Darn, I think I have a leak - not all bad news

[GaryMoz]

I've been scratching my head recently trying to work out why the pond is using so much water.

I managed to get to my water meter readings and can see how much it is using, it seems to be using 700litres day, that's an extra 20m3 a month (5000+ gallons)

I do have a drum filter so that could be using a lot, but doing tests, it only using 100litres max a day. On summer days evaporation could account for a lot but not this time a year, again 100 litres a day. So that leaves a shortfall of 500 litres.

Now I've got the water usage I see the water usage went up after I changed the overflow height, original it was too high and the drum filter overflowed. I think the seal below the new overflow is not good and water is being lost.

It should be a simple test, turn the auto top up off and if I'm right I may loose a 10-20mm of water quickly and then it should slow.

I hope it's that and then it should be a relatively simple fix, if not....

 

[Lisak1]

Don't underestimate cold, dry weather evaporation - I just had to top off the pond this weekend. First time since mid-September.

 

[GaryMoz]

Don't underestimate cold, dry weather evaporation - I just had to top off the pond this weekend. First time since mid-September.

I've used an evaporation calculator and currently the amount is low, just 50 litres a day

 

[teeemkay]

I've been scratching my head recently trying to work out why the pond is using so much water.

I managed to get to my water meter readings and can see how much it is using, it seems to be using 700litres day, that's an extra 20m3 a month (5000+ gallons)

I do have a drum filter so that could be using a lot, but doing tests, it only using 100litres max a day. On summer days evaporation could account for a lot but not this time a year, again 100 litres a day. So that leaves a shortfall of 500 litres.

Now I've got the water usage I see the water usage went up after I changed the overflow height, original it was too high and the drum filter overflowed. I think the seal below the new overflow is not good and water is being lost.

It should be a simple test, turn the auto top up off and if I'm right I may loose a 10-20mm of water quickly and then it should slow.

I hope it's that and then it should be a relatively simple fix, if not....

I hope it’s an easy fix. I’m dealing with a tough leak scenario too, which is the last thing I wanted with a one-day cold snap cold enough for icing setting in.