The art of soundscaping: Using water features to cover up unwanted sights and sounds

Because grottos are tall, the water falls farther, amplifying the sound. In addition, there is a hollow wall behind the water that further intensifies it.

“The grotto is by far my favourite water feature to use when eliminating unwanted noise,” says Hegedus.

Grottos have more water flowing over them and spilling into the pool; therefore, they simply make more noise. Hegedus says the sounds created by a grotto are more like a ‘roar’ compared to a quiet stream.

“I record the various sounds the different water features make and play them for my clients on my iPad when they’re trying to decide what to install,” says Hegedus. “It helps them determine if they prefer the sound of sitting next to a big waterfall, or if they want to hear the more subtle sound of lounging near a stream. That said, if they want to prevent hearing any noises coming from their neighbours, I always recommend a grotto or several big waterfalls.”

It is also important to consider the acoustics of grottos carefully as the water spilling over the top of a hard hollow structure can create some serious sound. Therefore, builders should be careful not to point a grotto to directly face the outdoor dining area.

Caution should also be taken when mixing water features with high concrete border walls that can create a less than pleasant echo. Using landscaping to overcome this type of issue is very effective.  Lenz and Hegedus agree evergreens along borders help diminish noise reflection. In fact, Hegedus does this regularly by creating planting areas made out of the same cast concrete as the waterfalls and grottos he builds. Not only does the landscaping soften the look of the water features, it has the added bonus of muffling and absorbing sound. Connecting water features into an automated system with a variable-speed pump (VSP) also allows homeowners to adjust the water volume up or down depending on how much white noise they want the feature to emanate.

Hegedus also shows his customers videos of various water features so they can not only hear, but also see what it will look like. He prefers to use only cast-concrete kits for his water features because it allows him to show a homeowner exactly what the final product will look like before it is even installed.

“We used to work with real stone but found there were often issues because we couldn’t provide a consistent look or sound with the final product,” says Hegedus. “So now we only install component systems made of cast-concrete as we can guarantee the finished look and sound.”

In the past, the only way to create a grotto or cave was to use heavy, expensive natural boulders or freehand carved artificial rock. Both these options are labour-intensive and can be stressful for builders as the finished look is not always definite. Consumers need to be shown exactly what they are getting in advance, and pool builders need to be able to provide a cave or grotto with a consistent, predicable look at a reasonable price. Therefore, to meet this demand in the marketplace, suppliers have created component systems or ‘kits’ that are standardized, allowing builders to propose a product and guarantee it will look the same once it is installed. These water features are designed to ensure proper water flow and weight distribution and are structurally sound as they are reinforced with steel.