It is important to read this document thoroughly, as any alterations or changes to the process can affect your results. We have created a video to Help in the process of following the CLDP.
- Before you start the CLDP be sure to check around the water feature while it is running for obvious wet spots. 90% of all leaks occur in the stream/waterfall area, so be sure to check this area first.
- Leaks in the stream can be caused by leaves/debris damming the middle of the stream and raising water level behind it causing it to leak over the edge of the liner. Be sure to remove any debris in the stream before starting.
- If at any time it rains, no matter how little the amount, the process should be restarted at the last fully completed step.
- Once the CLDP has started nothing, such as rocks, fish, plants are to be added, taken out, or even moved in the pond.
- Be aware it is possible for a water feature to have more than one leak.
Step #1
Start by turning off the water feature (unplug the pump). Let the pond or reservoir sit for 24 hours.
In hot weather, an aerator may be used to provide sufficient oxygen levels for the fish in the pond.
Step #2
After 24 hours, be sure no water is moving or dripping out of the stream into the pond or pondless reservoir. If this is occurring, continue waiting until this stops.
Step #3
Fill the pond or reservoir to the full level if it’s not already full. Choose a spot to mark the water level and take a photo.
- Full level in a pond with a skimmer should be 1” below the top of the skimmer opening. Ponds with no skimmer should be filled to the highest available level. The skimmer is a good spot to measure water level.
- For a reservoir or a pondless feature, it should be filled to just below the gravel level. Normally, there is a vault with a lid to access the pump. This is a good area to measure water level.
Step #4
Wait 24 hours, then check the water level. If the water level did not drop, move to step 5.
If the water level drops, take another photo of the water level and wait another 24 hours. Repeat this process until the water level remains the same level for 24 hours. When the water level stabilizes for 24 hours, inspect the liner at that water level for a hole. Once you find the hole you can patch it and restart the CLDP to see if that is the only leak. Check out our blog post on How To Patch A Pond Liner.
****Reminder****
If at any time it rains, no matter how little the amount, the process should be restarted at the last fully completed step.
Step #5
We can now confirm the pond or reservoir is not leaking and the issue is occurring within the stream/waterfall or plumbing.
At this point additional materials may need to be purchased…
Attach a “Leak Detection Pipe” roughly the same diameter and length of the existing plumbing to the pump.
Move the output end of the leak detection pipe to the bottom portion of your stream (or portion of stream that you want to test). Turn the pump back on. Make sure that no water is splashing outside of the liner once the pump is turned on.
Step #6
Fill the pond/reservoir back to the full level. Choose a spot to mark the water level and take a photo. Wait 24 hours.
Check the water level in the pond/reservoir. If the water level did not drop, move to step 7.
If the water level went down, and you have followed all of the prior steps correctly, there is a leak in that portion of the stream/waterfall. Re-check the edges more thoroughly for a leak and inspect the liner for holes.
By monitoring the water level in the pond/reservoir, you will be determining if the leak is occurring in the portion of the stream that is being filled with the Leak Detection Pipe.
Step #7
Move the Leak Detection Pipe output up stream toward the top. Make sure no water is splashing outside of the liner. Fill the pond/reservoir back to the full level. Choose a spot to mark the water level and take a photo. Wait 24 hours.
You are now testing the portion of the stream between the output of the Leak Detection Pipe and the top of the area of stream you tested in step 6.
Step #8
Check the water level in the pond/reservoir. If the water level did not drop, continue the process of moving the Leak Detection Pipe upstream and waiting 24 hours until the water level does drop.
Once you have placed the Leak Detection Pipe in a portion of stream that results in the water level going down, and you have followed all of the prior steps correctly, you can conclude that there is a leak in that portion of the stream/waterfall. Re-check the edges more thoroughly for a leak and inspect the liner for holes.
If you get to the top of the stream without the water level going down, move to step 9.
Step #9
At the top of your stream, there may or may not be a biofalls filter. If you do not have a biofalls filter move to step 10.
A biofalls filter looks similar to a box and normally has filter media inside it. Remove the filter media from the biofalls and search for a bulkhead fitting on the bottom of the inside of the filter. There are normally two bulkhead fittings at the bottom with 2” female threads. This is where the water enters the biofalls when your feature is running. You will need to use a 2” threaded cap with teflon tape to cap these fittings, making sure no water is allowed to enter the fittings.
Place the output of the Leak Detection Pipe into the biofalls. Make sure no water is splashing outside of the liner. Fill the pond/reservoir back to the full level. Choose a spot to mark the water level and take a photo. Wait 24 hours.
Step #10
Check the water level in the pond/reservoir.
If the water level did not drop, and you followed all of the previous steps correctly, you can assume the leak is in the plumbing.
If the water level dropped, the issue is in the waterfall coming out of the biofalls. Check the edges of the liner in the waterfall as well as the back of the biofalls filter. Make sure no plants are damming up the waterfall area. Check the hardware that attaches the liner to the biofalls filter. Sometimes the hardware can rust causing leaks and needs to be replaced.
Special Notes
The CLDP is designed as a free source of information to help you find a leak in a basic pond or pondless waterfall. Every water feature is custom and there may be some variables that we have not accounted for in the CLDP such as multiple connected pond systems, long flat streams, wetland filters and multiple biofall filters. In cases such as these it may be in your best interest to hire a professional to help. Pondscapes of Charlotte offers two other options that you pay for that may better suit your needs if the CLDP is not sufficient.