The Dam Water Is Orange

[Goinghomesoon]

Sigh. My dad's farm in Oz always had good dams. You know the type, the ones that water the cattle, have decent-sized fish, accomodate the occasional cattledog washing in the water and are great for kids to swim in during summer.

Now...anticipating a multi-purpose dam we had a quarter-rai hole dug on our land here but after getting a couple of feet down it turned out to be orange clay. We persisted to 2 metres and if I were looking to make bricks I would be celebrating. But of course even two years later the water is still orange. Nothing grows around it and I"m fairly sure no fish could survive in it. It's a bloody eyesore and I'm sick of looking at it, especially as I can't drink it or swim in it

Is there anything we can do to improve the water quality?

(Edited to add that my dad died last year so I can't ask him.)

Edited July 11, 2009 by Goinghomesoon

[Maizefarmer]

Your only option: line it with plastic sheeting, or if you want to go to the expense, throw a couple inches of re-inforced concreate.

[Harcourt]

Off-topic, sorry, but you reminded me with your mention of Aussie dams....yabbies (crawdads in US, I think).

Are there yabbies in Thailand, and if not, do you think they would make a good cash crop?

[glegolo]

Now...anticipating a multi-purpose dam we had a quarter-rai hole dug on our land here but after getting a couple of feet down it turned out to be orange clay. We persisted to 2 metres and if I were looking to make bricks I would be celebrating. But of course even two years later the water is still orange. Nothing grows around it and I"m fairly sure no fish could survive in it. It's a bloody eyesore and I'm sick of looking at it, especially as I can't drink it or swim in it

Is there anything we can do to improve the water quality?

-----------------------------

I agree, your only way of doing it is like what Maizefarmer suggests

Glegolo

[cyborg22]

Now...anticipating a multi-purpose dam we had a quarter-rai hole dug on our land here but after getting a couple of feet down it turned out to be orange clay. We persisted to 2 metres and if I were looking to make bricks I would be celebrating. But of course even two years later the water is still orange. Nothing grows around it and I"m fairly sure no fish could survive in it. It's a bloody eyesore and I'm sick of looking at it, especially as I can't drink it or swim in it

Is there anything we can do to improve the water quality?

Have you had the water tested? when you know the makeup of the water then there maybe other options open to you.

Possibly a massive dose of Bentonite ( a heavy clay soluble in water) This stuff clings to deposits in liquid, And with it being heavier than normal it drags the deposits to the bottom leaving clear water above.