Need help with new 48" waterfall and correct pump option...

[MidCitySlim]

New pool from Soake Pools; great company. The waterfall was not supplied by them and was installed locally, but all of the equipment was...

Need recommendations as the waterfall and pump combination don't work together. The waterfall has some hot spots, leaks along the sides, and there is non-laminar flow even with the pump valve closed to about 90% (pump seems overpowered for a pretty big feature). Poor waterfall design as the stainless flexes in the middle and the flow is not consistent across the 48" run. The waterfall is broken, and needs replaced --- the bricks will be deconstructed and plumbing rebuilt as needed. I would like recommendations on a new 48" waterfall with light combo, and whatever pump will work for it --- my current secondary pump (left pump in the picture) is not variable speed, and I did ask the company to provide a variable speed pump so I can dial in the correct flow rate on a new waterfall. Everything is plumbed with 2.5" pipe.

Failed Waterfall: Steel Elegance 48'' Color Changing Lighted Stainless Steel Spillway - STE48CC (hard pass - should be welded better and better baffling for consistent water flow)
Pump: Jandy single speed Centurion.

I attached photos of my equipment. Hopefully this is enough information for everyone to help me.

Many thanks!

 

[PoolGate]

Check out Jandy offerings.

 

[ajw22]

Look at the sheer descents from Pentair, Jandy, or CMP.

@AQUA~HOLICS you have any experience with waterfalls?

BTW, it looks like DWV fittings were used instead of Schedule 40 PVC.

Read PVC Repair - Further Reading to learn what the differences are.

Note the thin hubs indicated in red versus the Schedule 40 hubs indicated in yellow.

I hope no DWV fittings were used on buried pipes.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

All the waterfalls I have experience with are built at time of pool construction.
Jandy sheer descents are most commonly used and I haven’t seen any failures of their products.
Stainless products in swimming pool applications eventually see some form of failure in my opinion that you don’t see in PVC products.
I understand that you obtain a specific look with stainless that you can’t get with PVC but I comes with a possibility of future issues.
Due to the leaking situation, I would have the structure completely removed and rebuilt and most importantly I would be there during that process.
Staying with PVC products that come in contact with the pool water may be to your advantage.

 

[MidCitySlim]

Look at the sheer descents from Pentair, Jandy, or CMP.

@AQUA~HOLICS you have any experience with waterfalls?

BTW, it looks like DWV fittings were used instead of Schedule 40 PVC.

Read PVC Repair - Further Reading to learn what the differences are.

Note the thin hubs indicated in red versus the Schedule 40 hubs indicated in yellow.

I hope no DWV fittings were used on buried pipes.

View attachment 601933

Thank you so much for providing this feedback. I was oblivious to the visual difference between Schedule 40 and DWV; now I know. I'm having my contractors replace these, and I'm also verifying with them that the underground stuff was Schedule 40. I distinctly remember the owner of the company indicate Schedule 40 needed to be used, but apparently the workers didn't get the memo.

Thank you again!

 

[MidCitySlim]

Look at the sheer descents from Pentair, Jandy, or CMP.

@AQUA~HOLICS you have any experience with waterfalls?

BTW, it looks like DWV fittings were used instead of Schedule 40 PVC.

Read PVC Repair - Further Reading to learn what the differences are.

Note the thin hubs indicated in red versus the Schedule 40 hubs indicated in yellow.

I hope no DWV fittings were used on buried pipes.

View attachment 601933

Well, more bad news.... they used roughly 26 DWV elbows with Schedule 40 pipe in all the underground plumbing. Confirmed via photos and invoices/receipts.

 

[ajw22]

Well, more bad news.... they used roughly 26 DWV elbows with Schedule 40 pipe in all the underground plumbing. Confirmed via photos and invoices/receipts.

Are they buried under concrete or dirt?

 

[MidCitySlim]

Are they buried under concrete or dirt?

All of the above. Rigid insulation, then pipes, spray foam insulation, sand, dirt, then aggregate / 4" of concrete; concrete is over top of about 1/2 of the pipe run back to the equipment --- roughly 20 feet total.

 

[ajw22]

I think all you can do is save the records of where the fittings are in the ground and hope they never leak.