Leaking pond

[Drycreek]

I guess this belongs in this sub-forum as much as anywhere else.

I have a small pond on the place where I live, about 1 1/2 acres maybe a little less. It's over 20 years old and has leaked its entire life. It's somewhat embarrassing to me because I built it. I've built more ponds in my life than I can remember, and as far as I know, this is the only one that's leaked. This includes mudholes up to 20 acre lakes, as I've either been a dozer operator, a foreman, or a contractor most all my life.

Poor soils is the culprit, and since there was no money in it for me, only expense, I took the chance. It has been dry, or nearly dry, three or four times. The last couple years I've noticed the leak slowing down so my son volunteered to help me put some bentonite in it. Today we did it, well he and his buddy did it. All I did was carry the 2,000 lb. of bentonite down there with my tractor and offer unsolicited advice Those 100 lb. sacks were about wice what I wanted to lift ! It sucks getting old

They put it out in a 12' boat and tried their best to get it where it needs to be. From this winter's rains, it's about 6" from running out the spillway, so I figure with that much hydrostatic head, the bentonite will find its way to the seep. Wish me luck !

 

[cutman]

View attachment 15149
I guess this belongs in this sub-forum as much as anywhere else.

I have a small pond on the place where I live, about 1 1/2 acres maybe a little less. It's over 20 years old and has leaked its entire life. It's somewhat embarrassing to me because I built it. I've built more ponds in my life than I can remember, and as far as I know, this is the only one that's leaked. This includes mudholes up to 20 acre lakes, as I've either been a dozer operator, a foreman, or a contractor most all my life.

Poor soils is the culprit, and since there was no money in it for me, only expense, I took the chance. It has been dry, or nearly dry, three or four times. The last couple years I've noticed the leak slowing down so my son volunteered to help me put some bentonite in it. Today we did it, well he and his buddy did it. All I did was carry the 2,000 lb. of bentonite down there with my tractor and offer unsolicited advice Those 100 lb. sacks were about wice what I wanted to lift ! It sucks getting old

They put it out in a 12' boat and tried their best to get it where it needs to be. From this winter's rains, it's about 6" from running out the spillway, so I figure with that much hydrostatic head, the bentonite will find its way to the seep. Wish me luck !

Good luck! Where did you get that much bentonite?

 

[Drycreek]

Good luck! Where did you get that much bentonite?

East Texas has multiple sources for bentonite since we have lots of oilfield supply stores. Not as many as we used to but enough. I started to get a whole pallet but I'm glad I didn't now. Two thousand pounds was all my Kubota 6040 wanted with nothing on the back of it for counterweight !