Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Maybe source of leak?? quick question

One of my 6yr old daughters and I were dropping some brush in the pond the other day. We were doing this on the deep end right off the levee. As I was walking up and down the levee everything felt nice and solid. My pond filled for the first time this spring. Has dropped down fairly quickly to the level it is now. 5'0 probably since spring, but has slowed ALOT. Probably loosing 1/2" to 3/4" a day when its in the high 90's to 100 with wind. We have no trees and the pond sits north and south...the south end being the open end and where the wind normally comes out of.

Now back to the question...as I was walking up and down the levee, probably in a foot or less of water...as already stated it was solid...then found one spot that my foot sank into. If I stayed there I would continue to sink. Didn't mess with it much, but it was in a couple square foot area. Could this be a cause of seepage? Maybe since it got close to that point, this is why it has slowed so much? I'm thinking getting a bag or two of bentonite and packing in there. Would a soft spot like that cause a good seep then slow as it gets closer to it? Just curious.

THanks guys!!!

I would actually Bentonite and a unit or two of SoilFloc to treat that area. Give it the 1-2 punch if you think that is the leak. Otherwise Bentonite on it's own will need some compaction and working in to the existing structure if that is in fact the leak.

Peach, at about .5 PSI per foot of water as head pressure, the higher the water is above the outlet of the leak, the higher the pressure forcing water out. Notice I didn't say the source of the leak. If the outlet is 10 feet below the water level, but the source of the leak is only 1 foot below, you will still have 5 psi on the source (or 4.5 PSI if the water lowers the foot and the source level is the same or above the water level).

If the source is 10 feet below the water level, but the outlet only 1 foot below, you will only have .5 PSI of pressure pushing the water until water level and the outlet level is the same level or higher than the water level.

Fluid dynamics can get confusing.

I understand what you are saying. I do not know where the outlet is. I'm assuming its going into the ground. It doesn't exit on the back of the levee. I just found the soft spot with my foot.

Thanks guys. Going to get two bags of bentonite tomorrow and try it. Just $10 a bag at the coop. 50# bags. I can't afford soilfloc as much as I would LOVE too!