How to Find a Leak in Your Pond: A Discovery Guide

It was a crisp, early morning when Sarah noticed something was wrong with her pond. The sun hadn’t risen far enough to light up the water’s surface, but she could already see the bottom edges of her upper shelf rocks were exposed, a sign that her pond’s water level had dropped significantly overnight.

For Sarah, like many pond owners, her backyard pond was a small slice of natural tranquility in her busy life. But today, it felt more like a stressor than a sanctuary.

As the owner of a pond, you likely understand the challenge Sarah faced. Not only was the idea of finding and fixing a leak overwhelming, but it also felt impossible to fit into her packed schedule.

For those who don’t have the time to monitor every detail of their pond, finding and fixing leaks can feel daunting. At Superior Ponds, we’ve helped countless pond owners just like Sarah diagnose and fix leaks efficiently, keeping their ponds healthy and balanced.

Along the way we’ve identified a few of the most common causes of leaks and steps to find them. Here’s our starters guide to finding and fixing leaks in your pond—whether you’re ready to tackle it yourself or you need a helping hand.

Understanding the Basics: Is It Really a Leak?

Before jumping into troubleshooting mode, it’s important to confirm if your pond actually has a leak. Water levels in ponds naturally fluctuate more than most homeowners realize.

Did you know that the average evaporation rate for ponds in Minnesota can be between 1 to 2 inches per week, especially during warm or windy weather? Many pond owners mistake natural evaporation for a leak. If your water loss exceeds that amount on a regular basis, it’s likely worth investigating further.

Common Causes of Pond Leaks (and Some Overlooked Ones)

While worn liners and loose fittings are the better-known reasons, there are some lesser-discussed causes of leaks that you should keep on your radar.

1. Settling Ground and Shifting Rocks

As the soil around your pond naturally settles over time, it can shift the rocks or edges, creating low spots where water can escape. This is especially common in newly installed ponds or after heavy rains. Most of these problems can be prevented in the initial building stages of your pond by planning for enough extra liner around the edge to make for easy adjustments years later.

2. Hidden Folds in Liners

It’s easy to overlook, but folds in pond liners can create small channels that direct water out of the pond over time. These folds can go unnoticed, especially if they’re under rocks or plant material, making them tricky to spot. Repositioning the liner during the building process to smooth out folds can help prevent this issue.

3. Plant Roots

Plants are a critical part of a natural pond ecosystem, helping with oxygenation and natural filtration. However, roots can cause trouble if they grow into the liner and shift sections of it.

Nearby water-loving trees like weeping willows, birch, spruce, and juniper can cause havoc with your liner as their roots mangle liner edges in their search for water. More invasive pond plants like full-size cattails planted out of a container can even pop a hole through a liner from the inside. Because of their growth process, plants are often an overlooked factor when diagnosing leaks.

4. Filter Boxes and Waterfalls

From the experience of our team at Superior Ponds, half of the leaks we find are found in the plumbing and connections. Fully check any features like skimmers boxes, waterfalls, and everything in between. These are common sources of leaks due to loose connections or worn seals.

Cracks in these areas that have developed through the course of our harsh seasons can allow water to escape, especially if they’re hidden behind rocks or landscaping materials.

Step-by-Step: Locating the Leak

If you’ve confirmed that your water loss isn’t just evaporation and might be in one of these areas listed above, here’s how you can systematically search for the leak.

1. Turn Off Pumps and Water Features

Start by turning off the pumps for a few days. This will allow you to isolate the water in the pond and see if the water continues to drop. If the water level stabilizes, the issue is likely with the pump, pipes, or waterfall.

Please note: if you have fish, you need to maintain water movement for them. Placing an appropriately sized aerator will do the job while your pumps are turned off.

2. Let the Water Drop Naturally

Allow the water level to drop on its own. Once it stabilizes, you’ve likely found the leak level. Now, inspect the liner at this height, looking for any tears, holes, or areas where rocks or plants may have created pathways for water to escape. If your pond doesn’t drop, your leak will most likely be in your equipment, plumbing, or waterfall.

3. Check Along the Edges

Walk around the edges of your pond and look for damp spots or erosion, which are telltale signs of a leak. Remember, leaks often appear just outside the pond’s edge as the water escapes, so this step is worth taking your time on. Turning over all the rocks along the edges of your pond may also show where a rock or liner edge sunk below water level.

4. Inspect All Connections and Seals

Like already mentioned, a majority of the leaks we find are in the plumbing and seals. Check all connections for cracks, loose silicone, loose threads, and any other failures needing correction. While most bad seals can be redone with a bit of effort, cracks in equipment can often mean replacing the whole component to guarantee a leak-free solution.

Preventing Future Leaks

Once your pond is leak-free, a little maintenance can go a long way. Regularly inspect equipment, rocks, plants, and liners, and make adjustments as needed.

Remember, water features are dynamic living environments that change with each season, so minor adjustments are a natural part of maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Minor maintenance adjustments are so much simpler and more cost effective than major exploratory and repair services.

Conclusion

Finding a leak in your pond doesn’t have to mean hours of work or turning to harsh repair methods. By understanding the signs of a leak and focusing on a quick solution, you can protect your pond’s beauty and health. And if you ever find yourself in Sarah’s shoes, overwhelmed by the mystery of disappearing water, know that support is just a call away.

Because isn’t it worth the peace of mind to keep your pond as natural and healthy as the day you built it?

How Superior Ponds Can Help

Finding a leak can be time-consuming and, for busy pond owners, just another task on an already long list. At Superior Ponds, we understand that your pond should be a peaceful part of your life, not a stressor. Our experienced team can diagnose and repair leaks efficiently, ensuring your pond maintains its natural beauty and balanced ecosystem.

We offer eco-friendly solutions that fit seamlessly with nature, so you don’t have to worry about harsh chemicals or methods that could harm your pond’s inhabitants. Whether it’s soil settlement, equipment failure, hidden liner folds, or plant root issues, we have the experience to get you back to enjoying your pond again.