FWIW.......I have a dedicated well for my one acre pond with mimimal watershed. That 5 hp motor is costing me about $150/month to keep the pond topped off. Right now I'm turning on the valve manually, but I intend to install a float mechanism as soon as the water warms up.
By the way, I elect to not let "nature take it's course", i.e., I want the pond at a certain level, and am willing to pay for it.
To me it is obvious that there are no free lunches as far as having your own private pond are concerned......in the long run it is a lot cheaper to buy property on a natural lake. However, the fact that most people do not have that option is what keeps the pond builders in business.
Good Luck,
Tom Parker
