Pond and Stream Leaks

Diagnosing a leak:

Have you noticed the level of your pond is much lower than it should be?  Are you having to add water several times a week?  You might have a leak.  There are two basic areas that your leak could be in, the pond or the waterfall.  To figure out where your leak is, follow the instructions below.

Testing for a Pond Leak

Follow these steps to find out if waterloss is actually coming from the pond:

    1. Turn off the waterfall for the day or 24 hours (Healthy fish will be ok for this short period of time).
      • Fill the pond to its normal full level.
      • Measure the level of the water in the pond.
      • Check the water level at the end of the day or the next morning.
    2. If the water does go down, let it continue to recede until it stops.
        • The level that it stops at is where the leak is!
        • Check the sides of the pond at that level for where the liner may be pushed down by rocks or plants.
        • Pull up liner if needed.
    3. If the water level didn’t go down at all, follow the instructions for water loss in a stream or waterfall.
Stream or Waterfall Water Loss
  1. If it has been determined that the waterloss is not comign from the pond it is highly likely it is coming form the stream or waterfall. (More often than not, this is where leaks actually are).
      • Check the sides of the waterfall for places where the liner may be pushed down by rocks or plants.
      • Pull up liner if needed.
      • Remember that water could be escaping behind a large rock.  Even if it has been there a long time, the ground may have settled. 
Pondless Waterfall Leak

Follow these steps to locate a leak in a pondless waterfall.

    1. Turn off the pump for the day or 24 hours 
    2. Fill the reservoir with water.
    3. Mark the level of the water in the reservoir. 
    4. Check the water level at the end of the day or the next morning. If the water does go down, let it continue to recede until it stops.
    5. The level that it stops at is where the leak is!
    6. 2.  If the water is leaking from the reservoir, it will need to be relined.

If the water is not leaking from the reservoir, the leak is likely in the waterfall/stream section. Go up to “Stream or Waterfall Water Loss and follow those steps. 

If you are having trouble locating or diagnosing a leak or waterloss, contact us for help!  We follow a process to help find the culprit water loss area so that it can be repaired.  Most leaks are actually not holes that need to be patched (although that does happen), it is usually low liner!

Want to read more about finding a pond leak?  I found this article, “How to Find a Leak in Your Pond or Waterfall”  

Premier Ponds also wrote “HOW TO BEST FIND AND FIX POND LEAKS QUICKLY”