In part because of this, Schopper said, many people are converting to pondless waterfalls by filling the pond basin with rocks. "Then you only need as much water as will filter through the rocks ...

In a pondless waterfall, water cascades and babbles over various levels, ... which combines a shallow space for aquatic plants and a deeper area for swimming.

The pondless waterfall is just the decorative part of the system, which catches water running off the Hoffmans' roof and sends it into an underground reservoir.