diff --git a/engine/src/core-data/Common/ShaderLib/WaterUtil.glsllib b/engine/src/core-data/Common/ShaderLib/WaterUtil.glsllib
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..51c4d8af8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/engine/src/core-data/Common/ShaderLib/WaterUtil.glsllib
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#ifdef ENABLE_AREA        
+bool isOverExtent(vec3 position,vec3 center,float radius){
+        vec2 dist = position.xz-center.xz;
+        #ifdef SQUARE_AREA 
+                return dist.x*dist.x >radius || dist.y*dist.y >radius;
+        #else
+                return dot(dist,dist)>radius;
+        #endif
+}
+#endif
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.frag b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.frag
index 867c335b3..1faaab07a 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.frag
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#import "Common/ShaderLib/WaterUtil.glsllib"
 // Water pixel shader
 // Copyright (C) JMonkeyEngine 3.0
 // by Remy Bouquet (nehon) for JMonkeyEngine 3.0
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ void main(){
     if(level >= m_CameraPosition.y){
         #ifdef ENABLE_AREA
             vec3 dist = m_CameraPosition-m_Center;
-            if(dot(dist,dist) >m_Radius){    
+            if(isOverExtent(m_CameraPosition, m_Center, m_Radius)){    
                 gl_FragColor = vec4(color2, 1.0);
                 return;
             }    
@@ -251,8 +252,7 @@ void main(){
     }
 
     #ifdef ENABLE_AREA
-       vec3 dist = position-m_Center;
-        if(dot(dist,dist) >m_Radius){    
+        if(isOverExtent(position, m_Center, m_Radius)){    
             gl_FragColor = vec4(color2, 1.0);
             return;
         }  
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.j3md b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.j3md
index b09003a54..d1f0b17f2 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.j3md
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water.j3md
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ MaterialDef Advanced Water {
 
         Float Radius
         Vector3 Center
+        Boolean SquareArea
 
     }
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ MaterialDef Advanced Water {
             ENABLE_CAUSTICS : UseCaustics
             ENABLE_REFRACTION : UseRefraction
             ENABLE_AREA : Center
-
+            SQUARE_AREA : SquareArea
         }
     }
 
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ MaterialDef Advanced Water {
             ENABLE_CAUSTICS : UseCaustics
             ENABLE_REFRACTION : UseRefraction
             ENABLE_AREA : Center
+            SQUARE_AREA : SquareArea
         }
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water15.frag b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water15.frag
index 1acad4eb5..55881a0db 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water15.frag
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/Common/MatDefs/Water/Water15.frag
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 #import "Common/ShaderLib/MultiSample.glsllib"
+#import "Common/ShaderLib/WaterUtil.glsllib"
 
 // Water pixel shader
 // Copyright (C) JMonkeyEngine 3.0
@@ -229,13 +230,14 @@ vec4 underWater(int sampleNum){
 
     return vec4(color, 1.0);   
 }
+
+
 // NOTE: This will be called even for single-sampling
 vec4 main_multiSample(int sampleNum){
     // If we are underwater let's call the underwater function
     if(m_WaterHeight >= m_CameraPosition.y){
-       #ifdef ENABLE_AREA        
-            vec2 dist = m_CameraPosition.xz-m_Center.xz;
-            if(dot(dist,dist) >m_Radius){            
+        #ifdef ENABLE_AREA      
+            if(isOverExtent(m_CameraPosition, m_Center, m_Radius)){            
                 return fetchTextureSample(m_Texture, texCoord, sampleNum);
             }   
         #endif
@@ -248,10 +250,9 @@ vec4 main_multiSample(int sampleNum){
     vec3 color = color2;
     vec3 position = getPosition(sceneDepth, texCoord);
 
-    #ifdef ENABLE_AREA        
-        vec2 dist = position.xz-m_Center.xz;
-        if(dot(dist,dist) >m_Radius){            
-            return  vec4(color2, 1.0);
+    #ifdef ENABLE_AREA               
+        if(isOverExtent(position, m_Center, m_Radius)){         
+            return vec4(color2, 1.0);
         }
     #endif
 
diff --git a/engine/src/core-effects/com/jme3/water/WaterFilter.java b/engine/src/core-effects/com/jme3/water/WaterFilter.java
index d4cb8b410..39ebeccea 100644
--- a/engine/src/core-effects/com/jme3/water/WaterFilter.java
+++ b/engine/src/core-effects/com/jme3/water/WaterFilter.java
@@ -118,6 +118,12 @@ public class WaterFilter extends Filter {
     //positional attributes
     private Vector3f center;
     private float radius;
+    private AreaShape shapeType = AreaShape.Circular;
+    
+    public enum AreaShape{
+        Circular,
+        Square
+    }
 
     /**
      * Create a Water Filter
@@ -300,6 +306,7 @@ public class WaterFilter extends Filter {
         if (center != null) {
             material.setVector3("Center", center);
             material.setFloat("Radius", radius * radius);
+            material.setBoolean("SquareArea", shapeType==AreaShape.Square);
         }
 
 
@@ -1055,6 +1062,10 @@ public class WaterFilter extends Filter {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * returns the center of this effect
+     * @return the center of this effect
+     */
     public Vector3f getCenter() {
         return center;
     }
@@ -1072,6 +1083,10 @@ public class WaterFilter extends Filter {
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * returns the radius of this effect
+     * @return the radius of this effect
+     */
     public float getRadius() {
         return radius;
 
@@ -1089,4 +1104,26 @@ public class WaterFilter extends Filter {
             material.setFloat("Radius", radius * radius);
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * returns the shape of the water area
+     * @return the shape of the water area
+     */
+    public AreaShape getShapeType() {
+        return shapeType;
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Set the shape of the water area (Circular (default) or Square).
+     * if the shape is square the radius is considered as an extent.
+     * @param shapeType the shape type
+     */
+    public void setShapeType(AreaShape shapeType) {
+        this.shapeType = shapeType;
+        if (material != null) {
+            material.setBoolean("SquareArea", shapeType==AreaShape.Square);
+        }
+    }
+    
+    
 }