Pond overflow options

I dug a pair of small ponds in the last few weeks. The area has several springs so the topsoil was so wet I could hardly do anything before stripping it off. Underneath was rocky with ledge in some places. The holes started filling up as I dug them. First job for my "new" dozer. The hump in the middle is ledge. This is the upper pond. Lower pond has ledge too.

The upper pond has a 10" overflow (similar to the previously mentioned ponds) that directly feeds the lower pond. I kept the water in the upper pond as long as possible to make digging the lower pond easier. Then I dug through the upper dam to install the pipe for the overflow. Was quite a gush for a few minutes. Lining the upper pond with clay: This clay is beautiful! No rocks at all, really amazing that it comes out of the ground like this.

In order to save some money, we decided to use 10" SDR only for the first 20 feet through the dam and then switch to black culvert for the remainder of the distance to the lower pond. The SDR is obviously loose in the bell of the culvert so it took a little head scratching to get them to work together. One gasket from the culvert and one from the SDR did the trick. It seated together quite snugly so I'm sure it will be as good a seal as regular culvert connections. I also packed around the joint with clay. Check out my twin boom excavator Added a drain to the side of the culvert to catch ground water and send it to the lower pond.

Checking the dam elevations: Stand pipe installed: The elbow cost almost $500...

I guess I forgot to take a picture- the lower pond has a stone retaining wall that the overflow with go over like a waterfall. The top stone is visible in this picture: Just waiting to fill now.

Very tidy, nice work. Also nice looking country!

Nice work! Well done. A side note on connecting dissimilar pipe material - if in doubt pour a concrete collar around the connection. See those details on commercial plans all the time.

CM1995 said: Nice work! Well done. A side note on connecting dissimilar pipe material - if in doubt pour a concrete collar around the connection. See those details on commercial plans all the time. Click to expand... We (the customer and I) thought about that, but since it won't be under any pressure, and any leaks will be caught by the French drain, we figured it's no big deal if it leaks a little. I was quite surprised at how tightly they fit. I couldn't pull them apart by hand after assembly. I will definitely use the concrete method for anything more critical.

It took almost 4 months for the drought to end and the ponds to fill. Upper pond: Lower pond:

Turned out nice! Really like the overflow.

​ materthegreater said: I also packed around the joint with clay. Click to expand... Does anyone use Hydraulic mud/cement /plug/stop around the joints, or is that just not the right stuff? We used that in the past when fitting 4" drain pipes to a concrete catch basin.

PeterG said: ​ Does anyone use Hydraulic mud/cement /plug/stop around the joints, or is that just not the right stuff? We used that in the past when fitting 4" drain pipes to a concrete catch basin. Click to expand... I did some of that last year at a high school near by.

Nice work Materthegreater

PeterG said: ​ Does anyone use Hydraulic mud/cement /plug/stop around the joints, or is that just not the right stuff? We used that in the past when fitting 4" drain pipes to a concrete catch basin. Click to expand... FWIW we use bag concrete or mortar mix for storm structures and hydraulic for sanitary sewer.

That's how we do it too.

CM1995 said: Turned out nice! Really like the overflow. Click to expand... Looks a lot better with water in it