Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam We got a leaker

I noticed my water level lowering more than I would expect. I found what appears to be a leak at the base of the dam in the deepest part of the pond, 15 ft south of the overflow pipe. I saw no evidence of animal intrusion. The pond is 7 years old and had no issues until our severe drought last year. Is it a full excavation of the spot to fix and recore? Any advice.

I would first contact teehjaeh57 on here and talk to him about the polymer sealant that he has. I would try that first. If that doesn't do the trick, then yes, a drain/recore would be my recommendation. Depending on what you find when it's dug out a recore of the whole dam might be needed.

I am not a big believer in coincidences. If the pond did not leak for seven years, then something has changed.

I assume there was no woody debris in the soil materials that they used for the dam construction? Wood might have rotted out after seven years, allowing a leak path. (Probably unlikely.)

Was your water level this year the lowest water level since the initial filling of the pond? If so, that might be the cause of the change. (More likely.)

That could manifest in several ways. Wave erosion on the dam face could have removed enough material to open a leak path through the core that was previously obstructed. Alternatively, a desiccation crack could have formed in the clay core itself. Clay above the water line typically wicks water upwards and remains moist. However, there is an upper limit to that process.

Do you see any slumping of either the face of the dam, or the backside of the dam? Movement of either face can also allow the core to shift and possibly develop a crack.

Just throwing out more ideas to help you analyze the problem. esshup (and TJ) have much greater knowledge of actually fixing leaks, so I would follow their advice.

Good luck on getting your pond back into proper condition!

I haven't seen any slumping but the backside is covered in thick foxtail so it would be hard to see. Last year it was at the lowest point since it initially filled.

I would bet it was either the soils in the dam dried and shrunk, allowing cracks to pass water, or else wave action exposed a weakness that already existed.

Trying to figure out how to post pics as it says my pics are too large. Anyway other than drizzle thursday we have had no moisture in December. It's so wet behind the dam your foot sinks in and you can see where water has cut a channel into the ditch behind the dam.

Darn!

Definite confirmation of your leak.

I would definitely talk to TJ now.

Since you do not suspect a larger diameter leak pathway, it sounds like you may have a situation that fits the capabilities of his SeekLeak product.

No wind days have been rare this spring. Treated the pond yesterday with calm winds. Today are also calm which is ultra rare. I'll report back on how it does after 3 weeks, or if I notice a difference.

I remember being around Mike Otto and Bob Lusk when Mike told Bob “ Quit telling people how to fix leaks.Dirt is porous and is always going to suck up water leak.”

13 days in and no appreciable change. The instructions say to give it 3 weeks.

It's weird how it was water tight since it was built, and suddenly has all these problems.

Does your pond have an overflow drain pipe? I’ve come to the conclusion that I have a leak that follows along the drain pipe. It has the seep collars, but I don’t think it was sealed very well when it was put in. Its a very slick plastic. No matter how hard I pack clay next to it, I think water still gets down the outside of the pipe.

It does, however I would assume the leak would follow the pipe. This one is off by itself south of the pipe. I will say seek leak has made my pond crystal clear.

Well, I think we can officially say the Seek Leak did not work.

I expect that it just took awhile to find a path from the inside to the outside. You might have to tear it out and start mover. Hate to say that.

You sound like you have the equivalent of a bucket with a hole in it.