Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam Pond Seepage

Had a new tank constructed last year and it filled up about 3 months ago. I noticed that there appears to be seepage on the back of the dam. Is some seepage normal with a new tank? Tank is about 3 acreas and 40 feet deep.
Thanks Mitch

From what I have seen/heard you can expect a new pond to fill and leak out up to 3 times before the silt etc. finds it's home. How was the pond created? Levee? Excavated?

Dear Texas Pondbuilder:

My experience runs just about parallel to the previous visitor from Canada. In a new pond, water has a way of "curing" a dam. Engineers explained it as the natural bonding of the native soil-types.

The best lake-builder I've ever worked with, Mike Otto, says "all ponds leak. Period."

While that is not exactly true, he's never too far from wrong. One caveat about seeing water below your dam . . . As your water level rises to near spillway elevation, you may be developing such pressure that the weight of all that water is forcing a trickle into a small fissure in the rock formations.

Realistically, if the leak persists, you have two or three options:

* lower the water level and get some heavy equipment in the site to seal the problem areas with native clay or sodium bentonite.

* start over with a huge man-made liner.

* live with a certain amount of water loss.

Hope this helps.

McD