Pond Basics: How to fill a pond?

This is one of the top questions we receive about our new pond builds. Most customers think they are going to have to pay a massive amount of $ to get water into their pond. This is SIMPLY Not the case.
So how does the water actually get there and begin to fill your pond?
The Answer is all-natural baby! We use our 60 foot long reach excavator to dig down deep. Most of the ponds we dig are around 15-20 feet in depth and our excavator can reach all the way. The key to getting a pond to fill-up is making sure when you dig, you hit the water table. Once you hit the water table while digging, it can take a few days or a few hours for the pond to fill up. The speed depends on the flow of water from the water table and how close the source is. The water table depth can change in Michigan based on what season we are in or how much ground water we’ve received from rains or snow. There are some maps you can locate online that also give you some information about ground water levels such as, this map located on the USGS website. One of the most common methods for checking the depth of the water table is to dig a shallow well and then once there is water in it, measure it with a tape measure.
In conclusion, filling ponds is a natural process. Our excavation methods, reaching the water table, determine the speed of filling. Water table depth varies with seasons and precipitation. You can check local groundwater levels online. A simple well can measure water table depth accurately. No need for costly water supply – nature does the work.