Pipes and fittings allow water to flow into your backyard waterfall. The valves let you manage the route and rate of that flow. Most of the plumbing supplies can be provided by plumbing stores, home centers, and garden dealers. By choosing the right size of pipe, fittings and valves you can make pump work most efficiently. When planning your pipe directions remember, water flows best when it runs straight. Find pipe with a smooth bore, and make least sharp turns in the layout.   Copper tubing should not be used for backyard waterfall. Plastic pipe and fitting are preferred for supply and drain lines. Plastic pipe is easy to cut, assemble, and very affordable, unlike copper and other metals, it will not rust outdoors. Several different types of plastic pipe and fitting are available.   Flexible pipe is the easiest to assemble and install. If you need to put rigid pipe, look for schedule 40 PVC, (polyvinyl chloride) which is joined with solvent fittings.   Corrugated plastic pipe costs more than other plastic pipe, but it can be bent around obstacles without kinking, it can reduce the time for installing fittings.   For waterfall, from 1/2-inch to 1/4-inch pipe will be enough. To more...

Fittings allow you to control the directions of the flow and secure the flow of water through the piping. Pipe fittings join to other pieces of pipe as well as to pumps and other equipment. Flexible pipe or a hand tight PVC muff makes pump displacement easy and quick. If the pump has a threaded socket and you want to connect it to vinyl tubing, use a barb fitting and clamp.   Many types of fittings are available   •T fitting. Divides water flow into two directions.   •Elbow.  Allows water flow to make a 90 or 45 degree turn in rigid or flexible pipelines.   •Coupling. Connects two pieces of tubing.   •Garden hose adapter. Various kinds make it possible to join rigid pipe to flexible tubing. Connects the pump socket to a flexible hose. Useful when draining the waterfall.   •Reducer. For different diameter at each end to connect piping of differing diameters.   •Check valve . Allows water to flow in one direction, and stops it if it moves in the opposite direction. more...