Evaporation Concern

[Steve Shapson]

I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond owners
out there.

My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width of
the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
pebbles.

Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
humidity. No rain during this period

I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about 1/4-1/2
inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.

Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles which
may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
replace it often?

Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
water?

Steve

[S. M. Henning]

"Steve Shapson" > wrote:

> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?

There is probably a leak or splashing in the stream. That is usually
where the water is lost. There could be a leak in the pond, but the
stream is usually the culprit.

--
Pardon my spam deterrent; send email to
Cheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA USA http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman

[jammer]

I keep rearranging rocks on my small waterfall because it splashes
out. It's kinda scary that i am going to leave for a month and HOPE
someone keeps up with the water.






On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 02:04:05 GMT, "Steve Shapson" >
wrote:

>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
owners
>out there.
>
>My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The
width of
>the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small
river
>pebbles.
>
>Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a
low-med
>humidity. No rain during this period
>
>I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
>inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure,
since
>there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local
water
>table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
>Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles
which
>may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have
to
>replace it often?
>
>Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a
loss of
>water?
>
>Steve
>
>

[Mark and Kim Smith]

Steve Shapson wrote:

>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond owners
>out there.
>
>My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width of
>the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
>pebbles.
>
>Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
>humidity. No rain during this period
>
>I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about 1/4-1/2
>inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
>there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
>table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
>Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles which
>may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
>replace it often?
>
>Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
>water?
>
>Steve
>
>
>
>

My pond and stream are 1/2 the size of yours ( actually, the stream is
about 1/6 the size ) and I have temps in the mid 80's, mid 90's, low
humidity. Your water loss sounds about average compared to mine. I
have no leaks. And I don't run the water wheel as that would increase
the water loss. http://www.bunchobikes.com/pond6.htm

[bk]

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"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width
of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles
which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?
>
> Steve
>
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles
which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?

I think the answer to your question is clearly yes.

[Derek Broughton]

Steve Shapson wrote:

> I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
> owners out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width
> of the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small
> river pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
> 1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since

In low humidity, and slightly higher temperatures, I wouldn't be at all
surprised with a 1/2" drop in _one_ day, so your numbers aren't at all out
of line. However, check for splashing, and any point where
outside-the-pond plants or sod could be wicking water out of the pond.
--
derek

[Benign Vanilla]

"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width
of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.

If you are leaking into the ground around the pond, you'd be hard pressed to
detect it, especially at such low levels. If you believe the stream is the
culprit, your best bet is to shut it down for a few days, and see if you
still leak. If you don't leak, you can be sure it's the stream.

BV.

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 02:04:05 GMT, "Steve Shapson" > wrote:

>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond owners
>out there.
>
>My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width of
>the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
>pebbles.
>
>Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
>humidity. No rain during this period
>
>I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about 1/4-1/2
>inch in about 2 days.

I concur with the "normal evaporation loss" group. I don't think you have
a leak or too much splash out. ~ jan


See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[George]

"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about 1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?
>
> Steve
>
>

Where do you live? Here in the Mid-America region, we've had several
low-humidity days in succession, such that I've even noticed more evaporation
than usual. If the humidity is low where you live, that might explain the drop
in water level.

[George]

"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about 1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?
>
> Steve
>

Oh, by the way, a 1/4 to 1/2 inch loss in two days is not all that uncommon. If
you don't feel any soggy ground around your pond or stream, then it is likely to
be evaporation.

[Steve Shapson]

Thanks so much for all your replies. It's nice to have this group where
common questions can get some answers. Since this is the first year that
the pond is connected to the stream, I just thought that having to fill with
extra water due to evaporation/over the stream was a bit frustrating. But
after reading your responses I feel more relieved.

--
Steve Shapson


"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width
of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles
which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?
>
> Steve
>
>
>

[jammer]

On Thu, 23 Sep 2004 13:01:56 -0400, "George" >
wrote:

>
>"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
>>I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned
pond owners
>> out there.
>>
>> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The
width of
>> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small
river
>> pebbles.
>>
>> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a
low-med
>> humidity. No rain during this period
>>
>> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
>> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not
sure, since
>> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local
water
>> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>>
>> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river
pebbles which
>> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have
to
>> replace it often?
>>
>> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a
loss of
>> water?
>>
>> Steve
>>
>
>Oh, by the way, a 1/4 to 1/2 inch loss in two days is not all that
uncommon. If
>you don't feel any soggy ground around your pond or stream, then it
is likely to
>be evaporation.
>

I wanted to add that in the evening, my taro drop water off of the
tips of their leaves. Some in the pond, some out.

[Benign Vanilla]

"~ jan JJsPond.us" > wrote in message
...
<snip>
> I concur with the "normal evaporation loss" group. I don't think you have
> a leak or too much splash out. ~ jan
<snip>

I am losing about 6 inches a day lately. I decided to refill, and shut down
the filter pond for a few days to ensure that the leak is just my stream as
I suspect. If not, Shareholders pond may be in trouble,.

BV.

[Jim and Phyllis Hurley]

You can check it out roughly by placing a cut-off milk jug in the pond,
filling the jug to be just at or measuredly above pond level (mark both jug
and pond level on the jug) and turning off the stream. now you have two
ponds under essentially the same conditions. If the pond goes down markedly
more than the jug, There is some other loss than evaporation.

Your rate seems fairly reasonable.

Jim

--
____________________________________________
See our pond at: home.bellsouth.net\p\pwp-jameshurley
Ask me about Jog-A-Thon fundraiser (clears $120+ per child) at: jogathon.net

"Steve Shapson" > wrote in message
...
> I have a question about pond/stream evaporation for any seasoned pond
owners
> out there.
>
> My pond is about 23'x23'x24 inches deep with a 63 foot stream. The width
of
> the water in the stream is about 14 inches. The stream bed is small river
> pebbles.
>
> Temps have been in the 70-80's in the day and 50's at night with a low-med
> humidity. No rain during this period
>
> I don't understand what the water level in the pond goes down about
1/4-1/2
> inch in about 2 days. I had thought I had a leak, but now not sure, since
> there is no water near the ground level anywhere. Though the local water
> table is very very low, due to no rain for the past 45 days.
>
> Can I assume that since the water is traveling over the river pebbles
which
> may increase surface area, can I be losing some much water and have to
> replace it often?
>
> Anyone out there with the same pond/stream specs also experience a loss of
> water?
>
> Steve
>
>
>