To construct a residential pond or water garden might seem a daunting task when all the elements are considered: a liner; pump; filter; tubing; plumbing; and perhaps a waterfall or stream and some statuary. However, whether you're installing a small water garden or an elaborate Koi pond, there are pond kits available that provide all the components necessary to make the installation a snap, at least according to the marketing literature of the pond kit manufacturers. Savio, for instance, produces five different pond kits of various sizes and complexities. (Editor?EUR??,,????'???s note: To find the manufacturers of pond kits, go to www.landscapingonline.com and do a product search.) Savio?EUR??,,????'???s smallest pond kit (Hyacinth), for example, comes complete with all the components to design and build a 6 x 4 x 1-1/2, 270-gallon pond, and includes a three-foot waterfall or stream. Pond kit manufacturers help guide the installer with straightforward instructions, either with traditional printed material or in video format. In this age of the internet, there are also, not surprisingly, online instructions for pond kit installation that include photo illustrations. To begin an installation, says one website, is simply a matter of chalking the shape of the pond and begin digging the hole and shelves. A hole is then dug for the skimmer, which is ideally placed at the opposite end of the pond from the waterfall for best circulation. The pond bottom and shelves are then tamped in preparation for the underlayment and pond liner. If a stream from the waterfall is part of the project, this is the time to lay in that section. Next, a hose is installed from the skimmer to the waterfall and assembled?EUR??,,????'???you get the idea. The nonprofessional can readily follow the instructions, say many manufacturers, but our money is on the landscape contractor to get the job done properly. Pond kits not only come in various shapes and sizes, but also include other attributes you might want to consider. Wayne Water Systems, for instance, has complete pond kits that operate on low-voltage technology, which means that an electrician will not be required on site. Placement is of Prime Importance The manufacturers of pond kits offer a few suggestions to consider when determining a pond?EUR??,,????'???s location: access to electrical power; the area should receive a minimum of four to six hours of sunlight a day; the pond should be easily viewed from inside the home; do not locate under trees; dig in an area of unearthed soil (so the sides won?EUR??,,????'???t cave in while digging); don?EUR??,,????'???t place the pond in a low area of the yard, for the obvious reasons that runoff will go into the pond (including fertilizers and other contaminants). With these criteria met, the resident should mark out the outline of the proposed location and ?EUR??,,????'??live with it a few days.?EUR??,,????'?? Tools You don?EUR??,,????'???t need heavy equipment to install a pond kit, just a few basic tools: a shovel, wheelbarrow, level, and screwdriver. Stones and Miscellaneous Needs Pondkits.com estimates that you?EUR??,,????'???ll need ?EUR??,,????'??5-6 flat stones for steps per 20 feet of stream,?EUR??,,????'?? and suggests river stone, river rounds, pea gravel, or smooth rounds stones. You?EUR??,,????'???ll also need some bags of sand (for leveling purposes), topsoil and mulch. Add a Touch of Elegance Ponds are beautiful in their own right, but some people like to enhance their water gardens with statuary. There are pond packages that include statues (e.g., Brass Baron Fountains & Statuary, www.brassbaron.com). On average, it takes two people about four hours to install a pond display, according to Brass Baron.