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Ponds · pondless waterfalls · fountains
Ponds, Waterfalls & Fountains in Hamilton, Burlington & Oakville
Moving water changes how a yard sounds. We build ponds, pondless waterfalls and fountains, and plan the depth, power and winter care before we dig.
Step 1 of 6 — Dig the basin and stream
A basin is dug at the bottom and a stream channel runs up to where the waterfall will start.
Quick answer
Pondless waterfalls and fountains give you moving water with no open, deep water. A pond that can hold more than 0.6 m (2 ft) of water counts as a pool under Hamilton By-law 16-184 and Oakville By-law 2006-071, which means a permit and an enclosure; Hamilton allows a securely fastened grate instead. We build all three.
- ServicePonds, pondless waterfalls and fountains
- AreasHamilton (incl. Ancaster, Dundas, Stoney Creek, Waterdown), Burlington and Oakville
- CompanyEst. 2020 · 200+ projects
- QuotesFree on-site quotes
- Phone(647) 459-7775
Three ways to add water
Choose your water feature
Pond with waterfall
- Build time
- Ecosystem pond 3–7 days; large koi or pond + waterfall 5–14 days (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Price reference
- Pond $3,675–$14,500, avg $7,400 (Lawn Love, Dec 2025, USD)
- Best for
- Fish, water plants and a natural look, with a plan for depth rules
Pondless waterfall
- Build time
- 2–4 days (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Price reference
- Avg $7,000, most $4,000–$10,000 (Angi, May 2026, USD)
- Best for
- Family yards: the sound of a waterfall with no open water
Fountain
- Build time
- Small fountain 1–2 days (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Price reference
- From about $3,500 CAD installed (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026)
- Best for
- Small yards and patios
By-laws
Is my pond a pool?
| City | Depth threshold | Ponds | Grate option | Fence rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton By-law 16-184 | Can hold more than 0.6 m of water at any point | Named: the definition includes "a hot tub or landscape pond" | Allowed: a securely fastened grate with openings no more than 38 mm that stops a person descending deeper than 0.6 m can replace the enclosure (s. 16) | Pools in Hamilton |
| Oakville By-law 2006-071, s. 1(g) | More than 0.61 m deep at some point and an exposed surface of at least 1 m² | Named: "includes a hot tub or landscape pond meeting the above criteria" | Not in the by-law; plan for an enclosure | Pools in Oakville |
| Burlington By-law 74-2005, s. 2.1.5 | Able to hold more than 600 mm; covers bodies of water used for swimming or display purposes | Not named. A man-made display pond deeper than 600 mm could fall within it (our reading; we confirm with the City) | Not in the by-law; we confirm with the City | Pools in Burlington |
By-laws change; we confirm the rules and permit for your lot before we dig. Full guide: backyard pond fence rules.
Side by side
Pond vs pondless
| Pond | Pondless waterfall | |
|---|---|---|
| Open water | Yes | No |
| Fish | Yes | No |
| By-law depth issue | Possible: over 0.6 m can count as a pool | No open, deep water |
| Upkeep | Skimmer, filter and plants | Pump vault |
| Winter | Fish care: stop feeding below 10 °C, de-icer or aerator | Drain and store the pump |
| Mosquitoes | Keep it circulating | Keep it circulating |
| Typical US price | $3,675–$14,500, avg $7,400 (Lawn Love, Dec 2025) | $4,000–$10,000, avg $7,000 (Angi, May 2026) |
Prices are US data, USD — Ontario quotes vary.
Step by step
How a pondless waterfall works
Step 1 of 6 — Dig the basin and stream
A basin is dug at the bottom and a stream channel runs up to where the waterfall will start.
Geotextile underlayment and an EPDM liner line both the basin and the stream so no water is lost.
A pump vault stands in the basin so the pump can be reached from the surface. The return line runs up to the top of the stream.
The basin is filled with rock and gravel. The water is stored out of sight between the stones.
A spillway starts the waterfall and boulders and river rock shape the stream.
Water spills down the stream and disappears into the rock. There's no open pond, so no deep standing water.
- Dig the basin and stream. A basin is dug at the bottom and a stream channel runs up to where the waterfall will start.
- Underlayment and liner. Geotextile underlayment and an EPDM liner line both the basin and the stream so no water is lost.
- Pump vault and return line. A pump vault stands in the basin so the pump can be reached from the surface. The return line runs up to the top of the stream.
- Fill the basin with rock. The basin is filled with rock and gravel. The water is stored out of sight between the stones.
- Spillway and stream rock. A spillway starts the waterfall and boulders and river rock shape the stream.
- Turn it on. Water spills down the stream and disappears into the rock. There's no open pond, so no deep standing water.
Tools
Pump size & running cost
Pump sizer
Look for a pump rated about 3,000 US GPH (11,355 L/h) at the height it has to lift.
Aquascape's residential rule of thumb: 1,500 gallons per hour for each foot of waterfall width (about 19,000 L/h per metre). Pump output drops as the lift height increases. We size the pump to your design.
Running cost calculator
Ontario rates: OEB, from Nov 1 2025. Type any other rate in the field above.
108 kWh/month · $12.96/month · $90.72/season
Watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × rate, over a 30-day month. Energy charge only, before delivery and regulatory charges and HST.
Power
Pump power & GFCI
- Canadian/Ontario Electrical Code Rule 26-704: all 15 A and 20 A receptacles within 2.5 m of finished grade need Class A GFCI protection.
- New outdoor circuits and receptacles are installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who files an ESA notification.
The same ESA rules apply around pools; see pool electrical safety.
Typical market ranges
What it costs
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compact urn or sphere fountain (bubbler), installed | From about $3,500 CAD | Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026 |
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pondless waterfall, average | $7,000 (most $4,000–$10,000) | Angi, May 2026 |
| Pondless, small (under 6 ft) | $4,000–$7,000 | Angi, May 2026 |
| Pondless, medium (6–12 ft) | $7,000–$10,000 | Angi, May 2026 |
| Pondless, large | $10,000–$15,000+ | Angi, May 2026 |
| Pondless stream, 8–12 ft | $6,000–$12,000 | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Pond | $3,675–$14,500 (avg $7,400) | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Garden pond | $1,900–$6,500 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Koi pond | $5,100–$15,875 | Lawn Love, Dec 2025 |
| Pond with waterfall | $15,500–$35,000 | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Koi / specialty pond | $35,000–$60,000+ | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Fountain | $1,500–$5,000 | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Boulder or basalt bubbler | $3,500–$9,000 | Landscapio, May 2026 |
| Item | Typical range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Professional maintenance | $150–$400 per visit | Angi, May 2026 |
| Seasonal start-up / winterizing | $100–$300 per year | Angi, May 2026 |
| Pump & lighting electricity | $120–$360 per year | Angi, May 2026 |
Prices are typical market ranges from the named third-party sources and dates, not Antoine's prices. Your exact price comes from an on-site quote.
One plan
Pairs well with
Fire Features
A fire pit or fireplace beside the water.
Plan together →Pool Installation
Plan a pool and water feature together.
Plan together →Pattern Studio
Try paver patterns for the patio around it.
Plan together →Country & Estate Properties
Larger ponds on rural lots. Hamilton's by-law excludes livestock or irrigation water on farmland, and bodies of water on rural or agricultural land that can't hold more than 0.6 m within 2.0 m of the edge.
Plan together →Guides: pond fence rules · pond vs pondless · winterizing a water feature
Straight answers
Water features FAQ
Does a backyard pond count as a pool?
It can. Hamilton By-law 16-184 counts anything able to hold more than 0.6 m of water, "including … a landscape pond". Oakville's By-law 2006-071 covers ponds over 0.61 m deep with at least 1 m² of surface. Burlington's 74-2005 doesn't name ponds, but a display pond over 600 mm could fall within it (our reading).
What is a pondless waterfall?
A waterfall and stream that run into a rock-filled basin underground instead of an open pond. The pump sits in a vault in that basin and sends water back to the top. You get the sound and movement without open, deep water, which suits yards with young children.
What's the cheapest water feature?
Usually a fountain. A compact urn or sphere fountain starts from about $3,500 CAD installed in Ontario (Perfect Yard Landscape, 2026). US figures put fountains at $1,500–$5,000 (Landscapio, May 2026, USD). Pondless waterfalls average about $7,000 USD (Angi, May 2026).
How long does it take to build?
Perfect Yard Landscape's Ontario timelines (2026): a small fountain 1–2 days, a pondless waterfall 2–4 days, an ecosystem pond 3–7 days, and a large koi pond or pond with waterfall 5–14 days. We give a schedule with your quote.
How big a pump do I need?
Aquascape's residential rule of thumb is 1,500 US gallons per hour for each foot of waterfall width, about 19,000 L/h per metre. A 2 ft waterfall needs about a 3,000 GPH pump. Output drops as the lift height increases, so we size the pump to your design.
What does it cost to run the pump?
Watts × hours ÷ 1,000 × your rate. A 150 W pump running 24 hours a day uses about 108 kWh a month, roughly $13 at Ontario's 12.0¢ tiered rate (OEB, from Nov 1 2025). That's the energy charge only, before delivery, regulatory charges and HST.
Do water features attract mosquitoes?
Still water can. Public health units advise refreshing bird baths and water features often to cut mosquito breeding (Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health). Waterfalls, streams and fountains keep the water moving, which helps.
Does the pump need a special outlet?
Yes. Ontario Electrical Code Rule 26-704 requires Class A GFCI protection on 15 A and 20 A receptacles within 2.5 m of finished grade. New outdoor circuits are installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor with an ESA notification.
Start with the sound
Plan your water feature with the yard around it.
Tell us your city and the feature you'd like. We'll check the depth rules and power for your lot and arrange a free on-site consultation.
Get a free quote
Fill this out and we'll respond as soon as possible. For fastest service, call (647) 459-7775.