Pond drying up!

This is the hottest and driest summer I can remember since 1976. Returned from a fortnight's holiday to find the pond level critically low.

It's not advisable to top-up a pond with untreated tap water because the chlorine can have an adverse affect on the critters. Also, excess nitrates can lead to algal bloom.

My friend Steve had already alerted me that his pond was critically low. He'd found this tap water treatment product at the local garden centre:

That 3ml pipette (not included with the product) is good for treating 30ltr of water, which is conveniently the size of bucket I use for fermenting beer.

Steve reported no ill effects other than a possible increase in algae. That figures, since - from what I gather - these Sodium thiosulphate based water treatments only remove chlorine/cholarmine, not nutrients such as nitrates. But I concur with Steve that "better a green pond than no pond!"

20 buckets later and the pond is at a reasonable level. Ever hopeful of a natural deluge, I won't fill the pond to the brim.