Pond construction is more than just digging a hole. Trust us, we know. We are J & A Excavation, and we have been providing outstanding pond excavation and pond maintenance to the fine people in the Fort Worth area for longer than you can shake a stick at. Call us if building a pond is on your bucket list.
So, if pond construction is more than digging a hole, what exactly is it?
The steps of pond construction
Proper pond construction consists of the following steps:
- Choose your location wisely
- Digging ponds
- Where will the rocks and gravel go?
- Lay out piping and pumps
- Lay out a liner/sealant
- Test the pump
- Fill with water and test again
- Add water treatment once all is working well
Let’s take a brief look at each of these steps.
Choose pond location wisely
If we are talking about a decorative pond in the yard, you want to choose a spot which can be seen often, and a site which is not too low. Low spots catch runoff, and runoff will fowl the water and make your maintenance job that much more difficult.
Mark off the pond area once a spot is chosen.
Dig out pond
Small ponds can be dug out by shovel. Large ponds require a backhoe. If the pond is in your backyard, and you require a backhoe, make sure there is access to that area.
Make sure, also, that you include ledges in the pond. This will allow you to put in water plants, and it also allows anyone who falls into the pond an easy shelf to grab hold of to get out easily.
Lay out piping and pump
The piping and pump are the heart and lungs of your pond. They are also unsightly and ruin the aesthetics of the pond, so choose a spot for them which can easily be hidden by rocks added later in the process.
Lay out liner/sealant
Small ponds require a liner be used to prevent water from draining out. Large ponds require a sealant which prevents water from seeping into the ground.
Rocks and gravel
It’s time for large rocks, for aesthetics, and gravel, making the pond look as natural as possible. This will require some shifting, placing and replacing, a constant dance until the proper look is achieved.
Test pump
Put a little water in the bottom of the pond and test the pump and piping to make sure everything is working properly.
Fill with water
Fill up the pond to the desired level, turn on the pump, and make sure, again, that everything is working according to plan.
Add water treatment
For water clarity, for a backyard pond, you will want a water treatment added to the water, one which, of course, is not harmful to animals and fish. Pond cleanout is much simpler if you have water treatment.
And there you have it. Of course, we just made it sound oh so simple. In reality, even for a small, backyard, decorative pond, there is a great amount of work involved, but the end-result is very, very satisfying.
A final word about J & A Excavation
Excavation and removal, that’s what we do, and we do it well. For pad construction, driveway excavation, ground clearance, dump truck services and yes, pond construction, J & A Excavation is a trusted name in the Fort Worth area.