Aquascape Builds Self-Sustaining Pondless Waterfall for Shedd Aquarium

St. Charles, IL – Aquascape Inc. was commissioned by the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago to construct a 3,000-gallon Pondless Waterfall adjacent to its outside dining terrace. The 80-foot waterfall and stream feature replicates a watershed and can be replenished with rainwater that runs off the terrace into a series of 50-gallon rain barrels.

Three dramatic, weathered limestone waterfalls flow into a 3,000-gallon underground reservoir constructed with 100 AquaBlox water matrixes. The 12-foot-high self-sustaining water feature is situated on a slope angled toward Lake Michigan. The reservoir at the bottom of the waterfall and stream helps to capture some of the stormwater runoff that would otherwise flow into the lake. Two Tsurumi 9PL pumps push the stored water up and over the recirculating waterfall, providing filtration, aeration, and habitat, thereby improving water quality.

“This self-sustaining water feature provides a riparian zone, which is instrumental in water quality for surface runoff,” claims Ed Beaulieu, chief sustainability officer for Aquascape Inc. “By incorporating the sub-surface reservoir, we’re able to better manage rainwater run-off and provide an aesthetic waterfall feature at the same time.”

Visitors to the Shedd Aquarium, as well as passers-by on the lakefront’s paved bike path, can interact with the water feature. A bridge traverses the stream from the dining terrace to the grass beyond. Native plants soften the edges of the rocky feature and provide a landing spot for birds, butterflies, and bees.