Adding Water Features
Ponds, pools, fountain jets, bubblers, and waterfalls are decorative water elements placed from the Add Object panel — they are separate from the Water module irrigation toolbar.
Water features are a distinct category from irrigation and drainage components. Pools and ponds are created using the hardscape wizards in the Add Object panel, which let you draw their shape on the canvas. Ornamental water elements — fountain jets, bubblers, and waterfalls — are placed from the Add Object > Water Features category as point or linear components. These features render as recognizable symbols in 2D plan view and as decorative elements in 3D.
Open the Add Object panel
Open the Add Object panel from the main toolbar or side panel. Water features are not in the Water module toolbar — they are in the object library. Navigate to the Water Features category to find fountain jets, bubblers, spillways, and waterfall units.
Add a pond or pool using a hardscape wizard
To add a pond or swimming pool, use the hardscape wizards under Add Object > Hardscape. Select the Pond or Pool wizard, draw the shape on the canvas, and configure depth, coping, and finish in the wizard steps. The resulting shape appears as a filled water-surface element in both 2D and 3D views.
Place fountain jets and bubblers
From the Add Object > Water Features category, select a fountain jet, bubbler, or spout component. Click on the canvas to place it — typically inside a pond, pool, or formal basin. In the Inspector, set the fixture style (e.g., single-jet, multi-jet, bubbler rock) and adjust the display height.
Configure the edge treatment
On the Edge step, choose how the pond perimeter is finished — options include natural stone, coping, or a soft planted edge. The edge treatment affects how the pond boundary renders in both the 2D plan and the 3D view. Select the style that matches the construction intent for the project.
Add an optional fountain
On the Fountain step, toggle the fountain on and select a pattern: Single Jet (one central jet), Ring (multiple jets arranged in a circle), Spray (fan-style spread), or Horizontal (sprinkler-style outward spray). Set the jet height for all patterns. For Ring, Spray, and Horizontal patterns an additional number of jets slider appears; for the Ring pattern you also set the ring radius to control how far from the centre the jets are positioned.
The Single Jet pattern has no jet-count control — it always fires one central jet. The jet-count slider only appears when Ring, Spray, or Horizontal is selected.
Review additional features
On the Features step, configure any remaining pond options such as depth or planting zones if available. These settings feed into the cost estimate and help communicate construction scope on the plan.
Finish and preview in 3D
Click Finish to place the pond on the canvas. Switch to the 3D view to see the water surface with reflections and, if a fountain was enabled, the animated water particle display. This gives clients a realistic preview of the feature within the full garden context.
A fountain requires a submersible pump and a power supply. Use the Callout or Note tool near the pond to annotate the pump specification and electrical connection point — these are separate from any irrigation supply and are important for the contractor's pricing.
Ponds and fountains are decorative water features and are not connected to the irrigation pipe network. Do not route irrigation pipes through a pond boundary expecting them to feed the fountain — they are independent systems.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a standalone fountain, bubbler, or waterfall object?
No. A fountain is configured inside the Pond wizard's Water Fountain step and is always attached to a pond. There is no separate standalone bubbler, waterfall, or stream object. If you need to show a waterfall, use the pond boundary to represent the basin and annotate the waterfall on the plan.
Can I add or change a fountain on an existing pond?
Yes. Select the pond on the canvas to open it in the inspector, then re-enter the Pond wizard. Navigate to the Fountain step, toggle the fountain on or off, and adjust the pattern, jet height, and jet count as needed. Confirm to update the pond in place.
Why isn't the jet count slider appearing?
The number-of-jets slider is only shown for the Ring, Spray, and Horizontal patterns. The Single Jet pattern always uses exactly one jet, so no count control is displayed. Switch to Ring, Spray, or Horizontal to see the slider.
What footprint shapes can a pond use?
The Pond wizard supports Rectangle (including rounded corners), Circle, Polygon (freeform straight edges), Bezier (smooth organic curves), and Regular Polygon (hexagon, octagon, etc.). For natural-looking ponds, use the Bezier or Polygon options to draw a custom outline on the canvas.
Does the pond affect terrain elevation?
Yes — if Terrain is active, the pond footprint can interact with the terrain model to create a depression. This is configured in the Features step and depends on whether terrain data has been added to the project.