In fact, water features have become an integral part of the backyard oasis experience. In 1999, Pool & Spa News reported, "Water features surpassed spas as the most popular pool-design element this year. . ." Already, in the sunbelt region of the United States alone, industry sources estimate that 70% of pools valued between $30,000 and $35,000 also have a water feature.

Why consider water features?

Water features are an affordable luxury that add a new level of excitement and/or elegance to your backyard. Pools, spas and water features can complement each other beautifully. A normally flat pool of water can be transformed by including water features that add sound, movement and height. This adds more fun for swimmers and more eye appeal for the yard or garden.

You don’t need an enormous property or an elaborate swimming pool to enjoy water effects. With a variety of water feature effects to choose from, many water features can be added to any size or shape of pool, or to the area surrounding your pool or spa. Water features can be incorporated into new vinyl or gunite pools as well as spas. Even those of you looking to update an existing pool have options. Another great development in recent years is that many pool builders are able to help you choose and install water features, not just the traditional fountain companies.

If you consider how you view and use your backyard, some of you might have to admit that you rarely, if ever, actually swim in your pools. However, you certainly enjoy using them every day - to look at, to relax beside, and to admire. That’s the allure of the oasis – just being there is wonderful.

The myriad of fountain solutions for the residential pool market is dramatically increasing. Almost anything that can be done for the commercial water features market will soon be available to the residential market because the technology employed today is much more cost-effective.

Innovation will continue to be important as the backyard oasis trend continues to grow. Over the next three to four years, the fountain offerings to enhance the residential in-ground pool and spa experience will be much more than the cascading waterfall, shear descents, or arching clear stream nozzles used in many pools today.

Instead, look for things like Disney-like water effects, more elaborate structural and sculptural fountains; more elaborate waterfalls and water walls; and more vertical water effects that take into account the safety constraints of a backyard swimming pool. These vertical water features are relatively new for consumers. Some of these solutions are the result of "value engineering" the commercial fountain industry's most innovative or popular products and technologies.

Generally, water features are considered during the initial design of swimming pools. There are a few reasons for this. First, it is more cost effective to plan and build water features at the same time as the pool. Second, many water features spill into the pool so this requires concurrent design. Third, pool contractors are becoming more knowledgeable about water features, with some offering water feature design and products as part of an increasingly diverse service package.