Pond Leaking?

I have a pond that I want to use with geothermal pond loops for heating
and cooling my house. The pond was about 8 feet deep late last winter.
The surface was about 1/3 of an acre. Now, the level has dropped 2 to
3 feet.

Is it normal for the pond level to drop so drastically in the summer
and rise in the winter? I am in southern Indiana.

Thanks for any input!
Damon

"damon_sisk" wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a pond that I want to use with geothermal pond loops for heating
and cooling my house. The pond was about 8 feet deep late last winter.
The surface was about 1/3 of an acre. Now, the level has dropped 2 to
3 feet.

## Evaporation no doubt. My neighbor's natural pond also goes down in
summer. It refills with the fall and winter rains, and run-off from his
pasture.

Is it normal for the pond level to drop so drastically in the summer
and rise in the winter? I am in southern Indiana.

## Yes.

Thanks for any input!
Damon

--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Reel Mckoi wrote:
"damon_sisk" wrote in message
oups.com...

I have a pond that I want to use with geothermal pond loops for heating
and cooling my house. The pond was about 8 feet deep late last winter.
The surface was about 1/3 of an acre. Now, the level has dropped 2 to
3 feet.


## Evaporation no doubt. My neighbor's natural pond also goes down in
summer. It refills with the fall and winter rains, and run-off from his
pasture.

Is it normal for the pond level to drop so drastically in the summer
and rise in the winter? I am in southern Indiana.


## Yes.

Thanks for any input!
Damon


There was a very good post here a week or two ago about pond leaks, a
search should find it. To see if it is leaking get a container with
parallel sides, place in the pond to a little above the water surface.
Fill the container with water to the level of the pond water.
Observation over a period will see, if the pond is leaking the level of
the pond water will fall below the level in the container. If in part
sun and part shade have 2 containers, one in the shady and one in the
sunny part.

"Broadback" wrote in message
...

There was a very good post here a week or two ago about pond leaks, a
search should find it. To see if it is leaking get a container with
parallel sides, place in the pond to a little above the water surface.
Fill the container with water to the level of the pond water. Observation
over a period will see, if the pond is leaking the level of the pond water
will fall below the level in the container. If in part sun and part shade
have 2 containers, one in the shady and one in the sunny part.
==================
This is what he said: "I have a pond that I want to use with geothermal
pond loops for heating
and cooling my house. The pond was about 8 feet deep late last winter.
The surface was about 1/3 of an acre. Now, the level has dropped 2 to
3 feet."

At 1/3 of an acre I don't think he has a liner pond. I got the impression
it's a natural soil bottom pond like my neighbor's stock pond.
--
McKoi.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond Page http://tinyurl.com/cuq5b
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Thanks for all the response! I will try the container test, and get in
touch with the federal farm bureau and Natural Recources Conservation.

damon_sisk Wrote:
Thanks for all the response! I will try the container test, and get in
touch with the federal farm bureau and Natural Recources Conservation.


If this is an unlined pond you may also be looking at variations in the
water table and 2ft would be quite reasonable, I am on the coast and the
water table here fluctuates by more than 2ft and I dont mean a tidal
response


--
sean mckinney

I concur that evaporation is a major issue, as is seepage in some
places. You might contact your federal farm bureau people or the
Natural Recources Conservation people near you. They will be very much
involved in ponds and evaporatrion rates. Ours here have been very
helpful to us regarding farm ponds.

Good luck

Jim

damon_sisk wrote:
I have a pond that I want to use with geothermal pond loops for heating
and cooling my house. The pond was about 8 feet deep late last winter.
The surface was about 1/3 of an acre. Now, the level has dropped 2 to
3 feet.

Is it normal for the pond level to drop so drastically in the summer
and rise in the winter? I am in southern Indiana.

Thanks for any input!
Damon