New pond leaking

[Jo the pond newbie]

Hi. We’ve just built ourselves a smallish wildlife pond with shelves on one side so animals can get out and a steeper drop on the other side. We lined it with underlay, then used a butyl liner then overlay as we have cats so don’t want claw holes in the liner. Over the first two days the water level has dropped significantly - probably 5-6” and has now stopped. I’ve rolled back the overlay to check the butyl liner for any holes but can’t find any. Any ideas?

 

[brokensword]

let the water drop until it stops then add a small amount, like say 1/8" to bring it above the leak line. Then take some milk and use a dropper to put the milk along the water line (or better, the area you THINK is leaking) and watch to see if the milk gets sucked out/moves toward the leaking area. This will help you locate exactly where you need to pull the liner back and patch.

Hope this helps.

 

[addy1]

Welcome to our forum!

Also feel around the pond, you most likely can find a wet spot if it dry there right now. That is how I usually find the leaks, low edges etc. Look for wet

 

[addy1]

Nice pond build

The bricks on the bottom of the picture are wet, did you do that? Rain? or is that side wet from the leak? Wet in both pictures.
Is there a fold in the liner under the edge rocks? and the water is weeping out. Folds can do that.

The edge rocks around the pond are just wet on that edge also. The rest look dry.

 

[brokensword]

Nice pond build

The bricks on the bottom of the picture are wet, did you do that? Rain? or is that side wet from the leak? Wet in both pictures.
Is there a fold in the liner under the edge rocks? and the water is weeping out. Folds can do that.

The edge rocks around the pond are just wet on that edge also. The rest look dry.

I think that's shadow from the low berm, addy...though, the rocks do have that look.

 

[j.w]

and welcome @Jo the pond newbie
I agree let the water drop as far as it will and then do a check by feel. Also yes folds will suck up the and drain it out. If you can't find a hole take off the top rocks around the pond and lift up the edges of the liner so the folds cannot suck, leave it sit like that and see if the leaks stop.