Evaporation in fall

Joined
Mar 11, 2023
Messages
351
Reaction score
121
Hardiness Zone
7A
In summer I was losing probably 50-60gallons every 2-3 weeks. My last refill was 2 months ago, as rain began again after that drought. Now it's been two weeks, or more without proper rain, I am still losing water, can't really tell if it's a leak, I just attribute it to evaporation as it's been a long time and I think I would know by now.

In fall I seem to be losing the same amount with 20c temperatures when it's not raining for weeks, but there's also sun though i doubt as much of a factor in shade. I've got buckets of water, some containing pitcher plants I notice they drop too even in dense shade, but I can't really tell how comparable they are, pond has a much bigger surface... yet humidity is above 60-70% these days so I don't know.

Typically a leak is somewhere near the spillway, yet the soil under it seems regular, not dripping with water, so I don't think it could be that. Or I could have some other low edge where wind pushes it at certain times, but I think I'd know. Anywhere else I didn't really do any work, to cause a leak, or anything of the sort. Spillway most likely, but I checked it out and there was nothing going on there.
 

JRS

Joined
May 15, 2019
Messages
1,183
Reaction score
713
Location
Wisconsin
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
5a
Country
United States
GaryMoz posted this link to an evaporation calculator might give you an idea if your are ballpark.
 
Joined
Dec 16, 2017
Messages
14,419
Reaction score
11,414
Location
Ct
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
In summer I was losing probably 50-60gallons every 2-3 weeks. My last refill was 2 months ago, as rain began again after that drought. Now it's been two weeks, or more without proper rain, I am still losing water, can't really tell if it's a leak, I just attribute it to evaporation as it's been a long time and I think I would know by now.

In fall I seem to be losing the same amount with 20c temperatures when it's not raining for weeks, but there's also sun though i doubt as much of a factor in shade. I've got buckets of water, some containing pitcher plants I notice they drop too even in dense shade, but I can't really tell how comparable they are, pond has a much bigger surface... yet humidity is above 60-70% these days so I don't know.

Typically a leak is somewhere near the spillway, yet the soil under it seems regular, not dripping with water, so I don't think it could be that. Or I could have some other low edge where wind pushes it at certain times, but I think I'd know. Anywhere else I didn't really do any work, to cause a leak, or anything of the sort. Spillway most likely, but I checked it out and there was nothing going on there.
If your loosing 25 gallons a week that i would say without question is evaporation.
 
Joined
Oct 4, 2019
Messages
1,418
Reaction score
1,119
Location
Winchester, VA
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
I swear that my pond evaporates more water in cooler weather than in summer. That was disconcerting at first, and I worried about leaks. But I've gotten used to it now. It's normal for my pond. Not sure if that applies to every pond, but it seems to be the case here.
 

Mmathis

TurtleMommy
Joined
Apr 28, 2011
Messages
14,256
Reaction score
8,317
Location
NW Louisiana -- zone 8b
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
@WaterGardener Now that you mention it, I think we have the same thing here, with more evaporation in colder weather. I don’t know how related it is to the humidity (we have that year round), but humidity is lower when it’s colder.
 

addy1

water gardener / gold fish and shubunkins
Moderator
Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
44,904
Reaction score
29,888
Location
Frederick, Maryland
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
6b
Country
United States
Me too and we are so dry. Humidity 39%

Low 30s in the am, 60ish day, water just goes away.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads


Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
31,493
Messages
517,805
Members
13,696
Latest member
JaquelineO

Latest Threads

Top