Hey guys, I’m new in my path to having a pond. We’re looking to build a 1/4-1/3 acre pond. Already read tons of info on the site, but a question.

I’m planning to empty my basement sump pump (and maybe a downspout) into the pond. If I did that could I repurpose the existing 4” drain that runs near the driveway and out to a culvert for the pond overflow? I don’t anticipate a lot of water running through there as I’ve got a pretty small watershed feeding the pond if that makes a difference

Separate question - I’m thinking with our current plans we are going to hit field tile that comes from part of the neighbors soy bean field - should I let that dump in too or reroute around the pond?

Think about everything that can come out of a row crop field through subsurface tile - silt, fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides.

Then decide if you want the possibility of any of those in your pond.

Think I would have to worry about with the sump pump too or just the field tile?

What could possibly get pumped from the sump? Normally perhaps just seepage due to rain (in our house it would be water softener recharge water, if we had a sump pump), but in case of accidents - clothes/dishwasher water, broken sewage line??? I doubt the volume of water gained is worth the risk.

I have (barn) downspout lines which head towards the pond, but dump above ground and filter through grass before reaching it so I am not worried about bird poop or anything else that might be on the roof when it rains.