Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions A well as a water supply

I've been searching the net for the past 5 hours trying to find out more information on using a well as a water supply for a small pond.

I have 3.5 acres that do not have any source of water supply (ie a creek, spring, consistent run-off, etc).

Thus, I have done some reading and saw that some people use a well as a supply. Since I'm about to throw my hands up in the air in terms of trying to find out more about this method, I figured I'd ask all of you (since I found this site in my 5 hours of web surfing!).

How does this particular system work? Is it effective?

Egomaniac247,

Depends on how productive your ground water is and how much you want to spend on pumping the water. Are you sure you don't get any runoff? Where are you located?

If you're suffering a drought or live in an arid area 3.5 acres is a lot of surface area to keep topped with a well.

Just thinking out loud with these posts. The truth is, I'm not moved into the property yet (will be in 10 days) so I don't know all of the details as of yet. Just soliciting some advice. The main thing is that from what I gather, it's NOT unfeasible to have a successful pond (ie one that doesn't dry up in the summer) without a feeder creek.

That's mostly what I was wondering when I started posting.

I'll have more info in the next two weeks as I move in and get info back from the gov't agencies.

By the way, that 3.5 acres is the lot size, not the proposed pond size I'm only looking for a 1/4 to 1/2 acre pond.

FYI, Cecil and others:

More info on Ego's situation here

I have about a 3 acre pond that I keep topped off with a 60 gallon per minute well pump. I will have about 1 inch evaporation per day, very little run off if it rains. No problems on the water side only algae.

Deaner, I am looking into restarting a well to supplement water. How long do you run the pump a day? How much dollar wise does it run?
I sounds like you need to aerate, if you dont,with so much unoxygenated water coming in. That will cause a lot of algae. Maybe Bruce's horizontal aeration concept will help out with raising the O2 level. You may still need to bring up the bottom water and aerate it, though.

burgermeister,

I wouldn't think he needs to aerate if his pond is 3 acres. However splashing it in would be a good idea.

I have been investigating the same thing and this is what I have learned:

Ideally you would like to have a well that can pump 50+gpm. Depending on where your property is located you may be able to achieve that.
I thought that if you wanted a well to pump more you just went deeper and was suprised to learn it seems like somewhat of a crapshoot. I am ready to spend the money but have
held off as I am not satisfied that if I spend the money I will have a well that meets my needs.
With evaporation and any pond size you will need a good pumping well to have the impact you desire.
When I do this I plan on running the water about 100 yards down a narrow shaded runoff creek, over falls, etc. to try and oxygenate the water as it goes into the pond. My desire is to maintain the water level of a pond I have that sits above my best pond and spills into it.
I live in Oklahoma and the department of water resources has a well record site where you can actually see all the wells drilled in the surrounding area, when they were drilled and the GPM generated. That and talking to a well driller that works in your area can help you get an idea of your potential and what expectations you might have.

One thing is for sure...with the crazy weather we've been having the last 10 years and possibilty it continues...having the ability to add a little control to your pond depth seems to make sense!

We better do it soon though as I think in the next 5-10 years we will see increased scrutiny from local government on well drilling and even additional fees. They are always trying to come up with new things to tax and charge fees for!

Good Luck!

When I filled my pond I ran it 24 hours a day until it was full. Now I run it for about 8 hours every 3 or 4 days to refill the lost and evaporated water. It is a 3 horse power and my electric bill is generally not that high so I do not figure the cost. I have a 2 inch pvc ran around both sides of the pond with irrigation to cover the berm and most of the area outside of the pond. I can run each section on each side of about 5 or 6 heads for at least 2 hours each then I change to a different sections. During dry weather I will water at least 3 times in 2 weeks. My electric bill with air conditioning still only runs at the most $175. It generally is under 1 I have been very busy rebuiding and did not have the time nor energy to get on line. I have my son helping me so he works the tail off this man . I just messed up a line I had put in that my bill generally runs about $150.
You are right that I do have algae problems and the bottom is
a mess and I have some floating which really messes up fishing. I have read that either hay or straw would help eliminate this problem , but that is scarce now. I have 3 aeratos running continuously. The evaporation in the pond is very heavy with the dry weather and no rain. I purchased a new scope to eliminate the too many turtles situation. My other scope was to small and weak this new one is nice for a person of my age.
Sorry for not answering sooner.

Thanks, Deaner, for the informative update. I know what you mean about the weather. Tylertown has been missing most of the good rains. Best of luck with your continued cleanup. I still have sesveral giants oaks down in the pond hollow. Slowly cutting away at them and burning. Anybody need some good smoking wood, pecan, hickory, oak?