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Many ponds
composed of a variety of soil types are prone to
water loss by seepage. Pond Sealer is a high
swelling, chemically unaltered, sodium bentonite
that contains no additives. It is an economical and
environmentally safe way to accomplish pond and lake
sealing to reduce seepage losses. Sodium
bentonite is a natural clay which
 has the
characteristic of swelling bentonite is applied in a
layer over porous soil or mixed with a porous soil,
and moistened with water, it forms an impermeable
layer. When properly applied bentonite does not
affect the water or wildlife.
Sodium Bentonite is easily applied. In the case of
small ponds, bentonite can be applied with simple
hand tools and for larger ponds can be applied using
ordinary farm equipment. Bentonite makes an
excellent liner for new pond construction, for
sealing existing ponds with seepages or for spot
treating specific problem areas. When sealing a
leaking pond to prevent seepage, bentonite can be
applied directly to the soil in the pond bottom or
it can be sprinkled on the surface of the water and
allowed to settle to the bottom. There are three
basic application methods: The Blanket Method, the
Mixed Blanket Method and the Sprinkle Method.
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BLANKET METHOD
The blanket method can be used in new
pond construction as well as in existing
ponds that can be drained. This is usually
the most effective method to control water
loss. However, more care is required during
the application process. |
MIXED BLANKET METHOD
The mixed blanket method can also be
used in new pond construction and existing
ponds that can be drained. It may be less
effective than the blanket method due to
uneven mixing, but increased amount of
bentonite and/or thorough mixing can
minimize this possibility, |
SPRINKLE METHOD
The sprinkle method is recommended only
when it is not feasible to drain the
existing pond, or in cases of isolated leaks
when spot treatment may be a possible
alternative. |
Soil type and
pond size are key factors in determining the amount
of bentonite required for sealing. Normally coarse
soils require more bentonite. If you know the size
of your pond and the type of soil you have, the
chart below can help you estimate the amount of
bentonite you would need to seal your pond. The
chart is based on water depths of up to eight feet.
Since greater water depths increase the pressure on
the bottom of the pond, increase the application
rate by one pound per square foot for water depths
from eight to twenty feet and for areas subject to
wave action. It is always recommended to perform a
soil test yourself or contact your local soil
conservation service.
Soil Type
Clay
Sandy Silt
Silty Sand
Clean Sand
Rock or Gravel |
Lbs. Per ft²
1.0 - 1.5
2.0 - 2.5
2.5 - 3.0
3.5 - 4.0
4.0 - 5.0 |
Permeability
of Pond Sealer is 1.9 x 10 -9
cm/sec.
Pond Sealer is
available in 50lb. polyethylene bags; 3,000 lb. bulk
bags; and bulk loads.
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