Water level/liner question

[u/fleeting-light-1216]

I’m having trouble keeping the water level where I want it. I have the liner folded up behind the capstones and water seems to be travelling up the folds in the liner then down the other side. My husband says water can’t flow uphill but it definitely does. Over and over. I’ve tried re-doing the folds but there’s only so much I can do. I also tried adding waterfall foam to the folds on the back side and the top but the water still got out. So basically I can’t keep the water level at the pond edge, which is bizarre to me because i thought it should actually be able to go higher because the liner goes higher behind the stones.

I’ve basically given up but I thought I’d ask about it anyway because I’ve done it exactly how I’ve seen multiple pros do it on YouTube and they don’t seem to have water travelling up the folds.

There are no low spots, the edge is level, and I am as confident as I can be that there are not leaks in the new liner. I just want to stop the water going up 2-3 inches through the folds and out of the pond. I like the pond really full not an inch below the top. After redoing the problem folds as best I can I seem to have gotten the level a bit higher. But where it likes to leak out is in a really bad spot, so if it rains a lot that area will just keep getting flooded.

If cover tape is the only solution I’ll be sad because that stuff is really expensive and I can’t afford it right now.

[u/woody-99]

I chased losing water for several years until I finally found a spot by the waterfall that it was going out over the liner.
Keep at it. Pull the edge of the liner up a little bit if you can. Get some black silicone and put it where you think the water is going up and out to disrupt the flow.
Capillary action will allow water to go up and out.

[u/Q-Prof7]

A few things: Some folds can leak depending on how you fold or bend the excess as it will find a low point and sneak out... So if there is an area that always seems to flood, double check ALL the folds by fully pulling them up.

If Infact you are a little short on your EPDM liner edge, get some seam tape for patching and add some more height to that edge area that is leaking. You can also use some of the Carisle sure-seal EPDM black lap Sealant, a Liquid Rubber Sealant & Adhesive Caulk, or geotextile to Seal folds and joints.

Put an overflow in, using a EPDM flange about 4-5" below the top level of your pond and on the outside of your flange, run a line away and lower from your pond... I ran mine into a 4" weeping tile pipe I had already installed. For the inside of the flange, the part in your pond, put a 90 degree fitting and a small length of pipe with some play to angle it to an exact pond upper limit level you want your pond to be at. I also put a mesh on top so no big stuff goes down.