Ideas for pond surface/lining

[tanny]

Ok in the field (middle of nowhere actually) we have prepared the hole for a large pond for water retention and fish, but the price of rubber liners has gone crazy here meaning a cheap liner will be circa 2-3,000 euros. Does anyone have any ideas of a different product or surfacing that can be used please.
TIA
We are in Cyprus, so hot in summer and location can be cold in winter..

 

[Lisak1]

What's your goal? Your use of the term "water retention" is slightly confusing. Here we build retention ponds to hold excess water - they can dry down to nothing during times when we have no rainfall. But if this is for a fish pond you need a reliable way to hold water, obviously.

Have you looked into bentonite clay for lining a pond? There used to be a member here who started a bentonite liner but he left the forum before it was complete. But if you search for bentonite you'll likely find some info.

 

[tanny]

yes we want to collect the extra rainfall in the crazy months. like today was 9 inches in 4 hours, but most runs off and keep throughout the year, i was thinking a solar pump and simple bio filter.
If necessary will use a tanker to fill it late summer, but am looking for a way to retain water without a full liner.

 

[GaryMoz]

You may want to do some calculation on how much water you will lose to evaporation. A 100m2 pond with temp at 30c, wind 15km and a humidity of 40% you would lose 167 litres per hour, so 4000 litres a day lost to evaporation.

Evaporation calculator

 

[tanny]

Thanks yes, is an issue for sure. i was also considering using floating leaf plants for some cover in summer.

Main issue just now out here is the spiraling cost of materials. does anyone know an international supplier with reasonable costs.

 

[GBBUDD]

For larger, sloped sides, hdpe liners become viable options

 

[hammer]

very silty soil will work, clay is better, stone and masonry also work but they also have their problems. Earthen ponds require probably more cost than a liner but they are self healing and usually work better if you do it correctly.