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

11
Install Waterfall Weir
Fill basin with remaining gravel. Decorative
gravel or smooth beach pebble can be added
for the last few inches for a more finished
appearance.
INSTALLATION
Lower pump into Waterfall Well. Attach hose to plumbing kit. Tighten
hose clamp
68
10
Slide hose through hole in the side of
Waterfall Well.
Fill the basin part way with 3/4” round
gravel or small cobble by hand. Washing
rocks and gravel prior to installation will
reduce dust and debris that can cause
cloudy water at startup.
7
9TIP:
Bigger Water
Features Require
Larger Basins
Need more charge for your water
feature, but don’t have the room
to build a wider catchment basin?
Waterfall Well Extensions allow
you to create a deeper basin and
maintain access to your equipment.

Construct Waterfall
12
A) Build the waterfall starting from the bottom and
working upward. Larger boulders may require two
people to position.
B) Use rock work to create interesting drops and
cascades. Vary the rock size to provide visual interest.
Use small rock and gravel to fill the gaps between
larger boulders.
Build Waterfall
STEP 6a – CONSTRUCT WATERFALL
TIP!
Contain Splashing
A pond can lose a surprising amount of water due to splashing.
To minimize this water loss extend the liner to keep splashing
water contained in the system. A rule of thumb for pond
builders: For each foot of vertical drop extend the liner
1-1�/2’ to 3’ out from the point of water impact. 1’
Extend pond liner 1½’ to 3’ from the
point of impact for each foot of vertical drop.
1½’

A) Place rock work both in the stream and along the
edges for a more natural appearance.
B) Varying the width and the depth adds visual interest
and provides shallow areas for birds
C) A gentle berm will prevent landscape debris from
washing into the system.
Construct Stream
13
6“
ground
liner & underlay
STEP 6b – CONSTRUCT STREAM
Build a Stream
TIP!
Keep the water in your system
When a waterfall or streambed becomes clogged with debris or ice, water
may overflow from the liner and drain the entire water feature. To prevent
overflow, provide enough depth to the waterfall and stream so water level is
at least 6” below the top edge of the liner (the deeper the better).

Install Waterfall Weir
14
Place liner over the face of the
Waterfall Weir. Leave a moderate
amount of slack in the material.
Mark position of the weir opening by
rubbing the liner with a hard object such
as a screwdriver or a blunt scissor edge.
Cut away the liner to the shape of the
opening.
Next, install the remaining screws.
Tighten all screws evenly by hand, until
flush with the faceplate.
Attach liner bracket and liner to waterfall
weir by installing 4 screws into each
corner. (Front of seal has recessed screw
holes).
STEP 7 – INSTALL WATERFALL WEIR
3 4
5 6
Place the Waterfall Weir at the top of
the waterfall and level the unit front to
back and side to side.
2
7
Waterfall Weir
Connect plumbing and kink free hose to
back of Waterfall Weir. Use the included
hose clamp and a screwdriver to tighten.
1

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
SAViO Black Foam
Expanding waterfall foam is
perfect for putting the finishing
touches on a water feature.
Use it to direct water flow over
rocks for a fuller waterfall
effect and to prevent water
from disappearing beneath and
between boulders. Additional
cans are available singly or by
the case.
Install Waterfall Weir
15
Use rock work and backfill to hide the
Waterfall Weir and blend the new water
feature into surrounding landscape.
Use SAV
i O Black Foam to fill gaps in
waterfall rocks.
STEP 7 – INSTALL WATERFALL WEIR
11 12
Fill the mesh bag with rocks for
ballast. Use large gravel, lava rock
or small stones.
Place mesh bag on top of media.
9 10
Place filter media pad into the
waterfall weir.
8

Create Plant Pockets
16
(optional) PLANT POCKETS
Use scrap underlay to protect the liner
from abrasion and sharp edges. Place
rock work to form a border along the
edge of the bog shelf. Use a bead of
black foam to secure and seal the base
of the rock work.
It’s Easy to Build
Use retaining stones to border your shallow shelf. Use black foam
to fill between the stones’. Add 4” to 6” of rounded gravel in the
bed. Place the plants directly into the gravel bed.
Create Plant Pockets
Bog plants grow on the outer edges of ponds and thrive in moist soil or
shallow water. A contained area for bog plants provides stable areas for
healthy growth while preventing them from overtaking the entire water
feature.
If this is a waterfall that will be turned on only occasionally, we
recommend using marginal plants or water loving terrestrial plants that
thrive in wet/dry conditions.
gravel bed for
bog plants
Black Foam
Fill behind rock work with gravel. Bogs can be multi level too. Start another
course of rock work to build a planting
pocket for the next level.
1
32
retaining
stones

With the waterfall or stream up and running check for leaks
or areas where water may be splashing out of the system. If
necessary, backfill to raise low edges or adjust the liner to
contain splashing.
Allow the black foam 2 hours to fully cure, then fill the gravel
basin with water. Stop when you see water just below the top of
the stones in the basin.
Plug the pump cord into a protected outlet. The pump will deliver
water to the top of the waterfall and your water feature will
quickly come to life.
Finishing Up
17
Fill the Basin
Start the System
Inspect for Leaks
TIP!
Part of the fun of building a water feature is playing in
it. Spend some time tuning your water feature - use
smaller rocks to adjust both sound and flow.
STEP 8 – FINISHING UP

Trim the liner only after the water feature has been filled
with water and allowed to run. This allows you raise a
low edge or make other adjustments . When the you are
satisfied with your water feature’s appearance, trim liner
with scissors. Roll and hide liner edges in the backfill.
STEP 8 – FINISHING UP
Add topsoil and plants to surrounding area to
blend your waterfall or stream into its
surroundings naturally.
Bury Kink Free hose and hide in backfill
Finishing Up
18
Bury Hose
Trim Liner
Plant

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
THE END RESULT
The End Result
19
Take a photo and send it to us at: [e-mail]. We’d love to share your success on our website.
Send Us Your Pictures
TIP!
Loss of water due to evaporation will vary
with climatic conditions. Do not allow the
pump to run dry. If the water level in the
basin becomes too low, you will begin to hear
the noise of the pump. If this occurs, place
additional water into the basin. An optional
autofill accessory is available for
the Waterfall Well.
At last! All your hard work has finally paid off and you have a beautiful backyard
paradise to enjoy for years to come. You’ll enjoy the easy maintenance and
superior water quality only a pond built with SAV
i
O products can provide.

Accessories
20
18” Extension for
Waterfall Well
™
Create a deeper Pond Free Basin
and still maintain access to your
pump equipment.
(part #K6001)
Stone Cover for
Waterfall Weir
™
Designed to camouflage your
water return and provide a
more natural appearance.
Fiberglass and acrylic bonded
construction is UV fade
resistant.
(part #K5003)
Autofill Valve for
Waterfall Well
™
Maintains water level in Pond
Free basin. Includes mini float
for Waterfall Well, self tapping
valve and 25’ of tubing.
(part #K6002)
Waterfall & Stream Accessory Kit
These all-in-one kits contain everything you need to extend your waterfall or
stream. Two lengths available 8’ or 14’. (part # WA510/WA515)
ACCESSORIES