Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Underwater Epoxy for Concrete Spillway Repair

Anyone have any experience using Splash Zone Epoxy, # A-788, made by Pettit? Also a good underwater bentonite for packing the area before using the 2 part, Splash Zone Epoxy, as the final layer. Have an application on a concrete spillway at 30' submerged depth. Discovery & repair will require diver. Small repair area, size of a baseball.

I have consulted with Tech Service at 3M, Sika, they have nothing available to meet our requirements.

Thanks, Mike

We used Euclid Epoxy to repair a floating 4 lane highway. We injected the cracks from the inside and had a diver outside with Sika hydraulic cement to stop any bleed through.

I am familiar with Euclid products; I will research their Aquaseal epoxy offerings.

The 4 that I have researched and may fit our scope of work: Splash Zone Epoxy # A-788, System 3 Epoxy, Scubapoxy # 1725, Euclid Aquaseal MV

MH

You guys are both more expert than I am, so just throwing out a "belt and suspenders" idea.

If you already have a diver working, could you also add a piece of pond liner?

I am just imagining a 2x2' piece of pond liner to be installed after completing the cement repairs. Apply mastic and place liner. Drill four holes and then install stainless steel masonry anchors with large washers.

If your cement starts to leak again in a few years, the pond liner may stop or minimize the leak. The water pressure at depth would even work to your advantage, pressing the liner down.

Good luck on your repair!

FishinRod, you are thinking correctly. My initial thought, TBD upon diver discovery, is a packing material, possibly a bentonite product, then a 2 part epoxy, lastly a cover plate of some type as you describe.

A belt, suspenders, AND some safety pins connecting the pants to the shirt.

I like your plan!

I hope you achieve a permanent seal.

I'm curious. Why not use hydraulic cement instead of bentonite? Is bentonite easier to apply?

Good question Retired on 40, cool name as well. I was originally thinking bentonite chips or plugs may be easier to work with at our 30' underwater depth. After further research, I am now leaning towards a hydraulic cement. If anyone can recommend a hydraulic cement product that fits this specific application, please let me know.

We have no emergency but with this repair we only get one bite of the apple. Looking for a long term solution versus low cost and the repair not lasting.

MH

Have scheduled our initial in person meeting with commercial divers this Friday. Their home lake is Tims Ford Reservoir (Tennessee) Communication the past month has been excellent.

MH

My old man worked offshore for years and he swears by splash zone. He says they'd even use it on oil pipelines.

I've only used it on boats and the like, but it's been rock solid.

Thanks Rib3! based on my research and phone call with Pettit tech service, Splash Zone is my choice at this point...Pettit won't sell direct but has plenty of US distribution.

Tims Ford Lake had a drowning last Sunday, 58 year old fisherman. The divers we are working with handled the recovery.

My dad was a diver, actually. He mostly worked in the Gulf but also Canada, Norway, Africa---aqueducts, reservoirs, even nuclear power plants.

Me, I used it on a couple jon boats. Not one rivet or crack has leaked since! Heh.

Oh, yeah, he did at least one recovery of bodies. A ferry capsized near New Orleans. Not sure if it was Algiers or Belle Chase or what but they pulled up a hundred or so bodies. AFAIK splash zone was not involved.

ETA: this would have been in the 70s or early '80s.