Pond liners ???

[edlegault]

Years ago my dad dug and built a pond. Lined it with some sort of clay with sand/gravel on top to waterproof the bottom/sides.

Does anyone here have any experience in using "pond liners" that are commercially available? to be used when clay isn't available, or practical. They come in some kind of plastics or pvc and can be buried under a layer of sand.

 

[Fossil Farm]

Many manure pits/ponds are designed using liners. Most are installed professionally since the seams are "welded" to maintain the water tight seal. Depends on how big of a pond you are wanting and the types of soils you are dealing with. Bentonite is the clay your dad used. It expands many times its size when it is wet. It is usually incorporated into the existing soils by a disc or sheepsfoot roller to get a good effect. May want to check with a local pond excavator or your local Soil and Water Conservation District to see if they have some contact information on liners if they are used in your area. Good luck.

 

[jinman]

In my opinion, the PVC liners are not practical for a farm pond. A very large pond could easily cost $60k to $100k depending on size. I'm stating this on memory, so if someone knows my data is incorrect, please correct me. My numbers reflect total cost with underlayment materials and installation. The materials are about $1 per square foot.