That sounds like a lovely project. For a low‑maintenance filter, try a two‑stage approach: first a coarse screen—like a cheesecloth or a fine mesh over the inlet—to catch leaves and debris, then a small container of activated charcoal or a few clean coffee filters for finer particles and a touch of odor control. Keep the charcoal or filters in a shallow jar that you can swap out every couple of months. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can check it during a routine rinse. If the water still feels off, a tiny ceramic filter under the charcoal can catch the last bits. Just make sure the flow stays steady, and you’ll have a clean stream with minimal fuss.

Sounds good, the 1‑mm mesh will keep the leaves out without choking the flow, and a ceramic disc is a solid choice for the fine stage. A small gauge will let you spot when it’s time for a quick clean‑out. If you’re really aiming for minimal parts, you could mount the ceramic in a hollow plastic bottle so you can flip it and rinse it in one go. That way you keep the system simple, and you still get the filtration you need.

That’s the sweet spot—smooth flow, easy flips, and a gauge that tells you when the water’s complaining. Simple parts, simple maintenance, and a system that keeps going like a quiet stream.