Anyone know how to seal a pond?
Question:Have a pond that will no longer hold water. It has before for a short period of time.
Answers:
Bentonite. Here in North Dakota we use it to seal stock tanks (small ponds dug to supply water to herds of cattle). The oil industry uses it as a drilling lubricant. A 30X60X3 ft. pond would require about 10-12 40lb. bags ($4-5 per bag). Then comes the fun part, the application of said Bentonite. My grandfather would choose a warm spring day ahead of predicted rain for the big event. He would assemble a large crew of grand kids and those just young at heart to open the bags and mix with the water in the pond. This produces a mud with all the attributes of K-Y Jelly and becomes the biggest mud wrestling event you've ever seen. The local fire department uses it in there mud volleyball pits on the 4th of July. After you've had your fun, fill your pond before the Bentonite settles to the bottom in a few days. Should last 2-3 yrs. or longer without cattle stompin' around in your pond. One more thing, it's non-toxic to fish, fowl and grand kids. RScott
Hi.Depends what the pond is lined with. Cement ponds are hard to repair. Butyl liners can be emptied and a repair patch glued into place. If the liner is old it may have reached the end of its natural life and you may need to replace it. Butyl rubber is the best of the soft lining materials but the most expensive. Polythene is cheap but the sunlight soon degrades it. If it is a cement pond I would be tempted to empty it and reline it with butyl. Have a look at your local garden center for the variety of liners available. Cheaper to buy on line and by post but you will get an idea of what is available . If you have fish in the pond they can be kept temporarily in a large tank such as is used for storing potable /household water .. as used for a loft/attic water storage tank
More details, please. What is the pond made of?
OK. The bentonite will work. If the pond isn't too large, you might want to consider a pond liner.
Also, if your pond is a large one, what is the level of the pond relative to your ground water level and is there a source of water like a spring or do you have to fill it? It sounds like it's just a hole in the ground if you can't keep water in it, and if the water table is lower than the pond, it will just drain out because water will seek it's own level.
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Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!
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