Abstract: A water fountain is disclosed for use in residential and commercial environments. The water fountain includes a support frame and a catch basin within which a recirculating pump system is placed. A background flow display surface is attached to the support frame for receiving water thereover from the recirculating pump system. In one embodiment, the water fountain includes a facade connected to the support frame. The facade includes a plurality of apertures such that when the facade is placed over the background flow display surface, a portion of the background flow display surface is visible through the apertures in the facade, thereby permitting visibility of the flowing water as well. The facades may include apertures of various shapes and sizes and in different arrangements. The invention also provides the use of illumination and variable recirculation pumps in order to achieve dramatic visual effects.