Topping Off a Wildlife Pond with Tap Water: Safe Practices

Yes, You Can Add Tap Water

Evaporation during drought makes topping off essential. The key is volume: if you add more than 10% of the pond's total volume at once, you must neutralize chlorine/chloramine.

Dechlorinator Use

• Use a liquid dechlorinator (sodium thiosulfate based) at the label rate.
• Add it to the pond as the water flows in, or pre-treat in a holding tank.
• For small top-offs (<10%), the chlorine dissipates quickly, but dechlorinator is cheap insurance.

Routine Maintenance

In high heat, daily top-offs may be needed. In cooler weather, weekly checks suffice. Always keep a bottle of dechlorinator on hand.