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Water Loss In Your Pond? The Three Steps We Take to Pinpoint Hidden Leaks

Mike from Apple Valley had enjoyed his backyard pond for years, but ever since middle of the summer last year, something wasn’t right. Even though he was topping his pond off almost every evening, by the next morning the water level would have dropped again. At first, he assumed it was evaporation—Minnesota’s weird weather can do that. But after diagnosing using our Evaporation Guide, he knew this was more than just normal water loss.

Frustrated, Mike spent a long weekend trying to troubleshoot the issue himself. He checked the skimmer, looked for wet spots around the pond, and even tried sealing a few suspect areas like he read in our Leak Discovery Guide. But no matter what he did, the problem persisted. That’s when he called us at Superior Ponds, looking for answers.

The challenge? Finding a pond leak is not as simple as patching a hole. Unlike a leaky faucet, where the problem is usually obvious, pond leaks often require a process of elimination—and that’s exactly what we specialize in.

pond leak found during exploratory drain and clean in Minnesota

Why Leak Detection is Challenging in Water Features

Understanding the Complexity of Pond Leaks

According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, properly installed water features should last over a couple decades, but landscape shifts and seasonal damage often require mid-life repairs (NALP). Unlike household plumbing leaks, where a wet ceiling or moldy drywall tells you exactly where the issue is, pond leaks are hidden beneath a basin of water, rock, plants, and soil. Water doesn’t always escape near the leak site—it follows the path of least resistance, making it difficult to pinpoint where the loss is occurring.

Additionally, water loss isn’t always a sign of a leak. The Minnesota DNR explains that soil conditions and seasonal temperature shifts can lead to natural evaporation and seepage, which sometimes mimic a leak (Minnesota DNR). If you think your problem might only be evaporation, take a look at our Evaporation vs. Leak Guide.

Common Leak Locations in a Pond:

First, The Exploratory Drain & Clean Process - Preparing The Pond

Before a leak can be found, the pond must be cleaned and cleared to remove debris and make the water feature fully visible. This is why we always start with an Exploratory Drain & Clean before performing full leak detection. Oftentimes, this perfectly coincides with our spring startups and serves double duty (check here to see how much a pond cleaning costs)

Why a Drain & Clean First?

  • A dirty pond hides leaks under algae, muck, and debris.
  • Waterfall basins and plumbing can’t be properly inspected unless cleaned.
  • Organic buildup may mask water loss, leading to misdiagnosis.

Here is our Standardized Drain & Clean Process:

Step 1: Initial Assessment

We start by gathering information from you:

  • How much water is the pond losing per day?
  • Have there been any recent structural or mechanical changes?
  • Any DIY or professional/non-professional attempts to patch leaks in the past?

Step 2: Safely Drain the Pond & Relocate Fish

  • Pond fish are temporarily relocated to an aerated holding tank to prevent stress.
  • Any excess organic debris is removed from the bottom of the pond.

Step 3: Full Cleaning & Equipment Check

  • We power clean rock surfaces to clear debris and major buildup while preserving beneficial bacteria.
  • Filters, pumps, and skimmers are checked for visible cracks or seal failures.
  • Through cleaning, surfaces are exposed to make leak detection easier.
  • During the cleaning process, all parts of your water feature are given attention while checking for leaks.

Step 4: Refilling & Water Monitoring

Once the pond is refilled, we observe water levels before advancing to the next step. Oftentimes for slower leaks this means coming back another day. If the leak is still present, we move on to the main leak detection service. This is usually the point of greatest contention in the entire process.

While the goal is to find your leak during the Exploratory Drain and Clean, some leaks are too difficult to find during the day of this service which requires a series of steps (outlined below). The leak could be found within the first couple steps or all the way on the last step. Understandably, some homeowners can be very confused and even frustrated paying for a service even though they’re not seeing results. To help provide clarity, here are those steps outlined below:

Second, The Leak Detection Service – How We Find Hidden Leaks

Leak detection is a process of elimination. After cleaning and starting with a fresh surface, we can begin methodically testing different components of the pond to narrow down the source of the leak.

Water-Level Drop Test

  • Marking the water level allows us to see how fast the pond loses water.
  • If the water stops dropping at a certain point, the leak is likely at that height.
  • During this step all equipment is turned off except for aerators (if fish are present).
  • The Association of Professional Landscape Designers states that 40% of backyard water feature leaks occur at liner edges due to shifting rocks (APLD).

Skimmer & Equipment Shut-Off Test

  • We turn off the pump and filtration system to determine if the leak is in the plumbing, liner, or waterfall.
  • If the leak stops, it’s likely a plumbing or waterfall issue. If not, it’s within the pond structure itself.

Plumbing Bypass Test

  • We bypass the plumbing and filtration system to determine if the leak is in the plumbing.
  • We temporarily set up plumbing outside the water feature to the waterfall to test if the waterfall is where the leak is located

Dye Test

  • In some instances, we can introduce a safe pond dye near suspected leak areas to trace water movement.

Soil Moisture Analysis Test

  • Checking for persistently wet soil around the pond perimeter can help locate underground leaks.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey confirms that hydrological seepage tests are essential for diagnosing hidden leaks in water retention systems (USGS). Some ponds can be very similar to these retention systems.

Third, What Happens After We Find the Leak? - Repair Options & Next Steps

Scenario 1: Liner Repair or Patch

  • If a small puncture is found on a good quality liner, we apply a liner patch.
  • If the liner is severely degraded, we recommend a full liner replacement.

Scenario 2: Plumbing Repair

  • Broken underground pipes require digging and sectional replacement.

Scenario 3: Waterfall or Skimmer Fixes

  • Waterfall leaks occur when rocks shift, exposing liner edges.
  • Skimmer leaks happen when seals fail—resealing can fix most issues.

The Expert Approach to Leak Detection

Proven Leak Detection Process Saves You Time & Money

  • Many pond owners waste weeks or months (even years) on trial-and-error fixes.
  • Our Exploratory Drain & Clean Service + Leak Detection Service eliminates the guesswork.

Transparent Pricing & Virtual Consultations

  • We provide estimates based on photos and video consultations before coming onsite. Our Pond Cleaning service page provides several examples of past projects with pricing and answers to frequently asked questions. 
  • The Exploratory Drain and Clean sets the stage for the Leak Detection Service. By taking it one stage at a time, you get one set price for the first service. Once the first stage is done, we have the data we need to give you a price for the second stage and appropriate repairs.

Stress-Free, Hands-Free Solutions for Minnesota Pond Owners

Conclusion: What to Do if You Suspect a Leak

Key Takeaways

Have you ever struggled to find a leak in your pond? What troubleshooting methods have worked for you? Let us know in the comments!

If you’ve been struggling to find a leak on your own with no success, stop guessing and let the experts handle it! Contact us at Superior Ponds today for a full leak assessment and get back to enjoying your water feature—stress-free.