What Causes Pond Leaks?

Pond owners hate the idea of pond leak, causing their water levels to drop. If you have a pond, it’s important to know the common causes of pond leaks. It’s also good to know how to decide if you’re dealing with a leak or a different cause of water loss.

Pond Leaks From Pumps, Filters, and Plumbing

If your pond is losing a lot of water quickly, you may be dealing with a leak. To determine if it’s due to the pond equipment, you’ll need to inspect it fully.

Your pond pump and filter pipework are often made from plastic that can become brittle as it ages. This can cause the plastic to break and crack, leading to leaks in pipework joints of other areas. If you find these issues, you must repair them or have a professional handle the damage.

Also, check your filter to see if it’s become blocked. A filter blockage can cause water to overflow from the filter box. If there’s a blockage, remove it and clean the filter properly by spraying it off with water. Then, it will be good to use it again.

Rips, Tears, or Cracks in the Pond Liner

If the equipment seems in good shape, you may have damage to the pond liner. To determine if this is the case, you’ll need to allow your pond to drain until the water level quits dropping. This will allow you to find the approximate depth of the damage.

Once you find the damage in your liner, you can repair it with a sealant. If you have an EPDM liner, use Pond Pro 2000 to seal the cracks or rips in your liner. Doing so will give you a three-year guarantee that the repaired area won’t leak again.

Low Edges

Sometimes, your pond is leaking due to low pond edges. This is most common in new ponds or ponds that have recently had the liner replaced. Inspect the entire perimeter of your pond to see if areas are lying lower than they should. This occurs when soil and dirt settle after a few rainfalls.

Once you find the low edge, adjust it. Pull the low edge up and place enough soil under it to stay at the height it should be. If you need additional support, use rocks or heavy ornaments to keep it in place.

When Water Loss Isn’t a Concern

Sometimes, your pond may lose water, but it isn’t due to a leak. If you’re not losing an alarming amount of water, you likely have nothing to be concerned about. There are many reasons why ponds lose water. If you’re noticing a slight dip in water level often, it may be because of one of these common causes:

• Evaporation:causes water levels to drop about an inch a week on average. This is the most common cause of water loss in ponds. Evaporated water will be naturally replaced by rainfall.
• Plants: Some plants in your pond will consume pond water, causing the water level to go down. This is especially true of plants that bloom in the summer, like lilies, because they consume large amounts of water.
• Splashes: If you have water features in your pond, they can splash or spray water out if they aren’t aligned correctly. Adjusting these will help reduce the loss.
• Wildlife: Sometimes, animals will come to drink water from your pond or bathe in it. However, this shouldn’t cause a large water loss.

Conclusion

Issues with the liner or equipment can cause pond leaks. Inspect your pond for potential leaks if you notice a sharp decline in water level. If your liner is damaged, use Pond Pro 2000 to repair it.