Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Quick fix for overflow pipe leak

Everyone, I recently fixed a leak in our pond and I wanted to share the method with you all. The pond was built 20+ years ago and a cast-iron overflow pipe was used. The overflow pipe keeps the pond water level constant; excess inflow water flows into the open top of the overflow pipe and out underneath the dam instead of over the dam.

Anyway, the overflow pipe rusted out about 4 feet underwater (normal pond depth at the pipe is 12 feet). The water level dropped to that point because water was flowing out through the rusted opening instead of the top of the overflow pipe.

I was able to fix this using a waterproof epoxy putty called J-B Waterweld. It's a two-part epoxy; you knead the two parts together following directions, and you then have an epoxy that will dry rock-hard underwater. I swam out to the pipe leak point and slapped the J-B Waterweld over the hole in the pipe and sealed the edges. The J-B Waterweld sealed the hole! Our pond is back to its normal depth.

Thanks ! Very good info. Often when an old pipe starts to go bad it will start with one hole and soon more show up. Keep a close eye on it.