together because it mirrors the symbiotic, ecological relationships of mother nature rather than working against them.
What is a natural swimming hole? It is a chemical-free pool that uses the same principles as nature to filter out harmful microorganisms. It consists of two separate zones: one swimming zone and one for water purification called the “regeneration zone”. Both zones work in tandem to create an ecosystem resembling the process found in nature in which aquatic plants and microorganisms clean the water. The regeneration zone is typically built nearby and it is where the water enters either a gravel filter system or a constructed wetlands made of beautiful plants. This area doubles as a delightful water garden.
Because they are self-cleaning mini-ecosystems, natural pools offer another advantage over the old traditional swimming pool that are packed with chemicals: they are cheaper to maintain.
We specialize in building natural pools to look as if they were found in nature. But if you prefer a more traditional rectangular shaped pool, Outdoor Environments Unlimited can and will design it for you

Spas and Hot tubs

Spas can be a rewarding addition to your property. They can easily transform your outdoor space into a year-round private paradise. More than a great home addition for entertainment, a quality spa is an investment in you. Daily soaks in soothing hot water are known to provide muscle and stress relief, more energy, and better sleep. In addition to improving your physical and mental health, a spa can be a wonderful place for romance or family time.
We can custom-build gorgeous inviting in-ground spas to complement your outdoor space in harmony to its style, all while giving it a luxurious look. This could add significant value to your home. They can be stand-alone or be part of a swimming pool design. Options to integrate personalized features like speakers, lighting and waterfalls are limitless.
A more affordable option is to have a free-standing, portable hot tub. We can find the perfect one to incorporate harmoniously into your existing outdoor environment.

With a home hot tub, your private retreat is always just steps away.

Fountains

A fountain makes it easy to add a touch of water to your yard. Available in a variety of designs, you are sure to find one that suits your unique style. Fountain rocks create rustic, natural appeal, while urns provide a more elegant feel to your landscape.
Outdoor fountains can be added to any space in your yard, making them an ideal choice if you want a smaller water feature. Butterflies and birds will enjoy the refreshment your fountain brings to the garden. You’ll delight in the new sights and sounds of nature that a fountain provides.

Water Capture & Fire Protection Systems

Your waterfall, pond, swimming pool or fountain can be part of a water capture system that can either collect water off surfaces from the rain or harvest water from the air! (by using an atmospheric water generator). Let’s harvest the precious natural water for reuse and not rely on the public utilities water services. Residential and Commercial.

The benefits of having such sustainable systems in place are extensive considering the following:

The severe drought in California continues to exacerbate the shortage of water supply and the threat of wildfires.
A new legislation on water rationing restrictions has already come into effect in Southern California. For more information, visit: California water restrictions
To promote water conservation, voters in California overwhelmingly passed Proposition 72 that offers tax benefits to homeowners harvesting rainwater by exempting rainwater catchment systems from property tax assessments. The proposition also allows for installed water capture systems to be included in the value of the home when it is sold.

Having water available from your own water storage will offset the problem of water shortage or rationing while giving you protection against a possible wildfire. Additionally, it will also lessen your impact on the environment: by capturing water from the rain or the air, you are giving a little back to the earth.

To this sustainable way of addressing water shortage, we can also provide solar systems to power your water features equipment, your household needs or to offset problems such as blackouts. It can even save you money and if you would like you can go as far as to be ‘off the grid’!