Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions Does Cat Litter Really Work?

Hey everyone, new member here, names Mark. Great to be here, looking forward to learning from the experts".

I have a small pond, approx 150 sq ft with sandy soil in SC piedmont. I'd like to try the cat litter idea. I figure 3# per sf or 450#.

Anyone tried this and does it work for real? Which application would work best, disc it in at 4" or spread over soil and rake?

This would be a great test case for it and I'd be glad to keep everyone up to date with pictures if I can learn to post.

Any thoughts, questions, comments are appreciated.

MG

Mark,

Welcome to Pond Boss.

I assume you want to use kitty litter to seal the sand from leaking. Is the sand now holding water, and how does the water get into the pond? For instance, is it water-table water, well water, or from rain runoff, etc.?

Also, do you really mean 150 square feet (12.25' x 12.25') or do you mean 150 feet square (150' x 150' -- approx 1/2 acre)?

With a little more info, we should be able to get you some decent answers.

Regards,
Ken

Thanks for the welcome!

Water comes from runoff only. Probably a 1 to 2 acre area total, some wooded, some mowed area. It does hold water now but doesn't stay for very long. Don't know what the inch loss is for percolation but could obtain. I'm know some evaporates as well. It gets late morning through early afternoon sun.

I made a mistake on surface area. The pond is probably max at 25ft square or 625 sq ft. Sorry.

Thanks! MG

Catmandoo,

We had a gent with that same name in the old SC DNR forum. Didn't know if you were one in the same?

M

I have never heard of the kitty litter trick, let me know how it works, Good to meet you!

What are your other plans for the dam?

Disc it in throughout the entire pool area and a bit above full pool, then use a jumpng jack to compact it like a rock once it is moistened well (not too wet)... it should seal great.


Welcome aboard!


EDIT...Be sure the kitty litter is unscented and made from sodium bentonite.

We've considered bentonite or maybe a 20mil plus liner under 4 to 6" of soil. Haven't looked much into clay but I'm sure it wouldn't be a huge issue. This isn't a huge priority where I'm at but would be nice to have it full most of the time.

Our area has been in a drought situation so I can't expect much. Once the runoff from our camp and front deck is routed to the pond, it should help with volume of water.

With a pond that size, you could get a 45 mil EPDM pond liner delivered for about a $1000. It needs to be EPDM for pond use -- not roof use, because of the chemical makeup. The EPDM should last quite a few years.

Here is a typical example of the type of liner I'm talking about:

Firestone 45 mil EPDM Liner

Don't waste your money on PVC liners. They have a lifetime of only a few years before they breakdown from sunlight near the top edges. Also, critters such as deer will puncture it if they walk into the pond.

Good luck,
Ken

I'm close to appyling "Special Kitty" to a frog pond, but tornadoes, running in power service, and contracting to build a cabin keeps getting in the way.

Back in '09 when I was having my well put in I compared the bentonite that my driller used to seal the top with Walmart's(Scottsboro, AL) 'Special Kitty' litter using 3 tall 5gal plastic buckets with lots of 1/4" holes in the bottom.
Unpacked:
B1; 6" fine silty sand; water drained right thru it in about 20min
B2; 2" gravel in the bottom, 4" 50/50 mix unpacked bentonite & silty sand; water begin draining out the bottom but then slowed, a 2nd fill and water dropped 7" in 24hrs (appearred to leak along plastic edges more than thru soil)
B3; 2" gravel in bottom, 4" 50/50 mix Sp.Kitty & silty sand; similiar results to bucket2 (note; 1st trail there was a difference, but subsequent trails varied with similiar average results)
Packed:
B1; 6" fine silty sand, too gooey to effectively pack but effort made; water drained in 3hrs 30min
B2; 2" gravel in bottom, 4" 50/50 mix bentonite; 3/4" drop 1st day, 1/4" drop 2nd day (evaporation?)
B3; no significant difference to B2

For me, Walmart kitty litter costs the same as bentonite delivered and is more convenient. The Scottsboro folks are pretty laid back, plus Walmart is all about sales. I think I can arrange to pull a pickup truck around back and they'll happily forklift load a pallet.

Seems a viable alternative if you live out away from Wyoming or their distributors.