How to Build a Jug Water Fountain
- 1). Use a shovel to dig a hole, oval in shape, with a width of 4 feet, a length of 6 feet and a depth of approximately 4 feet to form a basin in the desired location for your jug water fountain. Dig a hole in the middle of the basin 1 foot deep. Pour sand onto the bottom of the basin. Push a long piece of scrap wood across the surface of the sand to level it out. Use a level to ensure the sand layer is even.
- 2). Lay 20 x 12-foot pond liner across the perimeter of the basin. Cut the pond liner so that it matches the contours of the basin. Allow a few inches for overlap when cutting. Position the pond liner along the bottom of the basin so that the liner extends up the sides of the basin. Using a staple gun and landscaping staples, attach the pond liner to the basin floor and sides.
- 3). Mix mortar, according to the manufacturer's instructions, in a large bucket, and use a trowel to spread the mortar in a 1/2-inch thick layer across the walls of the basin. Use rocks or stones, light enough to carry and shaped so that they can be easily stacked, to form a row across the bottom edge of the basin. Stack the stones or rocks in rows, adding a layer of mortar to the top of each rock to help secure it to the rock above it, until you reach the top edge of the basin. Use a wet sponge to wipe away any extra mortar. Measure the dimensions of your jug. Leave an amount of space that equals that measurement, with a few inches on either side, along the side wall to later insert your jug.
- 4). Stack a series of bricks, using mortar to secure them to the back wall of the basin and to each other. The brick stack will be used as a channel for the fountain pump. Use spare rocks to conceal any areas where the pond liner may remain visible.
- 5). Use a drill to drill a hole in the bottom of the jug for water drainage. Dig a hole with the shovel to fit the jug into along the side wall. Insert the jug so that the jug's mouth faces out into the basin. Fill in dirt around the edge of the jug and add a layer of mortar around the jug to better secure it to the basin wall. Let the mortar dry for several hours. Stack rocks around the jug.
- 6). Position a 6-inch diameter pipe on the previously stacked bricks to support the jug. Add flat stones, using mortar, to the pipe and bricks for a more aesthetic look. Feed a 3/4-inch PVC tube through the bottom of the jug through the hole. Attach a coupling to the other end using a screw, then connect 1/2-inch rubber tubing to the pump. Feed the opposite end of the coupling and PVC tube into the jug's mouth. Add a line of silicone sealant to the length of tubing that was fed through the PCV channel to seal it.
- 7). Position the pump into the brick channel and pipe. The jug should rest on top of the 6-inch pipe. Use a garden hose to fill the basin and turn on the pump to start the fountain.
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