Update The paint is peeling off at a steady pace still and now the pump failed despite never running dry and being cleaned weekly! Useless. A total waste of quite a bit of money. I was very pleased with this fountain because of the pattern of the water flow and that it actually sounds like a waterfall. Ive only had it operating 6 weeks however, and the paint is already deteriorating. Considering the cost of this fountain, there is no way this should deteriorate after 6 weeks.