Where did Large Outdoor Fountains Originate from?

Originally, fountains only served a practical purpose. Cities, towns and villages made use of nearby aqueducts or springs to supply them with drinking water as well as water where they could bathe or wash. Until the late nineteenth, century most water fountains operated using gravity to allow water to flow or jet into the air, therefore, they needed a source of water such as a reservoir or aqueduct located higher than the fountain. Fountains were not only utilized as a water source for drinking water, but also to decorate homes and celebrate the designer who created it. Animals or heroes made of bronze or stone masks were often times utilized by Romans to beautify their fountains. During the Middle Ages, Muslim and Moorish garden designers included fountains in their designs to re-create the gardens of paradise. King Louis XIV of France wanted to demonstrate his dominion over nature by including fountains in the Gardens of Versailles. The Popes of the 17th and 18th centuries were glorified with baroque style fountains built to mark the arrival points of Roman aqueducts.
Urban fountains created at the end of the nineteenth served only as decorative and celebratory adornments since indoor plumbing provided the essential drinking water. Fountains using mechanical pumps instead of gravity helped fountains to provide recycled water into living spaces as well as create special water effects.
Modern-day fountains function mostly as decoration for public spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Landscape Fountains
The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Landscape Fountains
No more than three-four months should go by without an extensive maintaining of a fountain. Prior to cleaning, all of the water must be eliminated. Once it is empty, clean inside the reservoir with a mild cleanser. If there is intricate artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Make sure all the soap is completely rinsed off.
Various organisms and calcium deposits can get inside the pump, so it is best to take it apart and clean it thoroughly. Soaking it in vinegar for a time will make it easier to clean. If you want to remove build-up in your fountain, use rain water or mineral water rather than tap water, as these don’t contain any elements that will stick to the inside of the pump.
One final tip for keeping your fountain in top working order is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. Allowing the water to drop below the pump’s intake level, can cause serious damage and even make the pump burn out - an undesired outcome!