The primary purpose of building an earth dam is to retain water, yet sealing one can sound like a complicated task to many people. On the other hand, some believe that simply digging a hole in the ground is enough. They overlook essential steps like proper compaction, and then wonder why their dam is leaking.

​Building a reliable, high-capacity earth dam requires careful preparation and a reliable sealing process. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be overly complicated. The DAMFIX Dry™ sealing methodology simplifies the process into a straightforward, two-part application that accelerates the settlement period and ensures long-term durability.

PART-1: SEALING THE SOIL

The first phase happens while the dam is empty.

DAMFIX Dry™ PART-1 is a polymer-clay composite, tilled directly into the top layer of the soil to a depth of no more than 150mm. Thereafter the area is compacted with a smooth drum vibratory roller. Repeated compaction over the dam floor surface is highly recommended.

Compaction isn’t a cosmetic step. Compaction increases the dam’s overall strength, reduces seepage, and sets the foundation the rest of the seal depends on.

One 20 litre bucket of DAMFIX Dry™ PART-1 covers roughly 40m².

PART-2: CONSOLIDATING THE SEAL

The second phase happens once the dam has been filled with water, to a minimum depth of one metre.

At this point, DAMFIX Dry™ PART-2 is applied by spreading the polymer evenly onto the surface of the water, using a canoe and a handheld spreader or a drone.

Water pressure carries the polymer down into the already-compacted soil layer, locking everything into place and finishing the seal. The PART-2 application dramatically speeds up the settlement period of the dam.

One 20 litre bucket of DAMFIX Dry™ PART-2 covers around 650m².

WHY A TWO-PART PROCESS?

Each application phase does a different job, however, both phases are required to set the dam up for long term performance.

PART-1 gets the polymer-clay composite into the soil structure while the dam is still dry, and then it can be properly compacted.

PART-2 uses the weight and pressure of the water itself to drive that composite deeper and bind it into a single, cohesive barrier.

Skip either step and the seal falls short. PART-1 without compaction, or PART-2 without a properly prepared soil base, won’t give the same result. The 2-part application process work together to speed up the settlement period that would otherwise take years, bringing it down to 3 to 12 months (depending on soil type, compaction and if water pressure is maintained).

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER THE SEALING PROCESS

Once PART-2 has been applied, the bonding between the polymer and the soil keeps developing on its own, typically taking 2 to 6 months depending on soil type and how consistently the water level is maintained.

Irrigation dams can be put to work straight away. Fish and other aquatic life can go in about a month after the sealing process is complete.

The huge benefit of this DAMFIX Dry™ sealing process is that there is not a visible liner, is eco-friendly and is esthetically pleasing. It becomes part of the dam’s own soil matrix, sealing from within rather than sitting on top of it. The result is a functional dam that can be utilised for various purposes.

Contact us at 078-681-2314/082-820-8787 or visit our website for more information at www.damfix.co.za.