Savio Pond Free PF1000 Guide

Rock is usually sold by weight. The amount of rock necessary for waterfall creation or stream edging can vary
widely depending upon your design choices. Specified quantities shown above are provided as a general guideline only.
EASY STEPS
EASY STEPS
To Create a Superior Easy
to Maintain Water Feature

WELCOME
Table of Contents
2
SAViO Pond Free® designs and equipment work in harmony to create low-maintenance,
high impact water features that stay healthy & clean with minimal effort. The
equipment and the water feature are designed with a philosophy that emphasizes low
maintenance combined with natural beauty. In no time you will have a backyard or
front yard oasis to enjoy for years to come.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Welcome 3
Determine a Location 6
Excavate the Site 7
Install Liner 9
Install Waterfall Well 10
Construct the Waterfall 12
Install Waterfall Weir 14
Plant Pockets 16
Finishing Up 17
Accessories 20
Troubleshooting 21
Pond Free
®
Systems

Notes
22
WELCOME
Introduction
3
Introduction
Dear Friend,
Disappearing waterfalls and endless streams™ are the exciting new wave in
the water feature busines.
Picture this: A dazzling, full size waterfall splashes playfully down a series
of natural rockwork cascades. The streambed banks playfully here, ducking
behind plantings there, before finally disappearing mysteriously into a dry
bed of stones at the bottom of its run. But wait - there’s no pond and no
pool of water at the bottom? What’s going on here?
Pond Free® waterfalls defy category, neither fountain nor pond, but a little
of each. They offer the drama and majesty of a full size water garden with
the simplicity of a recycling fountain. Since there’s no standing surface
water and no pond to maintain, there’s no real maintenance to speak
of. They can be turned off with the flip of a switch, and restarted just as
easily. Pond Free® waterfalls provide peace of mind for families with
young children, businesses with liability concerns, or busy homeowners
who just want a carefree water feature.
This guide will help you to create a water feature that looks great and will
literally transform your yard. The Savio equipment, the construction, even
the design of the water feature is formulated to give you the maximum
amount of satisfaction with the least amount of work.
Your friends at Savio wish you the best.
REMINDER: Read through the entire design and construction guide
before starting.

Pond Free Waterfall
4
There are two parts to a Pond Free® water feature. The first part, the Waterfall or Stream, provides the aesthetic side of
the water feature. This visible portion consists of the waterfall weir, liner and stones. The second part, the hidden reservoir
contains the waterfall well, liner, pump and tubing - it’s also where water is stored when the system is turned off. It In order to
work correctly, the reservoir is always placed at the lowest point in the system.
POND FREE
®
WATERFALL
6’ Waterfall or stream: Reservoir 3’ x 3’.
The top of the waterfall or stream can be
up to 6 feet away from the basin
11’ Waterfall or stream: Reservoir 3’ x
4’. The top of the waterfall or stream can
be up to 11’ from the basin
Pond Free® Waterfall Systems
Create a waterfall with drops, pools and cascades.
These dynamic systems are the perfect focal point
for any outdoor living space. Waterfalls look best
when integrated into the existing slope of a backyard,
but can also be incorporated into a landscaped berm
or fenced corner.

5
Pond Free Stream
Pond Free® Stream System
A meandering stream is the perfect way to create a natural
looking water feature that brings water movement to the entire
yard. Birds and other wildlife will enjoy drinking and playing in the
shallow areas – creating a fun back yard experience for all ages.
POND FREE
®
STREAM
Materials Needed
®3/4” Rounded Gravel
PF46 - ¾ yard
PF88 - 1 yard
®Boulders (40-200 lbs)
PF46 - 2 tons
PF88 - 3 tons
®(optional) Decorative Gravel
PF46 - 2 - large sacks (75 - 100 lbs)
PF88 - 2-3 large sacks (100 - 150 lbs)
Also Required:
®A suitable GFCI protected power
source located nearby.
Tools Required
®Turf Marking Paint
®Shovel
®2’ Hand level
®Utility knife
®Scissors
®Wheelbarrow
®#2 Phillips Screwdriver
®Flathead Screwdriver
®Tape measure
®Good water source and garden hose
®Hand Tamper

6
Determine the Location
Use this procedure to level the basin area:
a) Place 2 x 4 or straight-edge across the basin.
b) Set builder’s level on top of the board.
c) Add or remove dirt to the area until the bubble
is centered.
Level the Area
Choose a Location
Use a garden hose to temporarily lay out your waterfall or
stream and catch basin. Once you have chosen a location,
mark the outline with turf marking paint or stakes and remove
the hose.
PF46 - up to 6’ Waterfall or Stream
PF88 - up to 11’ Waterfall or Stream
Outline Shape
TIP:
When choosing a location, select an area which provides
the best viewing angle. For example, the “ideal” position
may allow you to view the water feature from both an outdoor
living/entertaining area and from within your home (ie.
kitchen, bedroom, studio).
Create a natural appearance for your water feature by utilizing
the existing grade of the yard. For flat, level areas, build-up the
waterfall runway using excess soil from the excavation of the
basin. In some cases you may need to import additional soil.
You can use concrete blocks to help stabilize the slope.
STEP 1 – DETERMINE THE LOCATION
Basin
Waterfall

Excavate the Basin
7
STEP 2 – EXCAVATE THE BASIN
a) Dig a hole that is 20” deep. Use dimensions
below for length and width of the basin.
PF46 - 3’x 3’ Basin
PF88 - 3’ x 4’ Basin
b) Mark a circle on the bottom of the basin
28” diameter (6 inches larger diameter than
base of waterfall well). Dig this area to a
depth of 6”. Taper the hole to fit the bottom of
the waterfall well as shown.
Create Catchment Basin
6”
18”
2”-3”
Ground Level
Decorative Stone level
This middle level is called
the “charge.” It’s where
water is stored when the
water feature is turned off.
The “operational level”
is the level necessary to
keep water supplied to
the pump.
Warning:
Do not use pea gravel in the waterfall basin. Minimum gravel tolerance is 5/8” or 3/4” gravel.
Smaller gravel will block the Waterfall Well intake ports.
Detail View
c) Remove sharp rocks and roots that may
puncture the liner
Max Water Level
Operational Level

Flat, level areas may require building-up the waterfall
or stream runway even further. You may need to import
additional soil to give your water feature additional height.
When working with loose soil, use concrete blocks to
stabilize the slope.
Use a hand tamper to compact the soil and prevent
settling.
Water Course
8
For Pond Free Waterfall:
Use excess soil from the excavation of the basin to build up
the waterfall course.
For Pond Free Stream:
Same as the waterfall but a more gentle slope.
Create Waterway
Create Waterfall
Prevent Settling
STEP 3 – CREATE THE WATER COURSE

Line the Basin
9
Install Underlayment
Use underlayment to protect and extend the life of the liner.
1) Place underlayment over the basin and waterfall runway.
2) Start at bottom of the basin and smooth out wrinkles
and folds.
Install Underlayment
Caution
Inspect your shoes before entering the basin. Rocks wedged in
shoe treads can damage liner
.
Install EPDM Liner
Install Liner
a) Place liner into the basin and run liner
over the entire waterfall course.
b) Smooth wrinkles and folds. Do not trim liner at this time.
STEP 4 – LINE THE BASIN & WATERFALL
Clear away sharp rocks and roots that
may puncture the liner. Remove them
from both the basin and the waterfall
runway before proceeding.

Install Waterfall Weir
10
Attach discharge plumbing kit to pump
5
STEP 5 – WATERFALL WELL AND PUMP
Use keyhole saw or matte knife to remove
2” knockout on one side of Waterfall Well.
Place the Waterfall Well on a flat surface. The two
open sides should face each other with the locking
tabs aligned. Press locking tab and insert into slot.
Continue to assemble the locking tabs from the
bottom of the Waterfall to the top ensuring each
tab is locked securely into place.
12
Place Waterfall Well into the basin
with the lid on.
3 4
Attach elbow adapter to pump outlet.
Screw the adapter into the pump in a
clockwise direction.
Waterfall Well