Pond Management

Good water quality is key to the healthy life of a pond and must be kept clean to provide suitable habitat for animals and plants. Water can be cleaned naturally, through planting special water plants to filter impurities and excess nutrients from the water. It is important to get the right balance of aquatic plants to improve the diversity of your pond. It may be that special pumps are required to move water through the roots of these plants to ensure that natural filtration is maximised.

Many ponds or lakes get contaminated with rubbish and need to be cleared to improve the health of the water. An excess of water plants, such as algae and pondweed can also lead to a decrease in organisms by reducing the amount of oxygen in the water. Professional companies can easily monitor excess abnormal levels with special chemical tests and suggest management solutions for you.

Standing water bodies can also attract insect pests, such as mosquitoes and gnats. These biting insects can become a nuisance if left unchecked and should be monitored and controlled by professionals. There are a number of different ways of controlling biting insects, such as chemical treatments and habitat management. Introducing predatory fish into a pond can also be a good method of control, as they feed on the larvae of insect pest species. Installing artificial waterfalls to break the surface tension of standing water can also help control numbers, as well as providing an attractive feature to your pond.

If you have an abandoned pond in your property it could be regenerated by using some simple management techniques. It is important to assess the health of the water and monitor it regularly. This will help increase animal and plant life. Professional water management companies can help with your enquiries and provide a financially viable solution.

Peter Gabriel MRes is the Microbee Company Biologist