Pond Boss Forums Thread Like Summary - What is goin on here with my new pond

I keep loosing a little water everyday like 1/4 inch. It’s like it’s seeping up the banks yet. It was constructed about 5 months ago. Keyed and sheep footed. You can see where the water line is and about a foot up the bank it stays wet. Anyone else ever see this

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Be sure and stock only species noted for low water consumption rates.

When I see that in my neighborhood pond, it's the damp soil remaining after the water has receded due to a leak or evaporation.

I’ve been seeing that for about 40 years on all of my 4 water holes. Evaporation and thirsty dirt can account for a lot more than 1/4 per day.

Google "capillary action". Now you can say you learned something today. You're welcome! LOL

JoeDK, if the loss is just due to evaporation, then that's the best case; there's pretty much nothing you can do about it.

If the water loss is due to more than evaporation, then you most likely have a leak which can be a problem of varying degrees especially if you don't have a great water source for the pond.

You've got to starting measuring the loss as a first step.

Get one of those inexpensive plastic concrete mixing tubs from Home Depot. Set it near the pond and fill it with water. See if its losses are close to the pond’s losses. Granted those are black and will heat more in the sunshine leading to faster losses, but you will be surprised.

I've also just had a new pond dug out and have experienced same thing. I think you.re seeing that capillary action others have mentioned. Because the pond is new , the dirt is sucking up water. Most notable after a rain and a new water level is achieved. Then I see water level pretty much hold and wet line appears above it. My fingers crossed , don't think you or I have anything to worry about once pond has reached full pool .

Wicking can take months. There's a lot of soil to get saturated.