WATER WORLD FOUNTAINS GIVE STEADY STREAM OF STRESS RELIEF.

Byline: Phil Davis Staff Writer

Few sounds are more soothing than burbling water. People hike through miles of rocky wilderness just to spend a few hours beside a woodland stream, so it's little wonder that fountains are becoming fixtures in more American homes.

``The sound of falling water is magical to people,'' said Dorcas Adkins, a Washington, D.C.-based fountain designer and author of ``Simple Fountains'' (Storey Books; $26.95). ``I'm a kayaker, and the one thing I love to do is sit next to a nice whitewater drop and just listen to it. It makes me feel different. And I think fountains do the same thing.''

There's nothing new about fountains. People have been making them since the ancient Romans figured out how to harness running water. But only in the last decade has the concept really hit the mainstream. Discount stores sell $30 ``desk fountains'' and businesses are noting increased orders for outdoor fountains that cost thousands of dollars.

``We're getting inquiries for much larger, showier fountains,'' said Judy Buksar, owner of Garden Statuary in Tarzana. ``It seems there's a lot of affluence here in the Valley again. When the economy is up, we do really well.''

Adkins credits the surge in popularity to an increasing awareness of the importance of water in Zen ideas such as feng shui, the ancient art of object placement. Others are just now realizing small fountains are easy to obtain and are affordable. Even hand-sculpted indoor fountains sell for under $300.

There's no better bargain for endless hours of stress relief.

``The thing that is really getting people's attention is this thing called the cocooning movement,'' Adkins explained. ``People are now under enough stress and crowding in public life that their private spaces have become more important.''

Imagination and money are the only limit to the kinds of fountains available.

Buksar said customers are constantly asking that garden sculptures be altered to accommodate fountain plumbing, and the company is happy to oblige. She said people seem to favor classical Roman designs over the simple sleekness of modern fountains. They can even stain the fountains to make them appear weathered - transforming plain old concrete into something that looks like aged brass. The concrete weathers nicely without stain, too.

Adkins appeals to the do-it-yourself set with ``Simple Fountains,'' a beautifully designed coffee table book that offers step-by-step instructions to building everything from a tabletop sea shell fountain to a small pond and waterfall complete with goldfish, turtles and a self-sustaining ecosystem. The projects vary in cost and don't offer much in the way of savings over store-bought fountains. A small project might take only 20 minutes if the rocks and shells are already collected. Larger projects are very tricky.

``Anyone who wants to create their own backyard nightmare can come to us for the pieces,'' Buksar said. They suggest hiring a licensed contractor for the tough stuff.

But Adkins said there is a certain kind of satisfaction that only comes to those who build something by themselves. It's very personal.

``I usually do very simple fountains that are somewhat Zen in background and feeling,'' Adkins said. ``I like bamboo a lot and I use it as a tube for water. I also like the more natural fountains where it looks like water is coming out of nowhere - a little waterfall in a bowl. I really like the challenge of concealing the working parts so it looks natural, which, in shorthand, means hide the pump.''

Adkins encourages her readers to experiment and make mistakes. Novices are going to feel a lot more comfortable with some kind of reference material, such as Adkins' book.

Here's some of the basic terminology to get started:

--The reservoir: This is where the water is collected and can be anything from a goldfish pond to a ceramic bowl made in a high school art class. The most important thing - especially indoors - is that it is watertight. It must be deep enough to conceal a pump, and hold enough water to keep the pump from running dry. Remember, the smaller the fountain, the more difficult it is to hide the pump.

--The pump: Adkins said choosing a pump, the heart of any fountain, can be difficult since splashing is a serious concern for any indoor project. A typical indoor fountain should have a volume of between 60 and 140 gallons per hour (GPH). A large outdoor waterfall might require 500 GPH. Adkins strongly recommends a flow control selector on all pumps (a valve can be added to tubing on larger fountains). This will help control splashing. Small magnet-driven pumps are much quieter than traditional aquarium pumps. Prices range from $15 for a 60 GPH pump to several hundred dollars for larger pumps. (Warning: All fountains should be plugged into ground fault circuit interrupter sockets to avoid the risk of shock. The outlets are easily recognizable by the red reset buttons on the socket cover.)

--The fountain piece: This is the stack of rocks, spitting lion's head or any other object that appears to be the source of the water. A fountain can be made of found objects such as driftwood, rocks, shells or even old tools. Stores such as Garden Statuary and Fountains & Fine Art Gallery in Canoga Park sell pieces sculpted in everything from fiberglass to concrete that run from elegant to downright garish. The only limitations are the object's ability to conceal the pump and tubing.

--Tubing: This is what connects the pump to the mouth of the fountain, and typically is vinyl tubing. Adkins suggests buying several feet of varying lengths of tubing because what fits the pump may not necessarily fit the fountain head. If that's the case, telescope progressively smaller or larger pieces to suit your purposes.

--Accessories: Pulsating sprinkler heads (one makes droplets that sparkle like diamonds), multicolored lights, foggers and automatic timers are just a few of the accessories available to enhance a fountain. Prices vary. A fogger costs roughly $45 and waterproof lights are about $20 and up.

CAPTION(S):

5 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) Renewed interest in water fountains overflowing in the Valley

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(2 -- color) Garden Statuary in Tarzana features a variety of intricately designed outdoor fountains, including this one of a man's face.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(3 -- color) Cherub fountains, such as the selection at Garden Statuary, are popular for dressing up a back yard.

Tina Burch/Staff Photographer

(4 -- 5 -- color) Bring the outdoors inside with a small waterfall. Many tabletop fountains incorporate Zen designs and provide the home with the tranquil sound of water without a mess.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer