Operating your pool’s water features—like cascading spillways and tanning ledges—adds beauty and relaxation to your backyard oasis. But to keep things running smoothly, you need to know the correct way to adjust your valves and pump settings.

Start by checking your valve positions. If you have multiple water features, never fully close one while the others are shut. Doing so can cause pressure to build, leading to potential damage. Always make sure at least one water feature is open before turning valves.

To activate your cascade spillway, open its valve slowly and gradually close your main pool returns. This redirects water flow and gets your spillway running. Most systems will operate well at 2,500 RPMs, but if you want more water pressure, use the quick clean button on your pump to temporarily increase RPMs.

You can raise the timer in 60-minute increments, giving your features a longer high-powered performance. Once your cascade is flowing strong, you can open the tanning ledge valve. It may take a minute to fill and spill over, but you’ll soon have both features running beautifully.

Always monitor the balance—adding flow to one feature will decrease it from another. Knowing how to manage water flow and valve settings will keep your pool running safely and looking great.

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