How to Use a Sump Pump as a Pond Pump

Place a small object, such as a cinder block, on the bottom of the pond. This is where the sump pump will sit. The pump should draw water from the pond bottom, and therefore needs to be placed on the bottom. But the dirt and debris of the pond are also on the bottom, so the pump needs to sit on a cinder block or some other elevation from the mud.

Attach an outdoor-rated programmer timer (available at your local hardware store) to the sump pump. Plug the timer into your electrical outlet and then plug the pump into the timer.

Set the timer so the pump will run for no more than 30 minutes at a time, and will have at least a 15-minute break between operation cycles. This is necessary because sump pumps are not designed for round-the-clock use.

Place the sump pump on the cinder block at the bottom of the pond.