Entertainment value: with their interactive appeal and space-saving design, curbless, dry-deck fountains offer both entertainment and value in one package

Pool & Spa News, July 26, 2002 by Jon Mitovich

It's important to design the system so that the amount of open-gap area can adequately handle the operating return volume. Otherwise, deck flooding will occur. Imagine a fountain system discharging 1,000 gallons per minute onto a dry deck with little or no spacing between the paver material. Remember: It's not only gap width, but also gap open area that must be factored into the complete system design.

* Provide the proper support and access for surface material. Identify all possible applications and uses of the deck area before selecting materials and support systems. Also, plan for ease of access when laying out equipment and surface materials.

When designing a supported-deck fountain, understand the requirements and limitations of your material. For example, 24-inch-square, 3-inch-thick granite pavers weighing 300 pounds each will require a different engineering approach than lightweight, rubberized deck material. A deck that is expected to support the occasional vehicle will require a different design approach than one that supports the occasional adventurous pedestrian. Involve a structural engineer early in the process.

In addition, the system layout must be planned to allow access to the equipment. On the "floating deck" model, certain items must be located below pavers that can be easily removed. This step is especially needed for devices that require occasional service or adjustment, such as level sensors and controls. Locate handles and lifting eyes--those holes that allow the operator to pull up the paver--to ensure easy access.

* Choose proper water-treatment and maintenance systems. Water quality is especially important in a dry-deck fountain, which by its very nature, invites public interaction and participation. Without the barrier found in traditional fountains, people will inevitably come in contact with it and possibly ingest the water. With this in mind, all fountains should be properly designed with filtration and chemical treatment systems as a mandatory part of the system. For all practical purposes, the fountain water should be treated in the same manner as pool water for public safety.

Maintenance and water treatment are part of the complete cost of a fountain. Explain to your customers that these issues should be addressed, in terms of budget and personnel, at the project's outset.

A genuine commitment to fountain system maintenance by the owner/operator is critical before the decision is made to incorporate any fountain. Without it, the fountain is doomed from the start and you might as well pour money down the drain.

While basic structural and engineering requirements must be incorporated into any dry-deck design to ensure structural integrity and safety, the use and integration of surface deck materials is virtually unlimited and can easily be blended into the overall landscape site plan.

Result: A waterfeature that once was only a single-use architectural element now is a functional, utilitarian, multi-use attraction.

Jon Mitovich has been president and general manager of Roman Fountains Corp. in Albuquerque, N.M., since 1993. He has taught courses on the history and technical design of fountains for various chapters of the American Society of Landscape Architects and the National Spa & Pool Institute. He has contributed to, and been quoted in, Landscape Architect & Specifier News and Shopping Center World, as well as Pool & Spa News. Former clients include Microsoft Corp., The Boeing Co. and The Walt Disney Co.