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Cleaning Services

Pond Cleaning and Drain and Clean Services in Central Iowa

A full drain, clean, and health check for your pond and its equipment. An exploratory drain and clean is our first visit for new clients.

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Just Add Water crew cleaning a drained pond by hand along its stone edge

More than one way to get your pond looking its best

A cleaning is not always a full drain and clean. We offer a range of cleaning services to fit your pond and your season.

  • Spring Cleanout: Open the pond back up after winter.
  • Mid-Season Cleaning: A refresh to keep water clear through summer.
  • Winter Shutdown: Prepare the feature for the cold months.
  • Exploratory Drain and Clean: A full drain, deep clean, and inspection.
  • Filter Cleanings: Keep filtration flowing.
  • And more: Tell us what your feature needs.

Many of these are included in our maintenance packages.

See Maintenance Packages
Freshly cleaned backyard pond with clear water and flowering plants near a shed

What else should you know?

We see it often: someone inherits an older pond and the water has gone green or the flow is poor. If you just moved into a home with a water feature, you are probably wondering how to care for it. Most features are built to last, but they still need upkeep. Beyond the drain and clean, we are happy to advise you on seasonal care, water clarity, how your systems work, and which aquatic plants suit your pond, so you can enjoy it for years.

One-time and seasonal cleaning services

Our cleaning services are single visits you book when your pond needs them, with no ongoing plan required. A spring cleanout opens the pond back up after winter by clearing leaves and debris, cleaning the skimmer and filters, and restarting the pump. A Mid-Season Cleaning refreshes the feature in summer when algae or debris start to build up. A winter shutdown prepares the pond and equipment for the cold months ahead.

For ponds that need more, the Exploratory Drain and Clean is a full drain, deep clean, and inspection, and it is our first visit for new clients. Filter cleanings keep water flowing and clear between bigger services. We book cleanings for homeowners throughout Des Moines, Ankeny, Johnston, Ames, Indianola, and the surrounding Central Iowa communities.

What a full drain and clean includes

A full drain and clean is the most thorough reset a pond can get. We pump the water down and set aside anything that lives in the pond in a holding tank. Then we remove the leaves, sludge, and string algae that have settled over time, and pressure wash the liner, rocks, gravel, and waterfall so every surface is clean.

With the pond empty, we inspect the systems: the pump, skimmer, biological filter, plumbing, and liner. You get a clear report on what is working and what needs attention. Finally we refill the pond and treat the water to remove chlorine and restart the beneficial bacteria, so the ecosystem gets back in balance quickly.

Cleaning vs an ongoing maintenance plan

A cleaning is a single visit that gets your pond back in shape at one point in time. A maintenance plan is year-round care, with regular weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly visits that include the spring cleanout, fall service, and winter shutdown, so the pond stays healthy all season long.

If you like to handle routine care yourself and just want help with the big jobs, book a cleaning. If you would rather have us look after everything, see our water feature maintenance plans.

Project spotlight: a Des Moines pond restored

One Des Moines pond had not been cleaned in over ten years, and heavy leaves and sludge had filled the whole system. In Transforming Outdoor Spaces, we performed a full drain and clean, cleared the debris, and restored the flow. Now the owner can relax in the gazebo beside a clean, healthy pond again.

How it works

A simple, stress-free process

Your yard should be a place where you can fully relax. We have built a simple process that delivers the result you want with zero stress.

  1. 01

    Get in Touch

    Connect with us through our form or give us a call. Tell us what you have in mind and we will schedule an on-site consultation.

  2. 02

    We Build It

    Once we agree on the estimate and timeline, we draft the contract and start building your pond.

  3. 03

    Love Your Pond

    When the work is done, we walk the finished project with you. Then enjoy your beautiful new outdoor space.

See Our Full Process

Investment

Cleaning service prices

Every water feature is different. The prices below represent average projects we've completed. After a quick conversation and a few photos, we can usually tell you which category your project fits into before scheduling.

Technician running hoses and a pump to drain a pond into a holding tank

Small Ponds and Water Features

$650 average price

Just Add Water crew cleaning a drained pond by hand along its stone edge

Most Ponds and Water Features

$1,150 average price

Freshly cleaned backyard pond with clear water and flowering plants near a shed

Large or Complex Water Feature

$1,950 average price

These are average prices based on our experience in the area. Every cleaning is unique, and your final investment will depend on the size, condition, and complexity of your water feature.

Schedule Your Consultation

Watch

See it in action

Whether you are new to pond ownership or looking for a new contractor, we like to start with a first visit to your pond before we make any recommendations. This video gives you a look at our Exploratory process.

300+

Fountainscapes and pondless features installed and upgraded

500+

Ponds installed and upgraded

2,000+

Ponds repaired

Google Reviews

Happy customers are the proof

5.0 out of 5 from 51 Google reviews

“Love our clean pond! Just Add Water did an amazing transformation of our pond from fall to spring. So clean I can see the rocks at the bottom and count all the fish. Great service! And the fish are so happy!”

Darlene McMullenGoogle review, April 2025

“Just Add Water just left. This team was amazing. The pond was a big spring clean out and they stayed with it. The pond feature looks like it is new. They let me ask lots of questions and took extra time to make sure I understood everything. You could not get a better pond team. They are experienced, professional and believe in customer care. Thank you and will enjoy having them on my team for pond care.”

Peggy AndersenGoogle review, November 2023

“Alex came today and performed our fall cleaning. After draining the pond he got right in and pressure sprayed all the stone... it was just what it needed! Alex also discovered our chemical doser was leaking chemical onto the ground and not going into the pond! I am grateful for his knowledge and professionalism! Martha Kersbergen Fort Dodge Iowa”

Martha KersbergenGoogle review, August 2023

“Highly recommend! We used Just Add Water for our spring clean-out. They made recommendations - ideas we had not thought of - and took our pond "to the next level". They also found and repaired a water leak we had in our waterfall. Very professional and knowledgeable - outstanding customer service!”

Jerry NobleGoogle review, August 2025
Read More Reviews

Related

Real Central Iowa projects, planning tools, and more ways we can help beyond cleaning services.

Clear, healthy Des Moines pond in spring

Related service

Water Feature Maintenance

Weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly plans that keep your pond clean all season.

Learn more

Our process

Why we start with an Exploratory

New to your pond? See why a drain, clean, and inspection is the best first step.

Learn more
Des Moines pond during its first cleaning in 10 years

Restoration story

Transforming Outdoor Spaces

A neglected Des Moines pond cleaned and restored after 10 years without a cleaning.

Learn more

From the Knowledge Center

Seasonal care that keeps your pond clean, clear, and healthy all year.

Read Pond Maintenance articles

Cleaning Services FAQ

Frequently asked questions

  • A drain and clean, which we call an Exploratory Drain and Clean, is a full reset for your pond. We pump the water down, keep any fish safe in a holding tank, clean the rocks, gravel, and waterfall, clear out built-up muck, service the pump and filters, and refill with treated water. Along the way we inspect the whole system and tell you what we find.

    Watch our Exploratory process

  • Most ponds in Central Iowa do best with one thorough cleanout a year, usually in the spring, plus lighter care during the season. Ponds under trees or with a lot of fish may need more attention. If you are not sure where your pond stands, a first visit tells us what it needs.

  • A spring cleanout opens your pond back up after winter by clearing leaves and debris, cleaning the skimmer and filters, starting the pump, and adding water treatments. A full drain and clean goes further. We drain the pond so we can deep clean every surface and inspect the liner, plumbing, and equipment. It is the right choice for a neglected or inherited pond, or when something is not working right.

  • Based on projects we have completed around Des Moines and Central Iowa, a cleaning averages about $650 for small ponds and water features, $1,150 for most ponds, and $1,950 for large or complex features. Your price depends on size, condition, and complexity. After a quick conversation and a few photos, we can usually tell you which range fits before we schedule.

  • Many of our cleanings are. Our weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly maintenance packages include spring cleaning, fall service, and winter shutdown, so your pond gets both regular care and its seasonal cleanouts.

    See our maintenance plans

Have a different question? Call (515) 208-4099 or see our full FAQ.

Give your pond a health check and keep it in great shape

Tell us about your yard and we will price out your water feature, or reach out for a full quote.

Price Out Your Water Feature Get a Quote