Water sustains life on earth and the making of sustainable water features is an attractive proposition. A good approach is to use copper or bronze for the construction and solar power for the energy. Bronze is an allow of copper and tin. It is extremely durable and has associations with the Bronze Age. Solar power is a comparatively modern introduction to gardens but is likely to have a wider application in every passing year.
A solar powered copper fountain. If it has not been treated with the preservative, the copper will mellow and develop a greenish patina. In the photograph the fountain looks as though it has been 'parked'.