This year marks an important milestone for the Water Artisans of the Year Awards. While this is the 10th year POND Trade has presented the awards, it is my first year stewarding the program as editor and publisher.
With that responsibility comes intention.
The Water Artisans of the Year Awards have always stood for something more than recognition. They represent trust—trust that every project is evaluated fairly, that craftsmanship outweighs branding, and that excellence is recognized without influence. That standard is not something to be reinvented, but something to be protected and elevated.
All projects submitted this year were judged anonymously. Removing contractor names, company affiliations and brand identifiers ensure evaluation of each entry solely on design, execution and artistry. No corporate sponsorship is attached to these awards and no outside influence on the judging process. Each winning project earns its place on merit alone.
This year’s honorees reflect that commitment. Diego Asturias and Bradley Blocksom each earn their second Water Artisan of the Year distinction, reinforcing the consistency and caliber of their work. Thomas VanAmerongen and Eric Santana also join the multiple-time winners circle with their second WATY awards. Together, this group represents sustained excellence and leadership within the water-feature industry.
About the Judging
And independcdent panel of judges reviewed the submissions. Each judge brings decades of hands-on experience and industry knowledge to the process. We solicited entries across four categories: Best Pondless, Most Naturalistic, Fountains & Formal Features, and Recreational Ponds. This cross-section reflects both the artistry and technical range of today’s water-feature professionals. (Meet the judges.)
This year, more than 70 projects were submitted for consideration. A $25 submission fee accompanied each entry. Approximately $2,000 was donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, supporting its mission to advance lifesaving treatment and care for children.
As this awards program moves forward into its next decade, feedback will play an important role. Listening to our contributors, judges and readers is essential as we continue to raise the bar, grow the number of submissions, and expand international participation—while preserving the integrity and credibility that have defined the Water Artisans of the Year Awards from the beginning.
Please enjoy these standout projects from the 2025 pond season. Join us in celebrating the artisans who continue to define the very best of our industry.
WINNER-PONDLESS
Bradley Blocksom, Pondscapes of Charlotte
Brad Blocksom is a now two-time Water Artisan of the Year winner.
As the CEO of Pondscapes of Charlotte he brings more than two decades of experience in creating custom natural water features. Working alongside his father, Dave Blocksom, in the family business, he developed an appreciation for blending artistry with nature. It’s an approach that continues to define his work today.
About the Project
One of the most compelling qualities of a skilled water artisan is the ability to turn an everyday space into an experience—one that invites people to gather, linger and return again and again. This pondless water feature was designed and built for a homeowner seeking a backyard that could serve equally as a place for celebration and quiet retreat.
The client envisioned a setting that would impress guests while still offering a sense of calm for daily use. The solution was an island patio, accessible only by a series of natural stepping stones, creating a subtle sense of arrival. Surrounded entirely by water, waterfalls flow from every direction.
From any seat on the island, water moves and speaks. Multiple cascades create a fully immersive, 360-degree experience, with sound and motion carefully balanced to feel enveloping rather than overwhelming. Stone and boulder placement guide the eye and the ear, allowing the feature to feel both intentional and effortless.
At the center of the flagstone patio sits a FireBoulder, introducing warmth and contrast to the surrounding water. The fire element is controlled discreetly from within the stone itself. This preserves the natural aesthetic while allowing the space to shift seamlessly from day to night.
Today, the client and his wife use the space as it was intended—hosting friends around the fire in the evening and starting their mornings with coffee, surrounded by the steady, calming presence of moving water. A destination for guests, and a refuge for everyday life.
WINNER-RECREATIONAL PONDS
Thomas VanAmerongen, Niagara Waterscapes
VanAmerongen is the founder of Niagara Waterscapes, a local, hands-on company creating beautiful, natural outdoor spaces across the Niagara region.
The comapny specializes in ponds, waterfalls and integrated landscapes. VanAmerongen and his team focus on building environments that bring peace and enjoyment to the backyard.
That commitment to honest work, lasting quality and helping homeowners connect with nature at home has earned VanAmerongen two Water Artisan of the Year awards.
The awards recognize a body of work grounded in craftsmanship, care and long-term enjoyment.
About the Project
One of the defining challenges in recreational pond design is finding harmony between structure and nature. For this project the goal was to create a space that feels intentional without losing its sense of calm. This ecosystem recreation pond, designed and built by Thomas VanAmerongen of Niagara Waterscapes, transforms a once-ordinary backyard into a place for both immersion and retreat.
Measuring approximately 20 by 25 feet and four feet deep, the pond is anchored by a 10-by-15-foot wetland filtration system. This allows the water to remain clear while keeping maintenance minimal. The result is a system that supports both daily use and long-term enjoyment without sacrificing performance or aesthetics.
The design blends natural elements with formal cues. Architectural walls and oversized flagstone define the space and bring a sense of order. Large natural stone steps ease the transition from land to water, inviting swimmers to step in and cool off. Five Corten steel planters introduce a contemporary contrast, adding warmth and texture to the surrounding landscape.
As daylight fades, underwater lighting animates the pond, extending its use into the evening and revealing new layers of movement and reflection. Together, these elements create a recreational water feature that balances structured elegance with organic tranquility—a backyard ecosystem designed not just to be admired, but to be lived in.
WINNER-MOST NATURALISTIC
Diego Asturias & Dan Peterson, Fontana Ponds and Water Features
Some projects begin with a sketch. Others begin with patience. For this homeowner, the vision of a stream winding through his backyard lived in his imagination for nearly 20 years. When the time finally came to bring it to life, Diego Asturias and Dan Peterson of Fontana Ponds and Water Features were entrusted with translating that long-held dream into reality.
Set against a forested backdrop, the naturalistic stream was designed to feel as though it had always belonged to the landscape. Its path twists and turns organically, following the contours of the site rather than imposing upon it. Stretching approximately 100 feet in length with four feet of elevation change, the stream creates constant movement and visual interest as water flows steadily toward the home.
To achieve a sense of scale and authenticity, a 20-foot-wide liner was used, allowing room for large boulders and dynamic water flow. The generous width supports depth, sound and motion, giving the stream presence without overwhelming its surroundings.
Beneath the surface, a 2,300-gallon reservoir and three SLD 5–9000 pumps provide the power needed to keep the stream active year-round. The flow intentionally moves toward the home. This frames views through windows and ensuring the water remains a focal point from inside as well as out.
The stream is shaped by time, intention and respect for place. It fulfills a decades-long vision while offering beauty and movement in every season.
WINNER-FORMAL PONDS & FOUNTAINS
Erick Santana, Bellas Aquatic Gardens
Santana is the owner of Bella’s Aquatic Gardens in Miami, Florida. He has spent the past two decades building ponds and creating backyard environments rooted in nature and craftsmanship. While Bella’s Aquatic Gardens began operating professionally in 2005, Santana’s connection to water and fishkeeping dates back to the 1980s, shaping a lifelong understanding of aquatic systems.
Raised in a construction family, Santana has worked in the building trades for most of his life. He developed a strong foundation in structure, materials and execution. That technical background complements formal art studies and a deep passion for outdoor life. It’s this intersection that continues to influence his approach to water-feature design. His commitment to blending artistic vision with functional, enduring construction has earned Santana two Water Artisan of the Year honors, recognizing work that balances creativity, experience and respect for the natural environment.
About the Project
Formal koi ponds demand an uncommon level of discipline—where architectural precision, structural integrity and aquatic life support must function as one. This custom concrete koi pond, built by Erick Santana of Bella’s Aquatic Gardens, anchors the center of an exclusive country club in South Florida, serving as both a visual focal point and a long-term living system.
Designed by the project’s landscape architect and executed entirely in reinforced concrete, the pond was engineered for permanence. A double cage of No. 4 rebar forms the structural core, with integrated benches reinforced using No. 5 rebar. The pond floor exceeds 18 inches in thickness, while the benches approach 2½ feet of solid concrete, resulting in approximately 50 cubic yards of concrete within the 25-by-24-foot structure.
Material choice and craftsmanship reinforce the formal aesthetic. Imported Italian porcelain tile lines the interior, installed using advanced setting materials suitable for fully submerged environments. Coping, stepping stones and waterfall elements were custom cast in concrete. Every surface aligns with the pond’s architectural geometry.
Below the waterline, the system was designed with redundancy in mind. Two independent life-support systems provide circulation, filtration, ultraviolet and ozone treatment, along with heating and cooling capacity to maintain stable water temperatures year-round in South Florida’s demanding climate.
Constructed under a rigorous schedule and in coordination with multiple trades, the pond required precise sequencing and execution at every stage. Located at the heart of the country club, all systems were installed and tested to exacting standards before surrounding construction could proceed.
Defined by structure, restraint and longevity this formal pond is an architectural water feature built to perform, endure and quietly elevate its surroundings.
