Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Pond Overflow Riser

Hello All,

Prior to taking ownership of the pond there used to be another piece on top of the overflow riser. This piece added about another 12 inches of water in the pond. The overflow pipe is currently just an 8" diameter PVC pipe with a bar guard on it.

What is the best method for attaching onto the current pvc pipe to bring the water level back up the extra 12". Also, is there a device that can be added that would allow me to raise an lower the attached piece?

I have been searching the net but it's difficult especially when you don't know all the terminology for the pieces.

Thanks all!

~Han

90 degree elbow?

Dave is likely onto something. Assuming your drain pipe comes out of the dam close to horizontal, you could add a 90 degree elbow with the open end pointing up towards the sky. That would give you about a 12 inch rise in water depth. At that point, you could add a short stub of straight pipe to whatever height you desire. PVC pipe comes in a variety of flavors and is "usually" color coded. I would measure the outside diameter of your drain pipe (assuming that it is NOT the flared end that is exposed) and then match it to what your local hardware store has and go from there. If it is the flared end, you could cut it off or add a short non-flared stub. I do not believe you'll find adjustable sections at your hardware store, that would be something rather odd and most likely expensive. If you really think you need some adjustability, you could add the elbow then a short stub, then a "slip-on" to threaded coupling or even a union. This would allow you to unscrew your final short stub (so long as it has the same "slip-on" treaded coupling) and change it without cutting it apart and starting over.

Keep in mind that I am not a pond pipe expert, just someone that thinks he can do anything. You could easily rack up 100 to $200 in pieces.

I have to say that raising the level of a pond reduces the freeboard (the dam height above your drain pipe collection). This reduces the amount of water your pond can take during a larger rain event before it goes over your emergency overflow. Just keep that in mind.

Most over flows here in Canada have a catch basin or concrete square box with one side open with steel channels. You then slide wooden planks in the open side 6"s at a time to adjust water level.

Thanks for the ideas!

The pond riser comes from the bottom of the pond and sticks up
vertically. The pond doesn't have a dam. The overflow runs underground through a neighbors yard and empties into a small stream.

Add a piece of pipe to get it up to wherever you want it.

Try a Fernco coupling.

Look here

To do this in one of our ponds i bought a rubber coupler (that overflow pipe is 8 inch cast iron) to connect the pipe to a piece of PVC. That short piece of PVC then slipped into a 22 degree PVC elbow ($95 delivered) and then a final piece of PVC was slipped into the top of the elbow cut to the length needed to raise the water to the desired level. I had a scrap piece of 8 inch schedule 40 PVC so i did not have to buy that. The coupler (bought on Amazon) and the elbow (bought from PVC Pipe Supplies.....google PVC 22 degree elbow in the appropriate diameter and that company will likely pop up) cost a total of about $120.

The beauty of the slip in elbow is that you can raise the water in the spring by just slipping the PVC into the top of the elbow (watertight with no glue needed) and then if you wish to kill/freeze some shore weeds in the winter just pull it back out and do a winter "drawdown".

Works great and not expensive. I could have purchased a cheaper coupler but decided to go with better quality. This is a very easy improvement to make. Nobody local carried the 8 inch PVC elbow i needed....not even the professional plumbing places.

Thank you all for the excellent replies!! Rubber coupler it is. Didn't know this was an option. Thanks again.