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Inlandscape architecture andgarden design, awater feature is one or more items from a range offountains,jeux d'eau, pools,ponds,rills,artificial waterfalls, andstreams. Before the 18th century they were usually powered by gravity, though the famousHanging Gardens of Babylon are described byStrabo as supplied by anArchimedean screw[1] and other examples were supplied with water usinghydraulic rams.
Ancient water features werepowered using gravitational forces,human power oranimals to pump in the water. Since the 18th century, the majority of water features have been powered bypumps. In the past, the power source was sometimes a steam engine, but in modern features it is almost always powered by electricity. There is an increasing range of innovative designs as the market becomes more established and people become more aware of alternate installation methods, such as solar power. The advantages of usingsolar power include environmental benefits, no electrical lines in the garden, and free energy.
Modern water features are typically self-contained, meaning that they do not require water to beplumbed in; rather water is recycled from either apond or a hiddenreservoir, also known as asump. The sump can either be contained within the water feature, or buried underground (in the case of an outdoor water feature).
A water feature may be indoor or outdoor and can range in size from a desk top water fountain to a large indoorwaterfall that covers an entire wall in a large building, and can be made from any number of materials, including stone, stainless steel, resin, iron and glass. Most water features are electronically controlled, ranging from simpletimeractuators to sophisticatedcomputerized controls for synchronizing music to water and light animation.
Water features often offer additional benefits to homeowners, such as increasedcurb appeal,home value, reducednoise pollution (due to the sound of water overpowering outside noise), increased humidity in dry regions and improvedair quality.
Inearly modern Europe,fountains were found in the elaborate gardens of the mansions of the wealthy, and in modern times can be an element inurban design provided by the municipal authorities or public subscription.Water features are often found in gardens of middle class houses.
A notable modern example is theDiana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, England.[2]
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