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Grey water and pond

21 years ago

If one were to build a small pond to collect rooftop drainage and grey water, and irrigate with the pond water (so there would be a somewhat constant flow into and out of the pond), how large would it need to be to keep it biologically balanced(so it would support fish and plants without getting algae-infested)? How about filtering the grey water through an artificial bog (with an impermeable liner) before it gets to the pond? What's the best way to build a pond so it can act as a storage reservoir and not be too unsightly when its water level is low (during dry periods)? Ahh winter, time to dream.

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Comments (4)

DDFirstLight
21 years ago
Planting reeds and or pussy willows (also pretty and a good hider as you wanted) is one of the best ways to filter water. Kind of like a natural brillo pad! LOL Be careful about how much in the way of oils (cooking, detergents, shampoos, soaps etc.) go through with the grey water so you don't get a scum problem that can cut off air flow into the water etc. and besides making it hard for the fish will do alot of damage as to making the pond want to turn into an algea tank. We usually plant several feet of reeds where the pipe ends and then wind and snake the flow throught he reeds before it gets to the holding pond, with the reeds coming on into the pond a ways too. They also provide good shelter for the fish etc. I am sure there are all kinds of filters etc. that you can use, but in general I have not found them necesary.

As to size, that is too big a topic for me here, it would depend on depth, soil type, average rainfall, average hottest and coldest and for how long, soil percolation, etc., etc., etc. Sorry but I couldn't help with that part although I am sure that there are others who may be able to help with it.

A good county extension agent is a good place to start sometimes BUT be aware that using a gray water system and such is Illegal (no fooling! LOL) in many states and/or areas. I have gotten away with it before because I simply refered to it as 'aquatic gardening' and did not mention nor make it obvious where the water was coming from other than the roof.

Hope this helps some. ENJOY!! DD
dzen
Original Author
21 years ago
Thanks much for the information. I should probably be a little more specific. My potential site is fairly small scale, a typical suburban backyard so the storage pond would be on that scale, like a good-sized water garden with an impermeable liner. Not sure if the pond can have enough effective storage to be practical. Maybe a two stage pond with a smaller always-full water garden above a larger pond primarily for storage. Thanks again.
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Hey Andy. You will likely get more responses on the United Kingdom version of this forum. They seem to have more over there than we do here, but I'll give a try to a few possibilities. You don't say how the clay was compacted or if any Montmillorite (Bentonite) clay was used. If there was an inclusion (a different type of soil or roots) that could easily be where the leak is located. We just had a discussion about puddling clay on this forum a few weeks ago for a pond and much info came from sites about Dew ponds in the U.K. One of the most common locations for leaks was the top edge of the pond which could act as a wick if it was not constructed properly. I never had much luck with using dyes in the water to find a leak. It mixed much too quickly. One material I have found useful was a handful of fine, dry, powdered clay scattered on the surface. Calcium Bentonite is quite good for this since it can be purchased as a fish tonic or cosmetic base as well as a construction material. If the water is reasonably clear it should work well for you. If not, it needs rethinking. Some one suggested dry milk powder to me. I didn't try it but it sounded reasonable and would be inexpensive. The Bentonite should be available at home and garden supply stores or through a well digger, which is where I found it. The added advantage is that the Bentonite can be used to seal the leak when you find it. Check on this forum for the Puddling Clay thread and do a search for Dew ponds, one of which is linked in the puddling thread. Sandy Here is a link that might be useful: Puddling clay
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If you had asked here, you would most likely been advised to simply shade the water more with plants, wait for the algae to stabilize and drop out or run the water through an UV light. This manufacturer is not alone. Like I said earlier, there is a steady stream of people looking for that magic elixir and that creates business for the manufacturers. You can't really blame them, they want to make money too :-) For every story like yours, there is a story about the product actually clearing the pond overnight. How are we to know if the algae had finally reached it's downhill cycle on it's own. Here is my understanding of how you and I get green water. Algae is a plant that responds to a food source (nitrates created in the normal nitrogen cycle as the waste ammonium converts itself to nitrites and finally nitrate) and warming temps and goes into supergrowth mode, voila' green water.
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gardenlen
21 years ago
from my experiences i wouldn't suggest anyone store grey water at all, it goes very smelly and no doubt the bacteria level will be increasing, best used fresh. also don't reckon fish would live in grey water even if it is thinned with fresh water.

might be best to think of a tank for the grey water so it is confined and covered but use the material continualy. about the only way you could consider using grey water your way would be to run it through a reed bed filtering sytem first that could make it safe for fish. an open grey water pond is also likely to kill a lot of frogs and toads when they go to swim in it.

my thoughts

len

mail len

lens garden page
polly_il
21 years ago
dzen, have you read Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway? In the chapter on "Catching, Conserving and Using Water" there is a very nice set up for grey water/rainwater. It uses a marsh of bog plants and ornamental grasses to filter the grey water; which then trickles into series of three tiny ponds, where it is joined by rainwater from the house guttering. The water finally drains into a deep 10 x 10 fish pond; any overflow going out into swales. I want one!

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