Chris Hogg wrote:
Pat wrote:

I am making a new pond and thinking of using bentonite to seal it. Was
wondering if anyone here could give some advice from direct
experience. The soil at the bottom of this pond is heavy clay so I am
guessing I won't need a whole lot of the bentonite.

I'd like to know exactly what one does with the stuff when applying
it. Do you just spread it out dry, or do you make it into a paste to
apply it? If you spread it dry, what keeps it from falling down the
sloping sides of the pond into the bottom?

Google for bentonite clay pond liner. Lots of references. The
following link suggests 'For the discreet compacted clay liner, 4-8
inches of the product is compacted over the area of the pond prior to
filling'.http://tinyurl.com/399wb32

I've always assumed it's thickly applied as a heavy plastic paste and
beaten or rammed down to ensure a good seal between adjacent lumps of
clay. A lot of work, and lorry-loads of bentonite I would think,
depending on the size of your pond.

--

I did the google thing prior to sending the OP, but couldn't find any
info on whether or not to wet the bentonite before applying to the
lining of the pond.

As to lorry-loads, a local feed supply store sells bentonite by the
#50 sack, thus I was assuming a little goes a long way?