A Proven Natural Solution for Farm Ponds, Lakes, Reservoirs & Water Containment Projects
Reduce water seepage naturally with premium sodium bentonite trusted by ranchers, contractors, municipalities, and industrial projects across North America.
Sodium bentonite is one of the most widely used natural pond sealers for reducing seepage in earthen water containment systems.
This product is ideal for:
If your pond loses water because of porous or permeable soils, sodium bentonite can provide a cost-effective alternative to synthetic liners for many projects.
Sodium bentonite works by absorbing water and expanding, allowing it to fill tiny pores and pathways in properly prepared soils. As it hydrates, it creates a dense, low-permeability layer that helps reduce water seepage.
Unlike synthetic liners that sit on top of the ground, sodium bentonite becomes part of the soil itself, creating a natural clay barrier that blends with the pond bottom.
Step 1 – Bentonite absorbs water
When exposed to moisture, sodium bentonite begins to hydrate and swell.
Step 2 – The clay expands
The expanding clay fills small voids and spaces between soil particles.
Step 3 – A natural seal forms
After proper compaction and hydration, the treated soil becomes much more resistant to water seepage.
The effectiveness of the seal depends on proper soil preparation, the recommended application rate, and the installation method used.
Every pond is different.
The amount of sodium bentonite required depends on:
✔ Pond dimensions
✔ Average depth
✔ Soil type
✔ Application method
✔ Desired seepage reduction
Our free calculator provides an estimate based on your project dimensions.
Our technical team can review your project and recommend:
Estimated material quantity
Recommended application rate
Packaging options
Delivered pricing
| Type Of Soil | Bentonite required |
|---|---|
| Rock or Gravel | 5 lbs per sqft |
| Sand Soil | 4 lbs per sqft |
| Silt Soil | 3 lbs per sqft |
| Clay Soil | 2 lbs per sqft |
Not every pond repair can be completed with a simple material application.
For larger projects, difficult soil conditions, or ponds requiring excavation, Lonestar also provides complete pond repair and construction services.
Our team can assist with:
✔ Pond restoration
✔ New pond construction
✔ Heavy equipment
✔ Material supply
✔ Turnkey installation
While there are three main primary techniques available for applying sodium bentonite pond sealant, there are several factors you need to consider before selecting a proper application method.
The pond’s current state, along with the depth and dimensions of the pond and the soil quality, is of paramount importance when deciding on the application of the sealer to the pond.
This method is by far the most effective and popular method for bentonite pond sealant application.
First, any debris such as dead vegetation, including roots, logs, moss, trees, rocks, and other undesirable material must be removed in this method.
In the second step, all surface gaps, holes, or crevices must be filled with a mixture of 1 part of bentonite and five parts of soil (depending on the ground and using the reference table below on our Helpful Tools & Recommendations section.
This method is to completely cover all holes and gaps that are found at the surface.
A layer of bentonite pond leak sealer will be applied in the next step, spreading it to create a nice evenly blanket along the entire surface.
Once the bentonite has been applied on top of the surface, it is required to till it in or disk it in, just about 3 ~ 4 inches into the ground and compact. (Remember: Prevent bentonite from going into deep, because the more profound the product is in the soil, the more the bentonite is diluted.)
After you have compacted the bentonite, and if possible, you can spray water, wet the treated ground, and compact again.
The pond is now ready to be filled with water. Care should be taken in maintaining smooth and steady water flow in the pond so that soil or bentonite layers are not disturbed.
The goal of this method is to have a very soft and even pond bottom.
As mentioned in the previous method, the mixed blanket method also begins with cleaning up all debris at the bottom and along the entire bed and then fill the holes.
The crucial move in this approach is to till the surface-go deeper in the process between 3 and 4 inches.
The purpose is to make the surface smooth and consistent by dragging the soil all along the waterbed.
Then apply a layer of Bentonite-soil mixture accordingly with the recommended ratio of bentonite per sqft area, cover it with 4 inches of soil, and compact. The final layer must be thicker if your livestock is going to have access to the pond.
Do you want to minimize water leakage in your lagoon or pond? Do you want to avoid the drainage of a water tank? Sodium bentonite sprinkle method of applying and treating your pond liner to plug water drains.
This application method is used when a pond cannot be drained, either because of its size or for some other reason. When leaks have isolated, this approach can also be used. The process is less successful than the two previous methods, as there is no removal of trees, roots, and vegetation from the pond. And this method is not as accurate when sprinkled above water (could be a hit and miss).
In all application methods, it is important to notice that it may take a few days for the seepage to stop entirely because this is the time bentonite takes to hydrate to its fullest capacity and form a solid lining at the bottom. However, it is critical to know this for superior results: the required amount of sodium bentonite per square foot must be applied based on your soil type.
We can supply Bentonite Pond Sealer in different packing sizes to meet your needs.
Order it by the full truckload (FTL) on pallets, super sacks, bulk, pneumatic trailer, or less than a full truckload (LTL) and by the pallet or super sack.
50 lbs
Sodium Bentonite Plastic Bucket
Description
Packing Information: 50 lb plastic bucket
Weight: 50 lbs.
Dimensions: 5 Gallon Bucket
Buckets per Pallet: 30 buckets
Buckets per full truckload: 540 – 18 pallets
50 lbs
Sodium Bentonite Bags
Description
Packing Information: 50 lb bags
Weight: 50 lbs
Dimensions: 18″ x 14″ x 4″
Bags per Pallet: 50
Bags per Full Truck Load: 900 – 18 pallets
100 lbs
Sodium Bentonite Bags
Description
Packing Information: 100 lb bags
Weight: 100 lbs
Dimensions: 25″ x 18″ x 4″
Bags per Pallet: 25
Bags per Full Truck Load: 450
3000 lbs
Bentonite Super Sack
Description
Packing Information: Super Sack (no pallet)
Weight: 3,000 lbs each
Dimensions: 48″ X 48″ X 63″
Full truckload weight: 45,000 lbs.
Bags per full truckload: 15
Full Truckload of
100 Lbs Bags Pallet
Description
Packing Information: 100 lbs bags
Weight: 2,500 lbs (25/100 lb bags)
Dimensions: 48″ X 48″ X 63″
Full truckload weight: 45,000 lbs (45/100 lb bags)
Pallets per full truckload: 18
Full Truckload of
3000 Lbs Super Sack
Description
Packing Information: Super Sack (without pallet)
Weight: 3,000 lbs each
Dimensions: 48″ X 48″ X 63″
Full truckload weight: 45,000 lbs.
Bags per full truckload: 15
How much sodium bentonite I needed to seal a pond?
Below you will find a small reference table depending on the type of soil and based on a maximum 8 ft depth. If the pond is deeper, you’ll have to add more bentonite per square foot.
You can also visit our online Bentonite Calculator for a quick reference calculation.
Soil condition → Pond sealant amount per square foot
Rock or gravel → 3.0 to 3.5 lbs / sq ft
Clean Sand → 2.5 to 3.5 lbs /sq ft
Silty Sand → 2.0 to 2.5 lbs / sq ft
Sandy Silt 20% Clay Min → 1.5 to 2.0 lbs / sq ft
Clay Soil → 1.0 to 1.5 lbs / sq ft
How is the bentonite pond liner delivered?
We offer bentonite pond sealant by the full truckload, less than a truckload, by the pallet, bag, or by the ton.
We offer our products delivered at any of our warehouses. (Inventory always available). Our main warehouse is in Laredo, TX. We have a secondary warehouse in Wyoming, where sodium bentonite is mined. We also have warehouses in Eagle Pass and Bulverde, TX (11 miles north of San Antonio, TX.)
We can coordinate logistics delivery nationwide at a very competitive rate. We can ship directly from our Wyoming mines depending on your location and the logistics cost. We can coordinate delivery from LTL – less than a full truckload order to an FTL full truckload order. Contact Us to get a landed price quote.
Our headquarters office is in San Antonio, TX.
What happens after the bentonite is delivered? How to unload your order, equipment needed and weight of the bentonite.
Please consider that you’ll need equipment to unload 3,000 lbs super sacks or 2,500 lbs pallet from a flatbed truck. These super sacks have straps on top to grab with your tractor, excavator, front loader, bobcat, or forklift. and you can unload from the eighteen-wheeler flatbed truck.
Most of the time, the super sacks do not have wooden pallets underneath; if you require pallets, please call and request on your order (cost per pallet will be added to your order).
All our super sacks come with a very efficient discharge valve. The location of the discharge valve is underneath the super sack, for effortless pouring. To efficiently release the pond sealant, you must pick up the bag and untie the valve to start pouring the liner on top of your soil.
Do you offer a pond repair service?
Yes! Besides offering bentonite clay for ponds we also provide a complete service to repair your pond. With our turnkey service, we supply the minerals, equipment, experience, and workforce to make sure your pond is fully repaired, from draining it to filling it again.
We also design and construct new ponds. If you have an idea in mind, get a quote with us.
What are the physical specifications of our different mesh size particles of our line of products?
We offer a particular milled clay product for pond sealer that is a mix mesh powder granular product from fine 200 mesh powder to a 40-mesh mix.
This pond sealer is by far the best product for this application.
If you were to use a granular bigger particle size chips, you would need twice or three times as much to perform as good. (Please see the picture of our product so you can have a better idea of our product) to give you an idea, if you hold our product in your hand, it will feel like you were holding beach sand.
