Living Earth LandscapesSite Solutions

Featured Pond Project

Pond Renovation & System Rebuild

This established pond returned to Living Earth for another major renovation approximately 15 years after earlier work on the same system.

Sediment accumulation, aging equipment, and periods of neglect had reduced water quality and system performance. The renovation focused on restoring the pond while preserving and rebuilding components that still had useful life.

Finished pond renovation surrounded by redwoods, with a footbridge and planted edges
Finished pond renovation on a long-term client property. Living Earth had performed major work on this pond about 15 years earlier and returned again after sediment buildup, aging components, and neglect reduced performance. The renovation included new pump and filtration components, repairs to salvageable elements, and an updated lighting system.

Long-Term Relationship

Living Earth returned to renovate a pond it had worked on approximately 15 years earlier.

Restore Before Replace

Aging equipment was replaced where necessary while components with remaining useful life were repaired or rebuilt.

Water Quality + System Performance

Sediment removal, updated pumps and filtration, circulation improvements, and renewed lighting restored both function and appearance.

Before
Pond before renovation with shallow, discolored water and heavy sediment on the basin floor
Pre-renovation condition showing sediment buildup and declining pond quality. When sediment is allowed to accumulate too deeply, it becomes anaerobic, reducing water quality, impairing system performance, and diminishing the pond’s appearance.

Good renovation starts by determining what should be replaced, what can still be repaired, and what will give the system another useful life.

During Renovation
Pond drained down to the exposed rock basin during renovation, with hoses and a pump on site
During renovation: the pond was drained down to expose the basin and allow repair, cleanup, and system work.
Completed
Finished stream running over stone into the pond, edged with ferns and grasses
Refined stream and edge conditions help improve circulation, appearance, and long-term function.
Completed pond with clear water, a small waterfall, and established plantings under redwoods
Completed pond after renovation, with clearer water, improved structure, and a more stable planting setting.
Alternate view of the finished pond with an arched wooden footbridge and surrounding garden
Alternate finished view showing the pond as part of the broader landscape setting.
System & Lighting
Pond at night with low-voltage lighting illuminating trees, plantings, and the water surface
Night lighting after renovation. Living Earth used high-quality lighting components originally installed about 15 years earlier; most were rebuilt and several discontinued fixtures were replaced by the manufacturer, extending the life of the existing system rather than replacing it outright.
Filtration vault with PVC manifold, valves, UV clarifiers, and pump wiring
Updated filtration and circulation components support cleaner water and more reliable long-term performance.
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