The One Cleaning Solution to NEVER Use On Your Outdoor Water fountains

No more than 3-4 months should really go by without an extensive cleaning of a fountain. First you must empty the water. Next use gentle and a soft sponge to clean the interior of the reservoir. If there is detailed artwork, you might need to use a toothbrush for those hard-to-reach areas. Be sure to completely rinse the inner surface of the fountain to make sure all the soap is gone.
Make sure you get rid of any calcium or plankton by taking the pump apart and cleaning the inside thoroughly. Soaking it in vinegar for a time will make it easier to clean. Build-up can be a big headache, so use mineral or rain water over tap water, when possible, to reduce this dilemma.
One final recommendation for keeping your fountain in top working shape is to check the water level every day and make sure it is full. If the water level drops below the pump’s intake level, it can hurt the pump and cause it to burn out - something you don't want to happen!
Hydro-Statics & Outside: The Fundamentals

Where did Fountains Come From?
Where did Fountains Come From? The incredible construction of a fountain allows it to provide clean water or shoot water high into air for dramatic effect and it can also serve as an excellent design feature to complete your home.Pure functionality was the original purpose of fountains. People in cities, towns and villages received their drinking water, as well as water to bathe and wash, from aqueducts or springs in the area. Used until the 19th century, in order for fountains to flow or shoot up into the air, their origin of water such as reservoirs or aqueducts, had to be higher than the water fountain in order to benefit from gravity. Serving as an element of decoration and celebration, fountains also supplied clean, fresh drinking water. The main materials used by the Romans to build their fountains were bronze or stone masks, mostly depicting animals or heroes. Muslims and Moorish garden designers of the Middle Ages included fountains to re-create smaller versions of the gardens of paradise. The fountains found in the Gardens of Versailles were supposed to show the power over nature held by King Louis XIV of France. The Romans of the 17th and 18th centuries manufactured baroque decorative fountains to exalt the Popes who commissioned them as well as to mark the location where the restored Roman aqueducts entered the city.
The end of the nineteenth century saw the increase in usage of indoor plumbing to provide drinking water, so urban fountains were relegated to strictly decorative elements. Amazing water effects and recycled water were made possible by switching the force of gravity with mechanical pumps.
Modern-day fountains serve mostly as decoration for open spaces, to honor individuals or events, and compliment entertainment and recreational events.