Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping for some advice.

I want to completely get rid of the pond and blend it in with the rest of the lawn but am worried this area will get waterlogged without adequate drainage.

Thanks

sfrazi wrote:
Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

The water table might drop later in the year. But why not just jack
hammer the concrete and take it away, and fill in the hole?

Bill

On 23/03/15 00:49, sfrazi wrote:
Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

Do you have clay in your garden? It sounds like it -


I want to completely get rid of the pond and blend it in with the rest
of the lawn but am worried this area will get waterlogged without
adequate drainage.

It's likely the area will be no worse off than any other part.

My garden is clay about 1-2ft below the surface, and absolutely solid
clay (as in you need to pick at it with a 6ft iron bar) 3-4 ft down.

If that's the case, you could put in a layer of gravel before topsoil
and just let it be a natural sump.

On 23/03/2015 00:49, sfrazi wrote:
Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

Sounds like the water table is about the depth of the pond. I have a
similar problem with my garage pit. I have to siphon/pump the water out
before it is usable. There is an old well 5m away from it.

I want to completely get rid of the pond and blend it in with the rest
of the lawn but am worried this area will get waterlogged without
adequate drainage.

It is possible the pond was put there originally to make a decent
looking garden feature out of an area with inadequate drainage.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

What is the water table depth in the area, I wonder?

Sounds like its quite high, at least at the moment.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"sfrazi" wrote in message
...

Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

I want to completely get rid of the pond and blend it in with the rest
of the lawn but am worried this area will get waterlogged without
adequate drainage.

Thanks




--
sfrazi

Its very hard to disguise where some concrete structure has been, even if
you fill the hole up and grass it over the way it grows seems to be
different to the rest of the site quite often. Also it tends to change
height over time, sometimes its higher sometimes lower. My late father did
this with some solid features in our garden, you could always tell the
outline of them.
Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Bill Wright" wrote in message
...
sfrazi wrote:
Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners. I have drained the pond using a water pump and
drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

The water table might drop later in the year. But why not just jack hammer
the concrete and take it away, and fill in the hole?

Bill

On 23/03/2015 00:49, sfrazi wrote:

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

A concrete pond wouldn't simply be built on soft earth or gravel etc the
hole would have to be firmly compacted. Its no wonder the water isn't
draining away.
If you just filled it in then it would get waterlogged over time.
As others have said, if it's clay sub-soil then without the pond there
the hole would fill up.
Can you chop out a slice from the top to the bottom with an angle
grinder? At least you'd get to see where the free draining soil starts
and you'd create a way of the water escaping if you're planning on just
filling it in rather than full demolition.

On Monday, March 23, 2015 at 1:17:04 AM UTC, sfrazi wrote:
Hi,

I am having problems in trying to remove a concrete pond that was built
by the previous owners.

I have drained the pond using a water pump and drilled a number of holes
at the bottom of the pond using a jack hammer. I thought this would have
meant any remaining water would quickly drain away, instead the
remaining water is still there. In some instances I have drilled at
least 7 to 8 inches below the concrete and the water just ends up
filling the hole I created.

Is this expected? I have little knowledge of landscaping so was hoping
for some advice.

I want to completely get rid of the pond and blend it in with the rest
of the lawn but am worried this area will get waterlogged without
adequate drainage.

Thanks

Break & remove the concrete, and the result will be like the rest of the lawn /if/ its all at the same level. If its low lying, then as someone said the pond was likely put in to make something nice of a waterlogged mess. Another option is land drainage.


NT

On 23/03/2015 08:56, Brian Gaff wrote:
Its very hard to disguise where some concrete structure has been, even if
you fill the hole up and grass it over the way it grows seems to be
different to the rest of the site quite often. Also it tends to change
height over time, sometimes its higher sometimes lower.My late father did
this with some solid features in our garden, you could always tell the
outline of them.
Brian

While sealed hollow concrete structures do want to float on underground
water and may rely upon the weight of whatever is in them to keep them
in the ground, I suspect that was mainly due to the soil around it
changing volume. Clay is particularly liable to change volume as its
water content changes.

--
Colin Bignell

Could you install a bottom drain to get rid of the water? Not my expertise but i'm familiar with people draining water this way.