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Pond hole keeps filling up with water
Can'tstopgardening
Posts: 13
in Talkback
I've started digging a pond on heavy clay soil and have now dug down to 2 foot at the deepest. The problem is it keeps filling up with water which then won't drain away. I emptied 20 litres last night and 20 more today.
We've had heavy rain but obviously the water's much deeper than that. It''s on a slop of about half a foot - do you think the water is coming down from the surrounding area?
My Mum thinks I've reached the water table but it didn't fill with water as I was digging.
I'm worried about how I'm going to line it when it's so wet and whether the water will then build up under the liner? Any advice appreciated please.
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This might be of help http://www.flowerpotman.com/gardenponds/howtomakeaclaypond.html
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks. Have read the site but am not sure using clay alone will work. My soil cracks a lot when dry and the water the pond's filling with is muddy. I'd potentially like to keep fish so wondered if I need to consider drainage options with a liner?
My pond doesn't have a liner and has been fine for over thirty years! It's also much bigger than most and is formed by an earth and rock dam across a little valley. Only problem is the ducks, who have dabbled away the edges, so we are having to reinforce with more stone.
And they did once manage to break through to the underground sough, so the entire pond emptied over night
Luckily it cured itself and filled up again slowly over several days!
Tried to post a photo but my connection is rubbish today (as often!) and won't let me!
Thank you - that sounds reassuring. Was getting worried after all the hard work of digging I was just going to end up with a flooded mess!
You have found a natural spring have you ?
Haven't finished digging yet but will keep your advice in mind, thanks, pansyface. Want to encourage wildlife, not kill fish.
Am sure it's not a spring filling hole as water didn't appear at first. Think there must be a lot of water running off surrounding area.