# 12 Fixing a leaking pond. Using Damit Brand Pond Sealant

[@Shikaari1]

I have 3 acres pond. I couldn’t find any leaks but seems like there is a leak. The hot summers and no rains have not helped. I spread 4 pales in the water and one pale on the edge. I used an aluminum Jon boat. I had to power wash it to get the gel off. The clothes had to be thrown out. Rain is in the forecast next week. Let’s see what happens.

[@billburkhart]

Good luck with a very frustrating process. Keep me posted on your success -Bill

[@billburkhart]

Good luck with the project. Stay patient and keep me posted on your progress.-Bill

[@realairplane261]

Just think of all the living things in the pond and now they cannot survive. Why have a pond ifmit has no beneficial value to nature and wildlife.

[@billburkhart]

@@realairplane261 I happy to report We didn't loose any fish or wildlife. The pond continues to provide water for many critters including deer, ducks, and fish.

[@realairplane261]

Bill, I assumed that fish etc would not live since you had to throw out your cloths and pressure wash the boat. Thanks!

[@vickieayres3879]

I think it’s good information. I won’t waste my money. Thank you.

[@billburkhart]

Your welcome, the product wasn't right for my project. The pond has been repaired and that video is coming soon. Thanks for saying hello.

[@strawberryplains5029]

Followed this just to see the end result. Came out beautiful. Sorry about your leak. We have a one and half acre pond naturally fed by 3 springs and it was interesting watching you clear up the banks and make them extremely beautiful. Good luck and I'll watch for your next video Mr. Burkhart!

[@billburkhart]

Happy Saturday and thank you for writing. I was recently told owning a pond is more work than owning a pool and I'm staring to believe that. I hope your having less problems with your pond than I am..... 1 1/2 acre pond sounds like a nice size. The clay arrived last week, and the excavator is coming in early August. Can't wait to get started. Thanks again for watching. - Bill

[@Z71Ranger]

I know a guy that sealed a leaking pond with grass clippings... He bagged his lawn each week and added the clippings to surface of the pond each week by the end of the summer his pond no longer leaked...

[@randyweaver9528]

Wood chips will do the same thing. Get them damp by soaking in buckets first and dump them in.

[@robbyrobinson4500]

I've watched multiple videos where Damnit did not work, in fact haven't found one that did work.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Robbie. I agree with your experience. These leaks are too complicated for a pour in powder to work. Thanks for saying hello.-Bill

[@rodrigoaboyle8215]

Did you add bentonite at all? Ive used the damit product on a dam repair job and it worked great, but I also put bentonite down, installed a concrete plug to cap off the compromised spillway, and also pressure pumped bentonite into the earthen side of the dam. I had my divers check the inside and the bentonite we were pumping on the outside was making its way through all kinds of holes we didn't find the first time. Finished off with a bentonite cap and the damit product. Never leaked again.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Rodrigo. No product that I purchased worked to stop the leaks on the pond until I excavated the dam wall dike and put good quality clay back into the dam. Sounds like you had good luck with your very involved process. Congratulations. My pond hasn’t leaked now since I made the last video, I wish I had bought a few more load of the good clay I found ….just to have on hand. Thanks for taking time to share your projects success. -Bill

[@darciefromnv2md]

Pressure washer?

[@rrw65]

Tree roots are a farm pond's biggest enemy. I shouldn't have trapped the beaver, last spring. It had clogged up the leak in my 2 ac pond, but now, it is running through and eroded 5 ft of back of dam, after previous flood in SC in 2015 and this months, 5 in of rain. Roots are hell on earthen dam.

[@billburkhart]

I agree with your comments about the roots. I hope to get 10 years out of the pond and then it'll be time for a smaller home with no maintenance.

[@patrickhennessey5221]

Hi Bill I have seen othe videos where they used the same products you used ,and they did work but taking an educated guess the leaks were a shallow depth. From memory you dug down 14 feet then added clay and compacted.. From what you showed on your video it's still leaking from where you put in the overflow pipe ? I really hope you can fix it on your next attempt it's such a beautiful pond. Cheers Patrick.

[@billburkhart]

Patrick, thanks for taking time to comment and say hello I appreciate it. I’ve got another small leak that seems to be shallow in nature, so I’m going to try some bentonite and see if that will stop the leak. Take care-Bill

[@lauralynnedyer]

Did you redo the dam and the pipe? I hope it worked this time. I have a 3 acre lake that was built in the '60's. They installed a corrugated metal draw down pipe. My dam is leaking all around the pipe and the pipe has rusted out. Then a beaver answered my prayer a couple of years ago and built a dam around the pipe. It actually worked for a while. I had high hopes for this product as a solution.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Laura Lynne, I sure enjoyed your story about the beaver, sorry but I cannot recommend that product at all. I did speak with the pond contractor and hope we can start the repairs as soon as winter ends. Thanks so much for commenting and saying hello.

[@rebeccawolthuis985]

The company suggests that you need to remove as much organic matter as possible in the pond. I noticed that you had a LOT of leaves at the bottom of the water. Seems to me like that would significantly reduce the effectiveness of the DAMIT, possibly the reason it didn't work so well for you.

[@billburkhart]

That’s a fair observation. Thank you for making everyone aware of that. Be safe and healthy.

[@zigavojska1672]

Sepp Holzer from Austria makes ponds with a buldozer going in the water and hitting the floor with the arm. he says that the pond holds water then.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Ziga how very interesting, I’d like to see that process. Stay healthy

[@robertodebeers2551]

Is the leak following rocks to escape? Thanks for a great video.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Roberto, the leak was in the dike, video #112 shows how it was repaired. After going down 16 feet and installing good quality clay, the leak stopped. I never saw a specific reason or point of failure I can refer to. Thanks for asking. Hope you had a safe 4th of July. - Bill

[@fish_hunt_trap_outdoorsore7201]

You need to rake the leaves and use a few 100 pounds of bentonite clay.

[@billburkhart]

Hello and thanks for taking time to share your ideas. The pond leak was repaired about 90 days ago and I'll have a update coming out soon, so happy to bring this project to an end. Have a great weekend. - Bill

[@fish_hunt_trap_outdoorsore7201]

Bill Burkhart ok glad to hear that!

[@PatrickOoy]

Anyone ever heard of using gypsum boards to cover the area of a potential leak in a pond? Anyone tried?

[@markpaterson6024]

I feel your pain regarding the leaks. I also have a small dam/pond that leaks like a sieve :-( It was completely dry last summer but I had no time to dig and reseal it with clay or add a liner. One thing I will do when the time comes is not add an over flow pipe through into the pond, in my opinion that just adds a high potential leak spot. You would be better off removing the pipe and just add a lower surface drain on the bank, of course it will need to be stabilised with gravel and rocks to stop erosion but it's the simplest hassle free way to control over flow of a full dam/pond.

[@billburkhart]

Thanks Mark, I agree the new exit overflow pipe is contributing to the leak, I can't wait until summer when I can get back at this project. Thanks for commenting.

[@randyweaver9528]

They call them runarounds. Installed to keep the dam from overtopping if the spillways can’t get rid of water fast enough.

[@steve110klx]

So did this product work? I am thinking about ordering some

[@billburkhart]

Hello Steve, The product did not work for me after several months I discovered the problem was much deeper than I originally thought. Thinking the leak was within the first 4 feet of deepthis product. At the end of this project I found the leak to be 16 feet down.

[@billburkhart]

I am sorry I sent my reply to soon. I found my leak to be 16 feet down so the product was never gonna work. This is an expensive product and I would be hard-pressed to recommend it. It was a very good company to work with but at the end of the day I found a qualified contractor and we fix the leak correctly. Good luck with your project.

[@billburkhart]

If you have time watch video 112 it will bring this project to conclusion

[@robertodebeers2551]

Have you tried bentonite clay as a sealer??

[@billburkhart]

Hello Roberto, I did try some bentonite Clay in small quantities. Unfortunately it didn’t work. After finding a qualified contractor the final video will show you how we dug down well past the water level and found the leak and made all corrections so far it’s been holding water very well

[@gjg1281]

Ever consider a nice pond liner?

[@billburkhart]

I have Greg, but I'm going to take one more swipe at repairs this spring and then I'm going to seriously look at a liner. The pond is too nice to let silt back in. Thanks for saying hello.

[@melissajeffries531]

@@billburkhart where did you buy sealer from?

[@billburkhart]

Hello Chris, happy spring. I purchased it direct from the mfg in Australia. They have their own web site. Just Google the product name and you'll find the company. Good luck with your project.

[@mikeschatz9153]

It’s the tree roots on the back side of the dam . You never want trees behind your pond

[@billburkhart]

Hello Mike, I'm afraid you may correct. When we dig a cut through the dike longways this summer I'll learn a lot. Thanks for commenting.

[@Mistyspaces]

I was just actually about to say the same thing but decided to read and make sure no one else thought to mention the tree roots but i see that you Mike Schatz actually hit the nail right on the head! great work bud!

[@billburkhart]

Hello Misty, I'm hoping we find otherwise, but believe your may be correct.

[@rajusunny3666]

Is it available in India? How much u need for a pond measuring 50 ft width , 60ft length and 18 ft depth? How long is this going to last? Do we need to reapply? Cost of the product

[@billburkhart]

Hello Raju, you'll have to contact the mfg, but I cannot recommend the product. Search for damit brand pond sealer.

[@okrambo]

trees are not good for embankment ... also best remove all the bottom leaves and muck..will never stop leaks unless bottom clean up..it will only cover the muck ,...not bond with bottom clay.. just went threw this a year ago.. best drain pond..and clean up start again .. that what i did.. did it all myself with tractor .. 1/2 acre pond.. 15 ft deep at deepest point..

[@billburkhart]

Hello Jess, what size tractor did you use? I'm considering your suggestions very seriously. I'm working on getting a temporary easement from my neighbor to bring in larger equipment.

[@randyweaver9528]

Bill Burkhart for that size pond you could use a 30 to 40 horsepower tractor with a box blade. Drain the pond, let it dry, set the box blade angle so it picks up dirt. Clean the bottom or deepen it if you want. Get some bentonite or kaolin and spread it according to the recommendations. Lightly disc in in and let the pond fill back up.

[@okrambo]

@@billburkhart 3032 deer,,

[@alacy777]

You saved me some money. I suspected those products to be a waste.

[@billburkhart]

Thank you for your comments, glad you saved some money, I was very disappointing with the products and results.

[@mikethompson5555]

I to think it’s leaking at the pipe. Did the exit pipe get property sealed to the elbow? I would cap both ends to that pipe ,,, add a air gage and see if it holds air before you tier it up.

[@t00ls742]

wood ash and catfish will seal that up the reason its leaking is because you disturbed the muck on the pond side

[@billburkhart]

Thanks Chris, do you have a video or other source to show me how to mix the two ingredients together?

[@johndeno562]

Seems like it's leaking along the pipe. I'm not an excavator but I've worked on plenty of field tile

[@billburkhart]

Hi John, I agree, I think it's following that former water leak path. I think the leak is going to continue to scour the path larger and make the origin easier to find by August. Then, I'd like to start digging at the leak and work backwards to the pond and see what happens.Thanks for your comments.

[@johndeno562]

Bill Burkhart should have put about 30% of the powder product around the pipe and waited to see if you are right.

[@billburkhart]

You know that's not a bad idea, the bucket was a little over $100. I may just do that. I'll pour the entire bucket near that pipe. Stay tuned.

[@johndeno562]

Bill Burkhart cheaper and less invasive. Worth a try nothing to loose?

[@johndeno562]

Could try some pond dye or muddy the water around the pipe and watch the leak on the other side to see if it changes color or comes out muddy.

[@tylerpayne9242]

Do you mow all of that or weed eat it

[@billburkhart]

Hello Tyler, I mow it and trim the pond edge with a weeded trimmer. I use a JD X 758 4 WD and it works very well. I can mow the pond bank down to within 6 inches of the water edge. Thanks for the question.

[@tylerpayne9242]

Bill Burkhart thanks for answering

[@markrobertson2363]

How could you expect this product to work, if you didn't have your pond full first of all?The product will only be at the lower levels.

[@billburkhart]

The company advertised the product would work on a leaking pond, block the leak and that would result in a higher water level. We found a large hole and plan on making repairs here this fall. Thanks for taking time to comment.

[@billburkhart]

The mgf advertised the product would block running or leaking water, resulting in higher water levels. Just last week we have found the source of the leak and plan on making permanent repairs this fall. Thanks for taking time to comment.

[@traderfjp]

Great video. I'm battling a leaky pond too. Did you try damit and soilfloc. If so is one more economical then the other? Is your pond still holding after the repair?

[@billburkhart]

Happy Sunday, I did use both products you referred to however neither one worked. In all fairness you should watch the video 112 that shows the root cause of the pond leaking. After making those corrections it’s been about a year now and the pond continues to hold water very well. The leak was about 16 feet down, and those porion products just aren’t designed for that kind of leak stoppage

[@redpillrobo7]

add cement problem fix

[@billburkhart]

Not a bad idea!

[@buildingadream9861]

Only 2 inches lower then where drain is

[@billburkhart]

Hello Jesse Hills, the leak got much worse and this is the year I get a contractor with more pond repair experience to repair it once and for all.....I hope. Thanks for commenting.

[@buildingadream9861]

What they do to fix it for final time how's it holding? It fill?

[@buildingadream9861]

Nice. Im fixing my pond was leaking. I'm in middle of re sealing it with clay now. How thick of clay layer is recommended?

[@buildingadream9861]

Mix in clay with top soil?

[@roycegaida5300]

Just saw your Sept 22,19 video. Would you still recommend Dam-it product?

[@billburkhart]

Based on my experience, no. I believe I had a hole somewhere in the pond and it was not effective, maybe if you had seepage it would work. Please do your own investigating before making a decision to purchase or not.

[@roycegaida5300]

@@billburkhart I cleaned out silt from old dirt tanks at the family ranch with a skid loader, they all seeped after filling back up and wondering if Dam It would help slow or stop seeping. Family says they always seeped, so I don't think I missed them up. I'd like to stop tanks from seeping though. Water pretty scarce in our area.

[@billburkhart]

@@roycegaida5300 Good luck Royce.

[@CynicalSubject]

@@billburkhart Sodium Bentonite?

[@CynicalSubject]

@@roycegaida5300 Sodium Bentonite is used to seal landfils.

[@garypower9024]

I admire your attention to detail Bill. To quote my Dad, if it's worth doing, its worth doing the right way. You plan and execute your projects so well and analyze so well, that is so awesome to see. To quote my Dad again, no half ass jobs here 👍☺

[@realairplane261]

I would never put anything like this in my water.

[@billburkhart]

I wouldn't either going forward.

[@mlpwoiuejsjewelsh788]

Damit pond sealer is just a temporary fix!! I definitely wouldn’t suggest this product The company does not stand behind their product! They won’t make things right

[@billburkhart]

I was equally disappointed.

[@Z71Ranger]

Looks like the same junk as the other video...

[@alexfehlberg1065]

Stop fucking around and start digging. Do it properly. Those products are like head gasket products. Will only work for a little while.

[@billburkhart]

Hello Alex, happy Saturday. I couldn't have said it better. The clay is here and the excavator is coming in about 2 weeks.

[@andyalford3548]

Would have appreciated that you mention at the beginning of the video that it didn't work. Another 13 minutes of my life gone.

[@billburkhart]

Morning Andy, the fix to the bucket did work, I’ve been using mine now for a long tie and very happy with the fix.