Water feature pump quarterly maintenance checklist

Public kept back from the basin before work starts

Barrier or signs set around the basin and the owner's contact told the feature is going down, so no visitor reaches the water while it is open.

Every basin circuit locked out before hands go in the water

Pump, lights, fill valve and feeders locked and tagged. Run checks use the temporary release: lids closed, all clear, locks off by their owners, re-locked before hands go back in.

Suction outlet covers fastened and uncracked

Every suction outlet and intake cover on the pump or basin sump present, screwed down at each point, not cracked, warped or turned brittle by sun.

Strainer and intake screen clear

Intake screen and pump strainer basket cleared of leaves, silt and debris, not restricting flow, no cavitation noise.

Pump primed and running quiet

Pump primed and moving water, no air lock, no grinding or dry-run whine, no leaks at the seal or unions.

Filter gauge compared with its clean baseline where fitted

Where a filter and gauge are fitted, pressure read with the pump running against the clean reading on the tag, cleaned or backwashed at the manufacturer's change point.

Water chemistry read against the operator's targets

Sample dipped from the basin edge, sanitizer, pH and clarity read with the site's kit against the operator's targets, results logged, no algae or foam building.

Basin level correct and auto-fill working

Water above the pump intake and the low-water cutoff, auto-fill or float valve holding level, no continuous overflow to drain.

Makeup water use compared with the last round

Fill meter reading or fill cycling compared with the last round, a jump beyond normal evaporation and splash flagged to the owner as a possible leak.

Flow and display at intended height with no dead nozzles

Jets, weirs or spillways running evenly at design height, no plugged nozzles, flow valve set where it belongs.

GFCI protection and in-use covers intact

GFCI trips and resets at the receptacle, in-use weatherproof covers in place, cords and connections dry and undamaged.

Wind control drops the display in a gust where fitted

Wind sensor tripped with the controller's test or by spinning its cups, jets fall to the low setting or stop, then recover after the set delay.

Underwater lights and lenses checked where fitted

Lights on at the controller, lenses clear and uncracked, no water or fogging inside a fixture, cords held in their clips and not chafing on the basin edge.

Cord entries and junction box lids closed and sealed

Deck and junction box lids viewed closed and gasketed, cord grips tight, jackets uncracked where they leave the water, no box sitting in standing water.

Feature back on its schedule and the area reopened

Timer and fill back in automatic, each lock and tag cleared by whoever hung it, barrier lifted, and the owner's contact told of any defect found.