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We are relatively new members of the MPKS and have a
question about our new
pond. The surface area is 25 X 50 and last night
the pond was filled to just
below the skimmer overflows, all the pumps were
running so all the waterfalls
were working. This morning the water level is 4-5
inches below our marker
rocks and one skimmer is getting ready to suck air.
What is the evaporation rate for this size pond in
this area that might
result in this much of a water level decrease or do
we have a leak?
I hope you can help us out. I can't see adding this
much water to this pond every day.
...and you'd be right.
Even during a bright sunlit 90 degree
day, you are not going to lose 6 inches of water (4675 gallons,
based on your measurements x 0.5 ft x 7.48 gal/cu. ft.) overnight.
What you have here is a leak, and a very substantial one at
that.
If it's any consolation, it probably isn't
your liner, since the pond seemed to hold the water just fine
until you turned on the ...pumps. By this I infer that you've
got multiple pumps, pipes and waterfalls, and maybe even a
fountain sprayer as well. Any one of these can be the culprit.
If you have a fountain that puts a fine spray into the air,
this can be a major source of evaporative loss, especially
with windy conditions. A calm, cool night should have lost
you no more than an inch, though.
Inspect every one of your pipe runs and
waterfalls for obstructions (rocks, hair algae and the like)
or any areas where the liner does not fully contain the water
flow. Look for suspiciously wet areas on the ground at bulkheads,
pipe joins and seams in the liner. If you have exposed pipe,
look for tooth marks and holes. Raccoons *love* to gnaw holes
in stuff. Your leak may be as simple as one of your pipe runs
coming adrift of it's moorings. The liner under one of your
falls or streams may not be properly placed or joined, or
the liner may have been damaged when the rocks went in.
Failing all else, have your contractor
(you know, the guy who installed the pond) come out and find
and fix the leak.
Hope this helps...
Bob Passovoy
President
Midwest Pond and Koi Society
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