hello,5 gallons a minute sounds about right.The person who dug the pond i found out later didnt know what he was doing and now i am paying for it.my pond is 3 years old and has done the same thing for the 3 years. There is a small spring that i believe dries up in the summer months,It will fill up a bit from a good rain storm butr than i watch it go back down about 1 inch per day.Not really to close to a creek and i may consider a well to be put in fom reading info on this site.Great site for info!! I am trying to get someone to damm off half of the pond which looks like a figure 8,narrow in the middle.One side he dug deep into the shail.I dont think there is any clay in that spot??? Any idea how a well would work?? my pond is on the down side of a small field.I will try to post picture.Its a beautiful setup if i can get it hold water.....john