IS MY POND LEAKING OR IS THE WATER EVAPORATING?
9 October 2022
Water levels in a pond will drop naturally due to evaporation. It may be a slow process - ponds on the east coast typically lose about two inches of water every week - but it will happen to your pond no matter where you may live. Since evaporation is a natural process, there is little cause for alarm when it happens to your pond. All you need to do in most cases is keep a close eye on your pond's water levels and refill it as needed.
On the other hand, your pond's water levels can also fall if you have a leak somewhere. This is a more serious problem that should be addressed as quickly as possible. You can find many pond and lake management companies in Florida that can fix a leaky pond, but you still need to know if your falling water levels are due to evaporation or a leak.
Identifying a Leak in Your Pond
The best way to identify a leak in your pond is to check around waterfalls and stream cascades as this is where leaks tend to occur. Check the ground around these areas to see if there are any wet spots. You might get lucky and find a mudhole or a wet patch of grass, but you also might have to dig a few inches down to see if any water is escaping. You should also check behind your waterfalls to see if water is splashing behind the pond's liner. If this is the source of your leak, simply build up the edges around the waterfall to contain the water or apply a waterfall sealant to fill any gaps between rocks.
Loose fittings can also be sources of water leaks. If you suspect that you have a leak, check the tubing attached to your waterfalls and spillways. If any of them are leaking, attach a hose clamp to tighten them.
Your skimmer can also cause your pond to leak, but that is a relatively easy fix. First, turn off your pump and see if your water levels fall. If they do, then you only need to remove the skimmer's faceplate, let it dry completely and reseal it with a silicone product.
Finally, you might have a tear in your pond liner if you've completed renovations recently. You can spot a tear by filling your pond to its normal level and checking to see if it drains on its own. If it does, you probably have a tear in your liner. Move the rocks in your pond until you find the tear, and apply a pond patch. The patch can take up to 12 hours to seal completely, so you may have to transfer your fish to a temporary tank until you can safely fill your pond again.
As you can guess, a leak in your pond can cause a serious problem. If you suspect that you have a leak and you're not sure how to repair it yourself, don't hesitate to contact us for assistance.