Ky cowboy
Well-known member
I've got several leaks on an old pond dam. Has anyone used bentonite to seal leaks. They're aren't real bad pond never drops more then 12-18 inches, it's more annoying trying to mow around it
1 of the leaks is towards the bottom of the dam. I'm going to get some bentonite this week to try I'll post updates.If letting the cows in doesn't work I don't know what would.
I'm thinking about using small boat and just spreading it by hand around the area its leakingHow are you going to apply it?
Curious on this because one of mine seeps. The seep is towards the bottom.
I also have one the leaks some around the pipe that was put through the dam after the dam was a few years old.
Did you ever get your pond sealed? I cleaned out a pond last fall and it stays about 1/4 full now. I suggested ducks but I can't keep the yotes from killing them.I'm thinking about using small boat and just spreading it by hand around the area its leaking
It held fine until I cleaned it out but not now. Maybe I will try the ducks and hope I can keep the yotes away. It's a small pond and only for fishing now so it isn't critical. I can pipe a small stream of water from a cave to it so maybe that would help also.I have looked in to it multiple times for different reasons. Basically what my research has concluded is to have a high probability of it working you have to drain the entire pond, disk it in with the bank, and then pack your best dirt back over it. They even give you a process to fill the pond. Any run in from the side can erode the bentonite and be an area that will leak.
This was extremely expensive option and if I went through all that work I would just build it back right.
I have heard of people dumping sacks in to water pipes and what not and letting it work its way to the holes. Best case scenario was it held for a short time period then started leaking again. Same for just dumping them in from the side.
All options were low probability of working and it was very expensive to slightly increase the probability.
With one place I looked in to it at, I could drill a well, install a solar, and run water to it cheaper than I could put bentonite in.
No still leaks. We cut thru the top of the dam till we hit the leaks and packed dry clay and bentonite back in. It helped but still leaking hopefully in a few years I'll cut the dam and drain it and redo the damDid you ever get your pond sealed? I cleaned out a pond last fall and it stays about 1/4 full now. I suggested ducks but I can't keep the yotes from killing them.
I looked at the Bentonite and the price has went from $30 a bag to now over $90. Anyone got a cheaper supplier.