Choosing Pool Showers and Waterfalls: Shower Types, Water Curtains and Plumbing Needs

The standard Niagara shower and the single-tap and foot-wash-tap Angel models belong to this group. Installation is the simplest; the water temperature depends on the line it is connected to. The touch-free Niagara model switches on and off with a motion sensor; it is powered at 6 V DC by 4 AA batteries, its sensor is IP67 rated and it works at 1 to 4 bar pressure. Batteries are not included.

A solar shower has a tank that is heated by the sun. In the Iguazu solar, Niagara solar, Solar Krom, Pluvium solar and Angel solar models the tank holds 30 litres; in the Vernal compact shower it holds 25 litres. The tank is fed with cold water, warms up during the day, and hot and cold water are mixed at the control tap. The amount of hot water is limited by the tank volume and its temperature depends on hours of sunshine. Because it needs no electricity or hot water line, it is the choice in gardens where these lines are not run to the pool area.

Timed showers are aimed at pools with many users. Our range includes single-head, two-head and four-head timed models; the four-head model is polished AISI-304L steel, designed for public and semi-Olympic pools, and saves water with a flow restrictor. The Angel series also has a single-head model with a timer and a foot-wash tap. The timer prevents the shower from being left running and limits water consumption.

That is why the grade of stainless steel matters. The products we supply come in two grades. The pipe of the Niagara and Solar Krom showers is AISI-304L, the Iguazu shower is AISI-316L, and the Pluvium shower is made of polished AISI-316L combined with tropical wood. Waterfalls and water curtains are mostly AISI-316 and AISI-316L; the water ball fountain comes in both 316L and 304L.

Grade 316L is regarded as more resistant to corrosion than 304L in environments containing chloride. This difference becomes more pronounced in saltwater pools or in seafront projects. For an indoor shower, or one sheltered from rain, 304L may be enough. Our preference is to recommend grade 316 for waterfalls, fountains and water curtains that are in constant contact with water; for showers, one of the two grades is chosen according to location and budget.

Material choice does not end with stainless steel. The Solar Krom frame uses aluminium, the Vernal body polyethylene and the Powerfall waterfall ABS. Plastic bodies do not rust, are light and easy to install; metal bodies give a heavier, more durable look. The decision is made according to the architectural style the product will stand alongside and how intensively it will be used.

We divide the waterfalls we supply roughly into three groups. The first group is wall-mounted waterfalls: the AISI-316 Classic, Straight and One models, AISI-316L wall waterfalls 300 mm and 600 mm wide, and the ABS Powerfall in widths of 30, 46, 61 and 91 cm. The second group is the Pluvium waterfall, fixed to the ground with an anchor; the third group is ABS waterfalls such as SilkFlow, aimed at commercial pools.

A water curtain is a decorative element in which water flows down a vertical surface in a thin sheet. Kobra is 1.2 m high and 600 mm wide, with a matt or white-painted AISI-316 surface. Boa is 1.2 m high and 340 mm wide, with a bright polished finish. Luxe is 0.9 m high and, at 60 kg, the heaviest model in the series. We also supply the Arched and Swan series. For heavy models such as Luxe, placement and the supporting base are considered in advance in the structural design.

Waterfalls and water curtains are chosen according to how the pool is used and how its surroundings are laid out. In the shallow area intended for children, water play features come in: fixed figures and slide sets are installed in 30 to 40 cm of water, while the Active set needs a depth of at least 110 cm. These depths are installation requirements and are applied together during fitting.

Waterfalls and fountains use pool water and need an additional pump line. For the Pluvium water jet, the Pluvium waterfall, the wall waterfalls and the water ball fountain, the anchor, pump, electrical panel and suction system are not included with the product; they are selected separately. That is why a waterfall budget is calculated from the product, the pump and the plumbing together.

Flow rate varies by product. The Pluvium water jet needs a flow of 7 m³/h and a head of 5 metres of water column; the Pluvium waterfall needs 12 m³/h and 2 metres. The water ball fountain comes with a 5 m³/h round nozzle or a 15 m³/h flat nozzle option, both requiring a head of 2 metres. For the Powerfall, with water falling from 1 m above the pool wall, the required flow is 7.0 m³/h for a 30 cm width, 11.5 m³/h for 45 cm and 15.0 m³/h for 60 cm. As flow rises, so does pump power: a 3/4 HP pump gives 13 m³/h, 1 HP gives 16 m³/h and 1.5 HP gives 22 m³/h.

Pipe diameter is also tied to flow. For the Powerfall, 50 mm pipe is recommended for flows below 16 m³/h and 63 mm pipe for 16 m³/h and above. If more than one waterfall is installed, each waterfall gets its own valve; for several waterfalls at the same height, a ring main is recommended for balanced flow. The Powerfall is mounted no more than 1.2 m above water level. The SilkFlow waterfall can be fed from the pool filter supply or from a separate pump; which one is chosen depends on whether the filtration flow is enough for the waterfall.

For wall waterfalls in reinforced concrete pools, there is an option of a concrete wall passage, an air pipe and a control box with a pneumatic button. These parts are set into the concrete during construction and are difficult to add later. That is why the waterfall decision needs to be made together with the pool design.

A spot close to the pool entry, where the paving falls towards a drain, reduces wet footprints carried onto the terrace. The Pluvium shower is 2.04 m high and comes in models with or without a shower tray. Some Angel models are supplied with a fixing anchor. The Solar Krom shower takes water through a rear inlet suited to a hose connector, which makes installation easier in outdoor areas fed from a garden line.

The position of a solar shower is set by how much sun it gets. If the tank stays in shade, the water does not warm up enough. That is why we place solar showers at a point that gets direct sun all day, or at least on a surface that catches the afternoon sun. A drain and drainage are also planned where the shower meets the ground, so that water does not collect under the paving around the pool.

Winter preparation is a separate matter. Frost can freeze the water in the pipe and tank and crack the parts. The Solar Krom shower has a winter drain plug and the Vernal shower a winter draining system. In regions with cold winters, models with this feature are preferred, and the tank and line are drained at the end of the season. Waterfall and fountain lines are also included in the pool winterising programme.

Vernal has a polyethylene body and a rain-effect head, with a 25-litre tank, a foot-wash tap and a winter draining system. Solar Krom comes with a 30-litre tank, a rain-effect head and a foot-wash tap, and is available in six colours.

In projects where the architectural look comes first, the Iguazu, Niagara, Pluvium and Angel series are worth considering. The Pluvium shower, with its 316L steel and wood, gives a line that suits a terrace. Iguazu comes in 316L steel with a white acrylic panel and has two jets. The touch-free Niagara model is an option suited to public areas. Angel, with its timed and two-head options, is aimed at pools with many users.

For water effects, the Powerfall stands out for a waterfall built into a wall, the Pool Waterfall series and wall waterfall for a stainless steel look, the water curtain for a decorative vertical surface, and the water ball fountain and Pluvium water jet for a water display within the pool. Water play equipment for children's areas is prepared on a quotation basis. Which model is suitable depends on the pool dimensions, the existing pump capacity and the wall structure; these values are calculated at the quotation stage and a model is recommended.