A farm pond (khet talavadi) stores rainwater for irrigation, but in many soils the water soaks away before it can be used. Lining the pond with a tarpaulin keeps the water in. Done well, a liner turns a pit that dries out into a store that lasts through the season.
Choose a heavy, UV-resistant grade
A pond liner lies under the weight of water for months, and its top edges sit in full sun. That makes it one of the hardest jobs a tarpaulin can do, so a heavy grade such as 200 GSM, multilayer and UV-resistant, is the safer choice.
See our tarpaulin GSM guide for how the grades compare.
Work out the sheet size
The liner has to cover the floor, run up every side and leave extra at the top to anchor. Measure along the slope of the sides, not straight down, because sloped sides are longer than the depth.
Liner length = top length + 2 × side slope length + 2 × anchoring allowance. Liner width = top width + 2 × side slope length + 2 × anchoring allowance.
For example, a pond 20 m long and 15 m wide at the top, with sides 3 m long down the slope and 1 m left on each side for anchoring, needs a liner of 28 m × 23 m.
Prepare the pit
- Remove stones, roots, sticks and anything sharp from the floor and sides.
- Smooth and compact the soil, so the liner rests on an even surface.
- On stony ground, spread a layer of sand or fine soil under the liner as a cushion.
Lay and anchor the liner
- Lay it on a calm day, so wind cannot catch the sheet.
- Unroll it across the pond and let it settle into the corners without stretching it tight; a little slack lets it follow the soil as the pond fills.
- Dig a trench around the top edge, tuck the liner's edge into it and backfill it with soil to hold the liner in place.
Look after it
- Keep animals, sharp tools and vehicles off the liner.
- Check the edges after heavy rain and re-cover any that the water has exposed.
- Repair small cuts early, before they grow. More tips: how to make a tarpaulin last longer.
Ordering liners
For bulk orders we make tarpaulins in custom sizes, so liners can be made to the dimensions you need. Our Indoline multilayer tarpaulins are made from bonded layers of mLDPE, LDPE and LLDPE: 100% waterproof, with a UV-resistant coating and reinforced edges, in 90, 120, 150 and 200 GSM, or any GSM from 70 to 200 on orders of 2 tons. See our tarpaulin manufacturer in Ahmedabad, Gujarat page.