It is recommended that owners of artificial reservoirs and household plots on the banks of natural ponds to drain them periodically in order to clean them of garbage and silt. There are also frequent situations when the owner wants to get rid of the reservoir for various reasons. The dehydration procedure in such cases is a hopeless necessity, which can be carried out both personally and with the help of specialists.
Artificial pond
When creating ponds, the owner must understand that in the future there may be a need to transfer this element of landscape design, adjust its parameters or completely remove it. Therefore, when designing an artificial pond, all factors must be taken into account.
For drainage, it is necessary to drain all the water, turn off and remove the pumping and filtering devices. The next step is to extract the base. It can be a finished plastic container or waterproofing film. It is quite difficult to destroy the concrete base of the pond, because it does not remove as easily as the aforementioned materials. Next, you need to measure the parameters of the pit for harvesting the right amount of soil.
It is recommended to fall asleep of overall reservoirs in several layers. It is better to fill the bottom with rubble and clay, the second level with sand, and the upper part with fertile soil. Each layer must be compacted so that there are no voids. At first, after falling asleep, you should not place anything on this site. In connection with further subsidence of the soil, it is necessary from time to time to bring in the required amount of land.
Important! Construction debris, for example, various fragments of concrete or broken brick, are perfect for backfilling a pond.
Natural pond
Draining such an object will be more difficult. Falling asleep in a natural pond will not give the desired result, because, first of all, it is necessary to solve the problem of where to put the water filling this reservoir. The usual laying of the object will lead to a rise in the level of groundwater not only throughout the country, but also in neighboring territories. Also, with a high probability, waterlogging of the soil may occur at the site of the former reservoir.
To destroy a natural pond, several processes must be performed:
- pumping out sludge and water;
- filling the pit with soil;
- drainage work.
The owner must understand that this procedure entails significant financial waste, because draining an object can sometimes be more expensive than creating a new one.
Pumping sludge and water
Before filling the pond with soil, it is necessary to extract all the liquid from it by pumping it out. Some owners are trying to save on this issue, but in this case you need to be prepared for the fact that water can flood the summer cottage and neighboring territories. Also, after draining the pond, it is necessary to immediately clear the bottom of the sludge, since when it dries, it hardens, which in the future can cause various problems.
Work can be done independently, but more effective, albeit costly, is considered an appeal to professionals. Many owners of country houses in order to clean up debris and soft rocks at the bottom of reservoirs acquire specialized mobile equipment. For example, one of the most popular options is the “Junga” mini dredger, which allows you to get rid of sludge through the operation of powerful pumps. Such a device is suitable for shallow ponds.
Backfill
The issue of filling the pit with earth can be considered one of the most expensive. To backfill even a small pond, it is necessary to stock up with a large amount of soil. For example, for a pond with an area of about 100 m² and a depth of 1.5 m, approximately 15 tons of land are needed. You can calculate this way: 100 m² × 1.5 = 150 m³ soil.
Important! It is recommended to fill the pond with the same earth that is around it. If the density of the soil inside the pit and beyond is different, especially when heterogeneous soil is typical for the area, the area may turn into a swamp.
When sand is mixed with soil, soil quality can be improved and air exchange can be enhanced. If we add more humus, then in this area it will be possible to grow garden crops. Adding sand is an excellent reclamation method, especially on clay lands with high groundwater levels.
Drainage work
The cost of this issue depends on the parameters and characteristics of the reservoir, soil and the site itself. The installation of a drainage system can solve the problem of surface water diversion for a long time. To make it, you need to take plastic pipes in which there are small holes. Before installation, they must be wrapped with geotextiles in several layers.
Did you know? In Los Angeles, the artificial reservoir “Aivengo” was created, which delights tourists with its black color. This color is due to more than 90 million black plastic balls dropped onto the surface of the pond to reduce moisture evaporation.
Pipes must be laid in the prepared channels in accordance with the following recommendations:
- On clay soil, it is necessary to place a drainage system at a depth of 65–75 cm.
- For loamy soil, it is necessary to equip channels 70–90 cm from the ground.
- On sandy areas, it is recommended to place drainage systems at a depth of up to 1 m.
Channels for pipes need to be done so that there remains a slope for water to drain down the territory (into a pond, canal, well or ditch). Such drainage pits are also filled with crushed stone - this will allow moisture to leave faster, with visible results in two months.
How to drain a pond if there is no discharge
Drainage of ponds without discharge can be decided by contacting specialized services.
In this case, professionals carry out a number of works:
- pump out water;
- clean the bottom of accumulated dirt, silt and various mineral and organic deposits;
- they fill the pit with soil, gravel and sand;
- dry wetlands and problem areas with special equipment.
Also, an effective method is the digging of a decorative well, which will collect excess moisture, which will contribute to its rapid evaporation. An excellent example is the construction of a cross channel, which allows you to drain the wetland of the park in Versailles. Wells are built by digging holes and filling them with rubble and sand in the lower parts of the site. The depth of the well is 1 m, the diameter of the lower part is 0.5 m, and the upper is 2 m.
Many owners of summer cottages solve the problem of drainage of water bodies by introducing construction waste, twigs, hay and other material into the pond that has already been pumped out of water. Within a few years, the pit will be completely filled and compacted.
Drainage of water bodies is a serious event, caused by various reasons: the need to clean from bottom sediments, deepening the bottom, changing the location and direction of the channel. In any case, such a procedure takes a lot of time and finances, so it is recommended that owners of artificial ponds plan the installation of a drainage system before creating them to facilitate the solution of many problems in the future.
