Water Features That Change Everything
A pool is already a significant investment. Water features are what separate a pool you swim in from a backyard you live in. The sound of moving water, the visual drama of a natural rock waterfall, the playful arcs of deck jets catching the afternoon light — these are the details that make a pool feel like it belongs to your property rather than sitting on top of it.
Scott Payne has been designing and building water features for over 25 years. Every feature we build is engineered into the pool's hydraulic system from the start, not bolted on as an afterthought. That means better performance, lower energy costs, and a finished result that looks intentional — because it was.
Types of Water Features We Build
Natural Rock Waterfalls
Hand-placed natural boulders and ledgestone create cascading falls that look like they've always been there. We source stone regionally and design each waterfall to match your pool's shape and the surrounding landscape.
Grottos
A grotto combines a waterfall with a cave-like alcove you can actually sit inside. They're the most dramatic water feature we build — and the most requested by homeowners who want something truly unique.
Sheer Descents
A clean, modern blade of water that falls in a transparent sheet. Sheer descents pair beautifully with contemporary pool designs and can be lit from behind for a stunning nighttime effect.
Deck Jets & Bubblers
Deck jets arc streams of water from the pool deck into the water — perfect for tanning ledges and shallow areas where kids play. Bubblers create a gentle fountain effect in shallow water, ideal for wading areas.
Rain Curtains
A rain curtain creates a wall of water that falls from a raised structure — a pergola, a raised bond beam, or a dedicated water wall. The effect is dramatic, private, and unlike anything else in a residential backyard.
Scuppers & Spillways
Scuppers channel water from raised spa shells or raised bond beams into the pool below. They're a clean, architectural feature that works especially well with formal or geometric pool designs.
How Water Features Are Designed
Every water feature we build starts in the design phase, not as an add-on after the pool is already planned. The hydraulics — pump sizing, plumbing runs, return placement — are engineered to support the features you want before a single shovel hits the ground. This is the difference between a water feature that performs beautifully and one that struggles to maintain pressure or creates dead zones in the pool's circulation.
We use 3D design software to show you exactly how your water features will look in context with your pool and backyard before construction begins. You'll see the scale, the placement, and the visual relationship between the feature and the surrounding landscape — so there are no surprises when the project is finished.
Design note: Natural rock waterfalls and grottos are fully custom — no two are identical. We source stone from regional quarries and hand-place every boulder. The result is a feature that looks like it grew out of your property, not one that was delivered on a pallet.
Water Features and Pool Renovation
Many homeowners add water features during a pool renovation rather than a new build. If you have an existing pool that feels dated or plain, a waterfall, sheer descent, or deck jet system can completely transform the experience without requiring a full rebuild. We assess your existing equipment, plumbing, and pool structure to determine what's feasible and what will perform reliably for years to come.
Learn more about our pool renovation services or explore our custom pool builds to see how water features are integrated from the ground up.
Serving PA, NJ & DE
We design and build water features for pools across the greater Philadelphia region, including Montgomery County, Bucks County, Chester County, Delaware County, and into South Jersey. Our service area covers some of the most architecturally distinctive residential properties in the region, and our water feature work reflects that standard.
View our service areas or contact us to discuss your project.