Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Renovating a Pond or Lake? Draining and Lining 4 year old pond

As you may know my pond leaks and has since it was built in 2005. I have tried various things to fix it but nothing has worked. It is 2.14 acres and despite an above average rainfall year it is down 38" to date. At the end of June it was full.

A contractor is proposing to drain it and mix bentonite in with new clay via a rototiller type device and compact the bottom with a sheeps foot roller. I have spent a lot of money trying to solve the leak problem with no results so far. Two different contractors have suggestted relining the pond but the latest guy says he did the bentonite liner on a 9 ac. pond and it worked.

Does anybody here have experience with this type of procedure. It is my last alternative.

If you plan on tilling/discing in the Bentonite, and you cover the entire flooded area, it should work. You may want to have some sprinklers handy to provide optimum moisture levels for compacting and to keep the entire area damp till full-pool is regained.

Thanks Rainman. So you think this should seal a pond? This is a last resort. I dont know what else i could possibly do.

Otto or Mongo can tell you the best thickness to use for the best possible outcome, but yes, bentonite used/applied properly works.