Water features add sound, movement and interest to any garden.

The sound of running water is relaxing and soothing — who would disagree that a water feature can be a pleasant addition to your garden scene? And shouldn’t it be relatively simple for a do-it-yourselfer to combine a pump, a pool liner and some rocks to make some sort of an artificial waterfall?

Before you start building a water feature, though, know what you’re getting into, advises Karen McCarthy, assistant manager of CHS Garden Center in Madras.

“You have got to get the water feature right,” she said. “Otherwise, a good idea can turn into a nightmare, and you’ll just have to keep pumping money into it. Do some research, then get a pro if you don’t know what you’re doing.”

A common situation, she said, is that people don’t understand how spendy a water feature can be.

“People see these great water features in magazines and don’t realize how much they can ultimately cost,” McCarthy said. “Some of the nicer ones can cost between $3,500 and $5,000, and that’s before you buy the plants.”

You will usually get what you pay for, McCarthy said, and you probably won’t get much of a water feature for between $300 and $400. While you can get a kit with a liner, pump and a few fiberglass “rocks” for a reasonable cost, she said, the main expenditures in building a water feature are the labor, excavation and cost of bringing in rocks and materials.

A cost some people don’t consider is the infrastructure and the foundation that are needed before any of the landscaping can be started.

“If you’re doing new construction on a house, get the water feature’s plumbing and electrical infrastructure in while you have the workers there,” McCarthy said. “For any water feature work, get a reputable contractor. If you can’t get three decent referrals, forget it. A water feature is hard to fix, once it’s in.”

Project budget decided upon, look at the area where the proposed water feature will go and decide what you want. A small water feature carries a lower price with reduced maintenance, and may be a better value compared to installing a large pond or backyard waterfall.

If you decide to build a water feature, McCarthy has these tips for avoiding a potential nightmare:

• Respect the pool liner: “It’s tough, but you can’t walk on the liner with boots on,” McCarthy said. “Make sure there is an underlayment padding beneath the liner. You can use something like recycled carpet, but make sure all the staples and nails are removed first.”

A major mess usually occurs after the liner is compromised with small leaks, she added.

“Eventually, the leaks will liquefy the dirt underneath, and turn it into pudding,” McCarthy said. “This will cause everything to shift, and your water feature could turn into a mud-fest.”

• Build a solid foundation: “The mechanical parts, like the pump and filters, must have solid support, such as concrete or wood. You can’t just put dirt around them,” McCarthy said. “The higher the falls you make, the more solid the foundation needs to be.”

• Be prepared for maintenance: “Algae is inevitable and is healthy for a pond, but you may not like how it looks,” McCarthy said. “The water feature will attract a lot of dust and debris, along with every animal that needs a drink. If you aren’t around a lot, this could be a problem. And you will have to clean the pond and deal with the maintenance on an ongoing basis.”

A cheaper, more suitable, water feature alternative might be a portable system. These come in kits, with a pump, filter and decorative spout.

“You can make anything into one of these water features,” McCarthy said. “Right now, galvanized stock tanks are trendy. You can put goldfish and water plants in them during the warmer months, then drain and take them inside during the winter.”

Some portables, like the bamboo drip style, start at about $30, and can be placed in a vase, bucket or virtually any other waterproof container. The systems can be placed anywhere; on a deck, or in a garden or quiet spot.

“Sometimes, people build a permanent water feature, when a portable one would have served them better,” McCarthy said. “Look at some of those smaller systems first before building, and you may avoid a lot of expense and work. Then, when you want some quiet time and atmosphere, just plug in the pump and enjoy!”