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Pond Leak

MHarranMHarran Posts: 8
in Problem solving

I have a pond approximately 8’ x 6’ and 18” deep which feeds into a short stream and waterfall into another larger pond. The liner is PVC and around the age of the pond are natural stones; the PVC goes under the stones up behind them as the water level is partway up the stones. (see attached photos)

 A slow leak has developed either under the stones or behind them where the PVC is folded up. Removing the stones would be a lot of work as a concrete path has been set in beside some of them.

 I’m wondering is there any kind of sealant I could put at the bottom of the stones were PVC turns in, a bit like sailing around a bath or shower if you know what I mean.

 It needs to be something that will adhere both to the PVC and the stones and suitable for underwater. Any suggestions on what I could use?

image  image

Last edited: 09 May 2017 17:55:21

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  • LynLyn Posts: 22,859

    You could write to these people, they have everything for any job, they are very helpful they may have a sealant suitable for your job.

    http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk/?gclid=CjsKDwjw0cXIBRCxjqnE3K3sHhIkAL1LezSgqDZHO_7ggHb3ytmV8eOmrJ8XMH4TARITObvA0qGIGgI69fD_BwE 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,955

    I presume you meant 'sealing' around the bath MH, and not sailing....image

    I think you can get repair kits, but I don't know if they contain a sealant of any kind. I wonder if a builder's merchant would have something suitable? There are sealants which are fairly multi purpose, so I'm sure there would be one you could use. 

    Are you absolutely sure you have a leak though, and it's not just evaporation as it's been very dry? image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 22,859

    my pond is now down by at least 4" now, frightened to top it up as I need the water for the tubs and baskets.

    The author of the book I used when I first started my pond, says don't worry about them going low, in natural wildlife places they all but dry up in the summer, they fill again in Autumn and Winter to start the cycle again. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • MHarranMHarran Posts: 8
    Fairygirl says:

    "I presume you meant 'sealing' around the bath MH, and not sailing...."

    Yes... image

    "Are you absolutely sure you have a leak though, and it's not just evaporation as it's been very dry? "

    Yes, definite leak, when I turn off the pump, the water drops to the bottom of the stones within a few hours, then drops very, very slowly after that in line with evaporation.


    Last edited: 09 May 2017 18:24:39

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 53,955

    Fair enough - just thought I'd ask! Mine has been low too -unheard of up here at this time of year image

    That's my best shot really - asking about a sealant. I'm sure you'll get something suitable for plastic to stone - possibly the type for sealing window frames ? 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • MHarranMHarran Posts: 8
    Lyn says:

    You could write to these people, they have everything for any job, they are very helpful they may have a sealant suitable for your job.

    http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk/?gclid=CjsKDwjw0cXIBRCxjqnE3K3sHhIkAL1LezSgqDZHO_7ggHb3ytmV8eOmrJ8XMH4TARITObvA0qGIGgI69fD_BwE 

    See original post

     Thanks, Lyn, I will email them.

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Presumably you are pumping from the bottom pond into the leaking top pond. When you turn the pump off I would expect the water in the top pond to empty until it gets to the level of the lip into the stream. It couldn't be that this lip has gotten lower or fallen down so that more water from the top pond is escaping? 

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • MHarranMHarran Posts: 8

    No, Hogweed, it's not that .

  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    It sounds a fairly major leak then If youre sure it's not going down the stream. I have a similar edging to my pond and even though the stones were taken from a drystane dyke and have a flattish bottom it would be a very difficult job to seal them both to the liner and to each other. Wonder if the best ploy is to use mortar. Still a bit of a bummer though. Is your plan with the sealant to stop the water going behind the stones?

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • KT53KT53 Posts: 8,465

    There's no sealant that I'm aware of that can be used on a pond in a way similar to sealing a bath.  The first problem is that most sealants require a clean dry surface to bond to, and you won't have that with a leaking pond. Secondly, there is likely to be so much crud under the stones that there won't be a solid surface to bond to anyway.

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