Water is the source of all life. You can live for thirty days without food, but not more than three days without water. Water also is soothing, beautiful and is a gathering place for wildlife. Water on your property can also greatly enhance its value.

We all have different reasons for wanting a little more water in our lives and properties. Men have been making lakes and ponds for thousands of years to mimic ones made by nature. Geologists argue whether even those lakes and ponds are natural, but only accidental water containers, as all land-locked water tries to connect with the sea. Man made lakes and ponds fit into the environment just as readily as natural ones.

Do It Yourself?

Unless you have done a lot of landscaping and have a strong back, it is probably best to hire professional contractors to build lakes and ponds for you. You need to be sure the lakes and ponds put in on your property will stay there for a long time, so the wildlife, or any fish you may want to stock in it, have a chance to move in. It is less expensive to pay somebody to do the job right the first time rather than keep having to repair your leaky lakes and ponds.

Building and managing lakes and ponds is its own industry. You will be spoiled for choice of contractors. You can ask anyone you know that has a pond, “Who did your pond?”, or even ask national parks or arboretums who did their lakes and ponds. Perhaps you went to a university that had a man-made pond. Ask your university what service they use. You could also ask your bank if there are any contractors that they recommend. This will smooth things in advance if you need to ask your bank for a loan. You could even check with the Better Business Bureau for names of contractors in your area to avoid.

Before You Take The Plunge

Man-made lakes and ponds take time and money, not only to install, but to maintain. Be sure you have enough of each before any shovels break out. Make sure your land is flat enough to accommodate man-made lakes and ponds. Get your land checked for any kind of contaminant. There’s not good making a lake or pond, filling it with water, and having the water be poisoned. Also know where your water source is going to come from to keep the lake or pond filled.