Not all ponds are created equal. And sometimes, they need to be helped out. Pond repair, very similar to pond construction, uses land development and construction techniques to support the existence of your water feature—usually in an attempt to address threats such as leaks and issues caused by storms, poor construction, wildlife, etc.
You’re likely reading this because you’ve noticed either a glaring or a subtle issue with your pond. Perhaps you’ve even had a pond constructed recently, and you feel things went wrong. No matter how you got here, you can rest assured that your pond has hope.
Sadly, one of the most common causes of a pond leak is poor bottom construction. There might be areas of bedrock, gravel, or sand that weren’t properly covered with soil that is allowing water to leak.
Another common cause of pond leakage is too many tree roots around the pond’s edge or embankments. As much as we love trees, sometimes the best solution there is to simply remove them. Older ponds can also have issues with outlet pipes leaking due to rust.
Beyond that, there are an unlimited number of reasons you might need pond repair and just as many factors that can change the way your project is handled, such as
As much as we’d like to educate you on the pond repair process for each possible type of issue, we don’t want to waste your time. Below, we discuss an extremely generic pond repair process that will help give you some idea of what lies before you in this situation.
Caskin Development is a land development and pond repair company that works to keep our clients safe. As a part of land development, pond repair can happen as a part of a new project, or it can stand alone.
Often, pond repair is a way to address issues started by actions on a previous project. Leaks are usually caused by poor construction of the pond bottom. While we believe in doing things right the first time, some companies can’t do so.
Not only is pond repair helpful for getting your pond back to it’s original state, but it’s also helpful for preventing further issues or hazards.
Ponds are amazing land features allowing fishing, irrigation, watering livestock, creating microclimates, and humidifying landscapes. But to do that, your pond has to have three qualities, 1) a solid bottom, 2) a consistent water source, and 3) a sufficient spillway.
As far as consistent or quality water source goes, the best for sustaining a pond include
Pond repair helps increase property value as well as improve the longevity of the water feature.
Any type of pond can start a leak—commercial, residential, or municipal. Problems don’t discriminate. The goal of pond repair is to get the pond back to its original state.
We can make repairs no matter what type of pond you have, including
Your solutions for fixing a leak are limited to the type of pond and the type of soil found at your location. When laying the bottom of your pond, it’s best to combine large and small particles. Large particles can include sand or rock. Small particles can include clay and silt.
When you aren’t sure how to handle soil issues, you might enlist the help of a soil scientist to find out what solution is needed. The leaking area will need to be exposed and allowed to dry in the event of pond repair. Then, the solution can be applied equally to the entire bottom while all vegetation, roots, and rocks are removed to help support the seal.
Let’s talk through the pond repair process.
NOTE: This is an extremely general statement overviewing the pond repair process. Your own pond repair process will depend heavily on the details of your project, your area, and your goals.
Before you attempt to make any changes to your pond or land surrounding your pond, check your local legislation. Water, no matter its source or spot, has more regulations than dry land, and skipping this step can be costly. Check with the Department of Environmental Protection, too.
Sometimes, changing water levels can make people question whether or not their ponds are leaking. And at times, the changes can be away explained by evaporation. But if you lose more than 12 inches of water per month outside of the hotter, dryer months, you likely have a leak on your hands.
First, you’ll have to find the leak. After years of use, outlet pipes and drain pipe structures can rust away, leading to increased water loss. If there are bank issues, those are generally easier to identify and fix. A great way to distinguish less obvious leaks is with food dye, you’ll notice it move to a certain point, which can help give you some direction.
There are times when pond owners will need to drain and assess the pond that way.
For small, simple problems come equally simple answers. When the leak is very small or is due to a lull in natural filling, you can replace the lost water using pumps.
We recommend performing this task at night to reduce interruptions of normal water usage during the day. Also, if you are using a well to refill the pond, avoid doing this during times of drought, as that can cause you to have supply issues in the home.
Depending on your area, you might need to get permits for any groundwater withdrawal.
If a leak is aggressive enough, you’ll need the drain the pond and allow the bottom to dry. Sometimes, if the bottom material that’s already in place is a good mix of large and small particles, you might only need to compact the material to reduce seepage.
Soil must be spread evenly before compaction. And that has to happen during optimum moisture conditions to ensure the best possible seal.
Depending on the region, native soil consistency, and the issue you are facing, you might need to add another substance. The materials you can add to your pond include
Clay can be added to coarse soil to the point of 20%. Bentonite can be used to plug pond leaks with low clay content and higher levels of coarse material. When wet, bentonite will expand to fill cracks and pores, allowing for a sealed bottom.
Occasionally, on ponds with more than 15% percent clay, chemical additives can be used to bind soil. Plastic or vinyl liners can be used in small ponds where leaking is often an issue.
Once your pond repair project is complete, you’ll need to refill the pond to its original level. It will take a period of days or weeks to determine whether or not the solution you chose worked. Generally, you’ll have to wait between two weeks and one month before knowing for sure.
Pond repair is the upkeep and adjustments made to a pond's bottom, sides, and embankments to fix and prevent leaks. It can be as simple as compaction and as complicated as adjusting the soil composition to create a better seal.
Pond repair is often used when a previously constructed pond receives care to address leaking and other issues. Pond construction is the process of turning different types of land into a body of water with a consistent water source and a spillway.
You’ll see a sudden decrease in water that can’t be dismissed as evaporation. As a general rule of thumb, more than 12 inches of water loss in a month is considered a sizable leak.
The cost of pond repair is completely dependent on the details of your project, such as materials, size of the pond, etc. Also, the act of draining the pond and sealing the pond can cost thousands of dollars, no matter the size or location. You can get a quote here to get a rough estimate of what this will cost you.
When your property is in a wetland, that can change (likely increase) the amount of permitting required for your project.
Reputations don’t lie. Check the reviews of contractors you are considering. You can ask to contact old clients to help better understand your potential hires. By far, we recommend working with pond repair companies that are willing to take the time to explain the “why.”
