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How expensive is a waterfeature to install and run?
Construction costs
Water features range in scale from small self-contained resin features costing perhaps a few hundred pounds to install, up to large complex pool features costing tens of thousands of pounds or more, with a whole spectrum inbetween.
In general, the more work required around the pool edge (expanses of paving, or carefully placed specimen rocks), and the more soil that needs to be moved, the more the feature will cost. Simple wildlife ponds without fish may require little or nothing in the way of pumps and filters, whereas large specialist koi pools and filtered swimming-ponds can have intricate filter and plumbing systems costing as much as the rest of the pool.
Maintenance
When it comes to running a pool, any given area of pond is likely to require as much attention as a similar area of planted garden. It will benefit from a tidy and a trim of the plants a couple of times a year, with a spot of weeding inbetween, and topping up with water in the summer. Partial pond cleans can delay the eventual requirement for a complete pool clean-out. Keep out autumn leaves with a cover net to significantly reduce future maintenance. copyright www.watergardensolutions.co.uk
Running costs for fish
Feeding a couple of dozen adult goldfish in an outdoor pond with a good quality pond pellet food might cost in the region of twenty to thirty pence per day - pondfish do not need to be fed during the winter. (see When and How should I feed my fish?) www.watergardensolutions.co.uk
Running costs for pumps
Pond pumps have become much more efficient over the past twenty years, but a fair amount of power will always be required to move substantial volumes of water. With electricity costs virtually doubling since 2021 it makes sense to choose wisely (more efficient equipment), and use wisely (only when appropriate).
As a guide, electric consumption for:
- A small spouting frog ornament - 9 to 11 watts
- The very smallest in-pond filter/UV system - 18 watts
- A UV lamp for a medium-large pond - 55 watts
- A medium sized, 30cm wide, waterfall 1m high - 35 to 60 watts
- A large cascade (20,000 lph) using a general ‘sump’ pump - 650 to 700 watts*
- A large cascade (20,000 lph) using general pond cascade pumps - 250 - 300 watts total*
- A large cascade (20,000 lph) using a pond cascade pump, best ‘Eco’ model - 180 watts*
The actual running cost depends on how often you run the pump, and the cost of electricity - which of late has been particularly erratic. The UK energy price cap for the second quarter of 2025 [first quarter rate in brackets], put the typical price of electricity at 27.03 pence [24.86] per kilowatt hour (kWh), including VAT. At this rate:
- For every 100 watts of power consumption --- 65p per day (£237 per year)
This is based on running the pump 24 hours per day. However, this does not include the standing charge of typically 53.80p [60.97p] per day. For a medium-sized house using Ofgems typical electric consumption of 2,700 kWh per year (7.39 kWh per day average) this raises the actual cost per kWh to 34.31 pence [33.11] per kWh:
- For every 100 watts of power consumption --- 82.3p per day (£300 per year) including standing charge
Note that prices vary according to which part of the country you live in, and your chosen tariff. Some suppliers may charge less or more than this figure, and the price including standing charge will vary according to your home’s overall usage. For smaller households, the standing charge becomes an even greater part of the cost (over 30%) and the effective cost per kWh will rise substantially. Prices will change again in July 2025.
*The three pump examples shown @20,000 lph show the importance of choosing the right pump for the job. The newer, high-efficiency pumps on the market can significantly reduce running costs, in this case less than a third of the running costs of a sump pump. Sump pumps are great for occasional use, and some can push water long distances and handle dirty water, but they are not really intended for 24/7 running. ’Eco’ pond pumps may be more expensive to purchase initially, and may not always have the “oomph” of more power-hungry models, but if used 24/7 usually work out cheaper in the long run. If you just need to aerate the pond water, an external air pump (with airstones) is usually cheaper to run than a water pump. ©
Saving electricity - Using wisely
Biological filter systems generally need to be run year-round, 24hrs per day, but savings can be made by running other water features and lights only when required. For example, using a timer to run a decorative fountain from 7 - 9am in the morning and 5 - 11pm in the evening, five days a week, and from 8am - 11pm at weekends would give an almost 60% saving over running the pump full time, and could also prolong the life of the pump.
Some pumps have variable electronic flow controls, or seasonal/temperature control options. Use these to reduce flow (and power consumption) in the winter, when fish and filters do not require as much circulation.
If a biological filter is well established and well maintained, it might be possible to turn off associated UV units for much of the year, saving energy without any drop in water clarity. The UV might only prove necessary at the start of the season; or during especially sunny summers; or on ponds heavily stocked with fish. (Check with the manufacturer. Some UV units could be more vulnerable to damp corrosion if not run during the winter.)
Saving electricity - Choosing wisely
When existing equipment needs replaced. Seek out more efficient units, and consider those with energy saving systems, such as electronically variable flow and seasonal/temperature related flow. Look for the energy consumption (wattage / P1) on the label. Some UV units turn off the lamp during cooler weather, saving electricity, and prolonging lamp life. Changing to LED garden lighting will use less electricity than old halogen lamp equivalents, though old transformers might need to be upgraded at the same time.
The widely available, small solar-panel driven pumps avoid using mains electricity. However, those kits under c.£350 are currently only capable of driving the smallest fountain/trickler pumps. Even those with a battery included, cannot guarantee to run throughout a 24 hour period. Larger-scale solar, with bigger panels and increased battery storage, is now available, but at a significantly greater initial outlay.
Tap-Water Costs
For most small ponds and features, the cost of topping up is insignificant. If you are on an unmetered supply, your pond use will cost you no more on your current flat-rate bill.
However, if you are billed on metered use through your water meter, then larger ponds can have notable costs associated with filling and topping up. If you have a very large pond or permanently fixed top-up plumbing, then the water company usually requires you to be on a metered supply. (We strongly recommend, and use, rain-water top-ups on most of our larger pond-project new-builds - with some limitations. Rain water is lower in nutrients than most tap water, and can help reduce blanketweed issues).
Metered water accounts have a charge for the volume of water supplied, and there is usually a related additional charge assuming that your home’s waste water enters the sewerage system. In most of the Severn Trent area these combined charges equate to around £4.11 for every cubic metre (220 gallons / 1000 litres) of water supplied to domestic properties. (Slightly less (£4.02) in the Thames Water region). Prices are an estimate only, based on 2025-26 rates, and exclude the standing charges and additional charges for surface water drainage. These prices have risen over 50% in the last three years and are likely to continue rising.
Some customers with very large ponds have decided to have their own borehole drilled to obtain water. Despite the expense, this can prove economical in the long run. There are limits to how much water can be pumped without a licence, and water might require further treatment to be usable. Like tap-water, the borehole water may also contain nutrients that encourage algae growth in ponds.
If running costs or environmental impact are of particular importance to you, we can design your pool system to suit - Contact Us to discuss your requirements.
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