A dug pond, with good clay and proper compaction, not a bulldozer, when filled up will stay full very similar to water in a bucket. It requires no time for saturation of the soil. Loose soils and poorly compacted clay will produce or cause a saturation period. When you get the pond full of water it will quickly tell you the nature of the soil and how well the soil was compacted. Sandy and loose soil veins in some areas of a compacted clay basin can cause leakage problems. This is where expert experienced pond construction becomes VERY IMPORTANT.
