A comprehensive guide to dam sealing

If you’ve landed on this page to read about Polymer Innovations threats to sue us for having an opinion on their Water$ave product, scroll to the bottom of this page

If you’ve been looking for a comprehensive guide to fixing your leaking dam – you’ve found it – because this post includes a full list of all options for dam sealing, bentonite for dam sealing – and also a complete list of comparative costs and recommendations for dam repairs.

And more importantly, what not to do.

But first, a question

Does your dam look like the photo on the right, but you want it to look like the photo on the left?

Well, here are the options for fixing, and permanently sealing your leaking dam.

Investigate the cause of the leak

There are a number of common problems that cause dams and ponds leaks.

They include:

• sub-standard construction materials/techniques
• design error
• internal erosion or piping
• cracking caused by changes to water levels
• the work of a contractor unfamiliar with farm dam construction
• poor bank integrity
• failure to remove topsoil and vegetation at the embankment site
• use of an unsuitable soil type in the dam wall
• failure to construct a cut-off trench
• poor soil compaction
• failure to backfill exposed rock, gravel
• sand in the storage basin
• rabbit damage
• slumping cracks along the length of the wall due to a combination of poor compaction, excessive seepage and excessive steepness of bank
• poor maintenance of the dam
• dam location not optimal
• dam built on rock base
• failure of dam liner due to age
• trees on dam bank causing loss of storage volume due to uptake for self watering
• trees on dam bank causing tunnelling due to roots breaking dam wall and plastic liner

If you can’t find the cause of the leak yourself, call a dam building professional.

Just Google ‘dam builders in your area’

They will do an on-site inspection and quickly identify the cause, and recommend the correct solution

If you don’t identify the exact problem, you’ll waste money chasing solutions that are not applicable to the issue at hand

Measure the dam leakage

If the dam is still holding water, it is useful to understand exactly how much of the dams total volume is being lost on a daily basis

This is done by taking baseline measurements, and then recording the daily indications.

Calculations are then made that strip out expected daily losses due to natural evaporation and saturation

This leaves you with the total daily losses being experienced due to seepage or leakage due to causes unknown

If the figure is low, then this indicates a ‘seepage’ problem

It is important to note that a certain amount of seepage can be expected in every earth dam.

Dirt, no matter how heavily compacted, is still a porous substance

If the figure is high, this indicates a ‘leakage’ problem – which is a much more serious problem, indicating possible cracking in the wall or base

Solutions to leaking dams – dam sealing

There are seven main solutions that are most often employed to fix leaking dams:

• compacted earth clay lining
• bentonite dry blanket
• bentonite wet blanket
• concrete linings
• bituminous sprays or coatings
• pre-fabricated lining membranes
• polymer plugs

However, not all solutions are equally effective

Having 15 years of experience plugging leaking dams, dam sealing, I have tried all methods many times – with varying levels of success

But experience has allowed me to filter these solutions by a number of parameters – namely:

• cost
• chances of success
• practicality

Below I have noted the five main possible solutions, and then graded each solution by those three parameters, given my personal experience with each:

Pre-fabricated lining membranes

• Cost = high
• Chances of success =medium (decreases with age)
• Practicality = low (difficult to install)

Bentonite dry blanket

• Cost = medium
• chances of success = high
• Practicality = high

Bentonite wet blanket

• Cost = high (due to extra coverage required)
• chances of success = medium
• Practicality = high

Clay liner

• Cost = low (subject to availability)
• chances of success = high
• Practicality = high

There is one further possible solution, and often it is the most cost-effective

That solution is to build a new dam due to the high cost of repairing leaking dams:

New dam

• Cost = medium
• chances of success = high
• Practicality = high

Sometimes it is much cheaper, and more effective to re-site the dam and build a new one – while dozing in the old dam and creating parkland where an problematic eyesore was previously

Sprayed membranes

Sprayed membranes such as concrete and asphalt are applied to the area to be treated under pressure to form a continuous skin of material that acts to seal the storage.

They produce an excellent seal, but they are rarely used to seal farm dams because of the high cost

Building dams

There are a lot of earth movers who can dig dirt – and move dirt. And they do it very well

That doesn’t mean that they know how to properly construct a dam.

Over 50% of our business is fixing dams built by general earth movers

The problem with earth dams

Dams are the life-blood of farms and many rural and remote areas

An engineering problem frequently encountered is dams built with porous materials, causing the dams to leak and not hold water

When a dam leaks, it is not only a waste of effort, it effects future income and security.

A leaky dam is an embarrassment to everyone concerned

• the earthworks operator who built it feels terrible.
• the people who paid for it feel indignant.
• the folks who designed it feel responsible.
• and the ground beneath the dam wall feels wet

Why dams leak

Dam leakage will only lose water through one of two mechanisms:

–Water evaporation
-Seepage and leaks through the wall or base

Water loss through evaporation is best mitigated at the design stage.

Generally, dams that are designed to be well shaded and deeper, evaporate less water.

Dam seepage

All earth embankments must, by their nature, allow the passage of seeping waters – but good design and construction, and careful selection of materials, enable this flow to be restricted within safe limits.

In farm dam construction, reservoirs are often built in locations where careful material selection is not possible, and where the reservoir floor may be extremely porous.

Common causes of dam seepage are:

• failure to remove trees from the dam walls
• use of an unsuitable soil type in the dam wall
• poor soil compaction

Dams built on rock bases

For dams being built where there is high gravel/rock content, and/or high linear shrinkages, there needs to be very stringent construction methods adhered to if they are to be successful.

These include:

• minimise water stored above natural surface
• build and compact at the optimum moisture content
• compact well and thoroughly
• add fine grained bentonite on downstream face of the wall to reduce the risk of tunnels forming
• recommended batter grades must be adhered to
• freeboard should be increased to prevent cracks extending below the waterline

Current prices of dam sealing alternatives

• Vinyl $0.50-$7.50 per sqm
• Rubber $0.35-$2.50
• Cement $60-$120
• Fiberglass $3.50-$6.00
• Plastic $0.25-$1.50
• Bentonite $0.25-$1.15

Pre-fabricated commercial liners

There are at least five types of commercial liners available to seal leaking dams.

They are all flexible membranes but offer different levels of strength, durability and resistance to UV breakdown.

A brief history of research into plastic dam liners

In the early 1950’s the plastics industry began to make available large quantities of plastic film materials which offered interesting possibilities as lining materials for farm storages.

At the beginning of 1957 the Water Research Foundation of Australia, supported by grants from Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Limited, financed a project at the School of Civil Engineering of the University of New South Wales under the title of “the sealing of small earth dams by the use of plastic membranes”.

The earliest liner experiments measured biological deterioration root and sprout penetration and outdoor weather ageing.

Two years of outdoor weathering indicated that polythene could be expected to have a reasonable service life of up to 10 years, but after that, PVC deteriorated rapidly.

It was found that light-gauge polythene films were particularly susceptible to damage

Permeability and rupture tests showed that medium gauge films could withstand pressure of 30 p.s.i. on an angular gravel base .

Studies showed that burying the plastic liner under 15cm of clay doubled the lifetime of the plastic, and improved its effectiveness

Tests to determine the steepest slopes on which cover could be expected to remain in place showed that in still water with a rapid drawdown the steepest slopes allowable were 2 to 1 for PE and 3 to 1 for PVC.

Reasons we don’t use plastic dam liners

We don’t use or recommend plastic liners for dam building or repair

This is for a number of reasons:

• All liners will eventually leak. Manufacturers have varying warranties, usually only up to 10 years. In reality, it will definitely last as long as the guarantee claims as long as you leave it in the box, and store it in your garage. Once you place it in the ground, nature’s forces begin a contest to see which will break its water-tight integrity first.
• If a leak does develop, it is next to impossible to locate it without removing all the water by draining the dam and inspecting every square inch. A tiny pin-hole can lose five litres every 24 hours.
• When the liner is cut to install the drain, sealants are used along with pressure rings to make a water tight seal. The sealants dry out or break down and seal collars warp, resulting in time-consuming, costly repair.
• In deeper dams that use liners, all the waste material settles and collects on the bottom and rots, creating ammonia that is toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
• Pond liners limit pond shape and configuration. Pond liners are dispensed on rolls and therefore available only in square or rectangular shapes. Most dams are circular in shape, so this wastes expensive square meters of dam liner material. Special shaped dam liners can be custom made, but this customized dam liner is going to cost you as much as constructing a professional dam with concrete that will last a lifetime.
• A dam liner warranty is for 10 years, but one built with the correct sealing material such as white clay and bentonite is for a lifetime

The most successful example of dam liner use

The most successful use of plastic liners for dam sealing was in Utah in 1960, where an advanced liner installation was employed with buried PVC membranes.

The liners were prefabricated from an 8 mil PVC using a lapped solvent weld, the three or four prefabricated sections used in each reservoir being jointed in the field with solvent seams.

The reservoirs had a side batter of 3 to 1 and a sand cushion covering was employed.

After installation and careful stretching to remove wrinkles, the liners were covered with a fine sand-clay mixture, dumped from cranes with concrete buckets and with the maximum drop restricted to 1 meter.

Finally a 6 inch layer of cobble was placed in the same manner.

Excellent performance was reported, but the cost of that performance proved prohibitive.

The quoted cost of the liner installation was $3 per square meter.

In general, plastic membranes are more likely to be used in the U.S.A. than in Australia because the materials are available in much wider sheets and at lower relative cost. (i.e. cost relative to alternative sealing methods and value of water saved).

Plastic dam liner conclusions

Tests have indicated very low initial seepage losses initially, but as time passed, seepage losses increased – the greatest loss occurring in the 4 mil exposed PE liner, which suffered a great deal of puncturing and holing.

A buried 8 mil PE liner also showed high losses as a result of stock hoof damage.

The general conclusions reached were that polythene was the most suitable material, because of its greater outdoor durability, and that it should be used as a buried liner, preferably in 8 mil gauge.

The vinyl films deteriorated rapidly, the 4 mil materials being useless before the end of the first season.

The heavier gauge polythene liners were still in good condition after two years, although small holes developed above the waterline and an effective repair technique could not be found.

The studies reported that the 1mil black PE became useless after the first season, due to extensive holing.

The studies cautioned that extreme care was necessary in handling and installation of these liners, and suggested that problems of field fabrication and a tendency to fail along film folds had yet to be overcome.

A major problem with polythene liners is the expected durability of the material due to the ultra-violet oxidative ageing of polythene

The possibility of damage to plastic membranes due to attack by micro-organisms, insects and rodents is considerable

These studies pointed out that the major factor causing deterioration of plastic liners in Australia was wind damage.

The high cost of polythene in Australia makes this method of seepage control uneconomical as compared with the other methods available.

A major factor in the cost of polythene membranes was the extensive sealing necessary on the 2.4 metre wide strips.

Burying tests in moist soil over a period of 10 years indicated that the straight plastics, particularly PE and PVC, were somewhat resistant to biological attack, whilst materials which incorporated fibres in a plastic laminate deteriorated rapidly.

Pressure cell tests indicated puncturing of all plastic liners at high hydrostatic pressures

It was concluded that PE and PVC, in gauges of 8 mil and heavier, were suitable for use as buried liners, however, guaranteed good seepage control was achieved for only three years

Clay lining

If a suitable clay can be found on or near the dam, then clay lining may be a cost effective way of sealing your dam:

• A minimum 300 mm depth of compacted clay must be used.
• The clay must also be placed and compacted in layers of 100 mm at the optimum soil moisture content
• If the dam still holds some water it should be pumped dry and all plants and silt removed to expose a firm foundation on which to place the clay lining

The cost of clay lining depends on many factors, including:

• the transport cost of the clay
• the amount of clay to be moved
• the cost of emptying the dam
• access to the site
• potential crop and income loss (because the dam will need to be emptied)

See our video on pulling down a dam wall, and rebuilding with clay

Bentonite Clay

The new technique of bentonite lining of leaking earth dams has been developed in the last 10 years. Bentonite dam sealer is one of the best natural mineral to sealing a dam. 

Sodium bentonite is a naturally occurring clay material composed predominantly of the active constituent montmorillonite

It is commercially mined, and it is a very different means of achieving a water-tight seal compared to a passive liner such as plastic

Passive vs Active

The first thing to understand when comparing bentonite to something like plastic liner is the difference between an active and a passive liner.

A bentonite clay dam liner would be an example of an active liner.

It’s called active because there’s an active mechanical/chemical process that must take place before the material becomes waterproof.

On its own bentonite is just a clay and is not waterproof.

However, when it gets wet, it expands to 400 times its weight by absorbing water.

The way that bentonite works is that it expands until it fills a void.

If it has something to expand against, it can form a compressive seal and become water-tight and stop all water from flowing through.

 

Bentonite is green

Bentonite is environmentally safe, and extremely cost effective method of sealing water storage.

It also has many other uses, and it can be consumed by poeple and fish

A bentonite barrier system also absorbs water born metals, hydrocarbons and other organic and inorganic chemicals, helping to restrict the movement of water through the wall, and the movement of toxic chemicals passed through to crops and stock.

 

Advantages of Bentonite

The biggest advantage of bentonite is it can self-heal and expand around punctures if it’s installed correctly

When water is added, bentonite is designed to expand and self-heal any penetrations that happen as time passes

 

Disadvantages of bentonite clay dam liner

The disadvantages of bentonite are all based around proper application:

• If the bentonite mix is created too thin due to budget constraints, the dam will leak , so it’s better to invest into the right amount of the betonite to receive the higher results.
• If the mix isn’t spread out perfectly evenly by an experienced operator, the dam will leak.
• If there is a thin spot, or a spot that was ‘scuffed up’ leaving a small area with no clay, the pond will leak
•  

Bentonite application

Bentonite may be used in several ways depending on the soil type and whether it is practical to empty the dam

The two most common application methods are:

• wet blanket
• dry blanket

 

Bentonite dry blanket method

When using the bentonite dry blanket method, the bentonite is broadcast over the area at a rate of approximately 15 kg/m2.

After the bentonite is spread it is mixed with the existing soil by lightly harrowing and then compacting with a roller.

The dry blanket method also requires the removal of all vegetation and loose rocks in the area to be treated.

This technique involves placing the bentonite material directly on the sloping batters of the dam and compacting in the radial membranes

If the dam base is made up of rock, the rock should be covered with at least 300 mm of compacted clay mixed with bentonite

See our video on dry blanket application

 

Bentonite wet blanket method

Another option, which has a success rate of 70%, would be to broadcast the bentonite on the water surface (wet blanket method)

The broadcast technique involves spreading the bentonite over the water surface at a rate of 30 kg/m2.

The bentonite settles to the bottom, hopefully where the problem is, and seals the storage.

This method is not recommended, as success cannot be 100% assured.

However, if the storage cannot be emptied then it is the only option available.

See our video on wet blanket application of bentonite

Super absorbent polymers (SAPs)

Watersave is a product by Polymer Innovations and it’s sold in various size containers depending on how much you need.

It comes in a granulated form and looks a little like sugar.

We have tested this product extensively and have never had any success with it, and we have spoken to many people who have tried the product, and not one has has been successful sealing their dam.

Another downside is that it is very expensive at the usage rates recommended.

We would definitely not recommend it’s use.

In January 2019, we had Andrew Evans of Polymer Innovations contact us and he issued a series of threats about his intention to sue us for having this opinion.

Andrew Evans son, Lachlan Evans, who is listed as the sales representative for Polymer Innovations then undertook a sledging campaign against us on Facebook.

We find these actions detestable & vile – and we stand by our opinion that we would never recommend this product.

Threats of legal action from Polymer Innovations

Below is the letter received from some law firm representing Polymer Innovations. My answers to each of their points are included below 

We act on behalf of Polymer Innovations Pty Ltd.

Well woopity do for you

Your company has published false information about our client.

No, I’ve published true information that your client doesn’t like. That’s your clients problem, not mine

We enclose a screenshot of the current relevant page appearing on your website.

Great. You probably charged your client $50 for that screenshot

Our client has been conducting business for approximately twenty (20) years.

Wow. That is so impressive (you don’t sense any sarcasm do you?. I’m told it’s the lowest form of humour. But you have to go with what you’ve been given)

It specialises in cross linked and lineal products for a variety of applications spread over different industries.

Are you under the impression that I’m in some way interested in your clients self spun PR?

Water$ave is a dam sealing product designed and marketed for the past fifteen (15) years to entities all around the world.

Wow! Great! Smashing!

Markets that deal with our client include Agricultural, Mining, Government and Military.

I’m feeling sleepy

Entities our client deals with include the Australian Navy, BHP, Rio Tinto and Centennial. Water$ave, along with other products provided by our client are based upon unique intellectual property controlled by our client.

Are you going to get to the point – because I have dams to repair

Our client has invested a great deal in time, funds and resources in establishing its good name and reputation both in the company and this product.

Your client doesn’t have a good name with people that contact me. Are you saying that makes them bad people? Is this some ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ Sun Tzu psychobabble?

Your website specifically names our client and its’ product Water$ave.

You have a truly amazing grasp of the obvious, and apparently you can read. Well done. Your mother must be very proud of you. Those private school fees finally paid off

It is suggested the product;
-does not work after being tested extensively by you
-is expensive to use

No, it is not suggested. It is written. With words.

-many others aside from you have tried the product and not one has been able to make it work

Yes, that’s what it says. I do remember what I wrote, but thanks for reminding me. Are you suggesting I have short term memory loss. Or are you just padding your bill?

-cannot be recommended

I don’t recommend it. Yes, well done. Your comprehension is impressive. You could also say ‘can not be recommended’ – but quite honestly, I don’t know which is grammatically correct. Grammar is not my super power

It is also expressed that representatives of our client conduct themselves in detestable and vile ways.

Yes, I believe that Lachlan Evans of Polymer Innovations trolling Facebook business pages, and phone calls from Andrew Evans threatening legal action because someone writes an honest review based on their experience are vile and detestable.

Other words for vile and detestable are:

• abhorred
• abhorrent
• accursed
• atrocious
• awful
• despicable
• disgusting
• execrable
• godawful
• grody
• gross
• hateable
• hateful
• heinous
• horrid
• lousy
• low-down
• maggot
• monstrous
• obnoxious
• odious
• offensive
• outrageous
• repugnant
• repulsive
• revolting
• rotten
• shocking
• sorry
• vile

If you don’t like vile and detestable, pick another two words from the list above. Personally, I like ‘grody’ & ‘godawful’

Defamation

You’re hilarious! Will I see you at the comedy club open mic on Saturday night?

The above represents a publication about our client which to an ordinary reasonable person would think it tends to:
1. Injure our client’s reputation by disparaging them;

An expert opinion will injure your client? Have you never heard of ‘sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me’?. Your client must be a bleeder, and have skin with the resilience of custard to be injured by my opinion. Am I an expert? Maybe. I was President of BHP Diamonds and I oversaw the building of the two biggest tailings dams in history, I’ve built more dams than anyone in Australia, I’ve won more awards for dam innovation and dam repair than anyone else, I have built and repaired dams for 30 years, and Big Ditch is the authority website for dam building because I give my honest opinion based on my experience. Are you suggesting I should lie? While I appreciate your thoughts on a possible new innovative counter-intuitive business strategy – I am wary of its potential downside

2. Cause others to shun or avoid them;

Shun and avoid your client?. Is your client a teenage girl? Is this like the movie ‘Mean Girls’ and your client is Lindsay Lohan? It’s a little overly dramatic language you’re using don’t you think?.  No, I just think they may not buy your client’s product, or if they have, they might get me to dig that slop out of their dam and repair their dam properly. Shun and avoid suggests they might cross to the other side of the street if they saw your client coming the other way – and that would require them to know what your client looks like. I don’t believe that the majority of people with leaking dams carry polaroid photos of your client, just in case they find themselves in such a situation. But that’s just a guess. I have no conclusive data to base that assessment on

3. Subject them to hatred, ridicule or contempt.

No, you’re ridiculous. And you sound like a whiny little bitch

 

Injurious Falsehood

Did you make that up for your big word homework?

So here’s the thing – Injurious falsehood arises when a person (the defendant) makes false representations about the goods and services of another (the plaintiff).

You would have to prove that I made false statements knowing they were false.

But see, I made statements that I believed to be true, but that you believe are false. Are you suggesting I’m confused and mentally deficient – not knowing up from down, false from true, or my arse from my big toe?

I‘m not going to lie, some days do feel like that

Further, and in the alternative to the above,

Further, and in the alternative to the above?

Why don’t you talk like a normal human being and not a twat? I don’t even know what that means? Does it mean ‘also’.

You obviously come from the ‘Why use one word when you can murder eight words’ side of the tracks

the representations about our client’s goods and services encourages others not to deal with our client,

Depends if they think my opinion is valuable. Some would. Some wouldn’t. I don’t know.

But when you Google ‘dam builder’ – Big Ditch will come up first – because Google’s algorithm is based on E.A.T – Expertise. Authority. Trustworthiness – and just a clarifying point if I may, lying about the effectiveness of products is not trustworthiness –  it’s troothiness – and Stephen Colbert copyrighted that word in 2015

causing our client to suffer damage.

Oh boo-hoo, you poor little fragile thing.

‘To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering’ – Friedrich Nietzsche.

I think the meaning you’re looking for in your clients suffering is that he should make a better product.

My opinion only. What would I know. You’re the genius

The extent of the damage to our client is serious taking into account the following:
1. The seriousness of the false allegation;
2. The extent to your publication;
3. The likely grapevine effect;
4. The size of our client’s business;
5. The effect on our client’s reputation.

I’m going to send you a bill for $500 for having to spend 30 minutes of my valuable time to read this tripe

Request for Particulars

You can request anything you like. Whether you get it is another question

To allow you an opportunity to explain these statements, please provide the following information:

I don’t have to give you anything Friendo

 

(Javier Bardem. No Country for Old Men)

 

1. Precise details as to the “extensive testing” you have applied to our client’s product, including the methods and number of tests;

See above

2. How was it established the product was unsuccessful in each of the tests;

It was established that the product was unsuccessful because the dams kept leaking. Seems conclusive and does not seem to require further tests

3. List of the “many people” you have spoken to who have tried the product and been unsuccessful in its use;

So your client can contact them and harass them like they did me.

You’re a very silly man 

4. Details of the method of use tried by these other “many people”;

Oh shut up. 

5. Location of each of the tests, both by you and others mentioned.

The answer is purple. Or 44. Either works for that question

6. Details of occasions and contact made with our client for any information that may have been required for the testing;

When he rang me to threaten legal action, I said – Friendo, send me your product and exact details of how you want me to apply itand then I’ll write a review of exactly what happened.

Your client didn’t take me up on the offer. Hmmm, I wonder why? Because I called him friendo? Surely not. It’s a term of endearment.

7. Details of when and where you acquired the product for your testing;

Your client knows when I first purchased the product, why don’t you ask him to do some of this heavy informational lifting?

Seriously, dude, you’re not the boss of me.

My beautiful kelpie ‘Daisy’ is the boss of me – because I’d do anything for her. 

 

(Daisy)

 

8. What standard has been applied in making the comment that the product is expensive at the usage rate recommended?

The standard of price.

Is this a new concept to you?

Did you travel here from an outer galaxy?

Are you proof that aliens exist?

9. Please provide full particulars including copies of all statements and entries
substantiating the claim that; “A sales representative from Polymer Innovations then undertook a sledging campaign against us on Facebook”.

No, I’ll publish it here when I can be buggered spending more time on your ridiculous demands.

Note to you – I don’t work for you

By way of comment, our client has made inquiries within its organisation and has been unable to locate any representative who may have carried out the conduct alleged.

By way of comment – you want me to publish his name and his trolling here? Sure, I can do that. Lachlan Evans, the son of Andrew Evans

In fact, why don’t I publish it on the front page of this website.

In it’s own special section with flashing gifs all around it

This Notification is provided to allow your company an opportunity to substantiate the claims made.

No, they’re all in the article. Haven’t you got something better to do?

Oh, I forgot, billable hours.

Parasite is what you do. 

We note whilst ever these statements remain on your website, our client continues to accrue damages.

And now your stupid letter is on my website as well. Well done friendo, you’ve really helped your client. You should get a bonus

The particulars requested should be provided by close of business, Friday, 19 March 2021.

No they shouldn’t.

You’re very passive aggressive. Without the passive.

Like a bacon & egg burger without the bacon

The request for particulars is without prejudice to our client’s rights to commence proceedings against you for damages.

Oh so you are a little bitch?

You can’t even write a ‘with prejudice’ letter.

Scared of having your little bully boy letter brought up in court? 

Please note this letter constitutes a Concerns Notice for the purposes of Section 14 of the Defamation Act 2005 (NSW).

Whatever dude. Bite me.

We look forward to receipt of your urgent response.

So here’s the deal, in case you weren’t at law school on defamation day – the law of defamation protects free speech by allowing people to express opinions, even harsh ones, on matters of public interest, by providing a shield known as the honest opinion defence

Yours faithfully
Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers
Brett Fatches
Special Counsel

Oh, so you’re ‘special’.

Does that mean you travel on the short bus, and not the long bus?

Here’s an idea for your client, instead of spending his money on threatening people who give an honest opinion about his product – take that money and put it into research and development.

Nightnightville calls me.

Your writing makes me sleepy

This all leads me to ask one single conceptual question wrapped up in a popular verse

-Haddaway. What is Love

 

Last week, 2,464 people found me on Google.

Next week, 2,464 or more people will find you on Google through me

You’ll be more famous than Mr Potato Head

p.s. how’s your strategy of trying to shut down free speech working out for you? 

Brett Fatches

‘Special’ Counsel

Carroll O’Dea Lawyers

Email: bfatches@codea.com.au

Phone: (02) 4983 4000

Location: Newcastle, Port Stephens

Let me look into your crystal balls

What I will do is publish every e-mail, comment or contact that has a negative opinion of Polymer Innovations from now on. 

10th March 2021

Dam repair client xxxx xxxxxxxx (name redacted because Polymer Innovations likes to contact people and threaten them if they don’t think their product works) of Brisbane says he tried Water$ave and it didn’t do anything. We started today removing Water$ave residue from this clients dam, and we are in the process of repairing his dam properly

18th March 2021

19th March 2021

XXX XXXXXXX from XXXXXXXX Western Australia rang on number XXXX XXXXXX (name, address and phone number redacted to protect client from retribution by Polymer Innovations

Verbatim discussion recorded below

“I actually read your piece on Polymer Innovations, and I just wanted to contact you to let you know that we also bought that Water$ave rubbish. It did nothing at all. I think they trade on people’s ignorance of dam repair, and their hope of being able to repair their dam. That said, could you tell me how to fix our dam?”

5 Apr 2021

XXXXX XXXXXXXX from Bridge Park

First off, I went through your website and read through all the stuff about Watersave – You, my friend, are hilarious! Love that you didn’t back down from some idiot with a lawyer!

19 Apr 2021

XXXXXX XXXXXXX from Cooma NSW

Hey mate, fuck that was hilarious, I also spent I think $1000 on those buckets of bullshit in my dam and I think it actually started leaking faster. So it may well be a lubricant? 

(Not going to lie, that made me laugh out loud. Twice)

23 Feb 2022

XXXXXX XXXXXXX from Brisbane QLD

I came across your article, unfortunately, too late. I read it with great interest, it was to the point, informational & ended on a great note of humor.

Yes, the Polymer granules did not work for either of our 2 seeping dams, not even to slow the seepage, it was a total waste of time & money. I know of another 2 families that have tried this product for their leaking dams, they have had no success either.

We thought be buying this product it would work quick, no toxins, & hardly any work. I have to admit, we were also sold on the “we work with mines, etc” so it has to be good if the mines , Councils, etc are in cooperation, right?

Product didn’t work for us, & from there, we were given no further advice, what to do or where to go from there.

Back to old school Sodium Betonite, yep, it works, slowly, but we got results & the price was ‘normal’ unlike Polymer.

Thanks for the write-up, everyone has a right to an opinion & especially on products that are costly. Thank you!

Further reading

If you want to read about the environmental dangers of super absorbent polymers, click HERE.

If you want to read about the dubious business practices of Polymer Innovations, click HERE