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Building the Dam – Stop the Flow.

| Posted in Construction Techniques on March 26, 2002 07:44am

Here’s a fun one. I’ve got a farmer’s ditch running through my property. At one time years ago there was an active headgate that diverted water into a holding area and spillway that was used to irrigate the orchards below. The headgate and spillway haven’t been used in years and the headgate is permanently broken closed.

The ditch just started running for the year and for whatever reason water is seeping through the old head gate area and filling the holding tank about 4 feet away(this hasn’t happened in past years). There’s a hole that the water runs through and I’ve tried sandbagging the hole with no success. The flow is about a cup every two minutes.

Any creative solutions on blocking the hole where the water come out? I can’t stop the ditch so whatever solution I use will have to be while the hole is half full of water. Also, if I have a temp. solution what might be suggested after the water stops flowing again in the fall? Thank a million!

Best,
Seth

PS. Photo attached a reference.

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Replies

  1. User avater
    BossHog | Mar 26, 2002 08:07pm | #1

    Hard to tell from the picture - Is it coming through the concrete ? Like a crack or something? If it is, try some hydraulic cement. It can theoretically even stop running water, although I've never tried it.

    1. Seth_Frankel | Mar 26, 2002 08:22pm | #2

      Boss,

      Not through the concrete. There's a hole (dark spot in lower left of the holding area) that's intended to have the water flow through it. It's about 10" diameter appox.

      Thanks.

      Seth

      1. sdr25 | Mar 27, 2002 12:21am | #5

        Seth, is it a pipe or just round hole formed by concrete? Since you don't have a ton of flow I would try to block the other end where water is going in and fill this end with concrete.

        Don't know what else to tell ya.

        Scott R.

        1. Seth_Frankel | Mar 27, 2002 05:44am | #6

          Thanks for the replies. There is no pipe, just a concrete hole. The other end is a permanently sealed head gate that must have water getting around it somewhere. In the fall I can concrete the hole but for now I've got to try and block it up. I'll look into the mariner method mentioned before. I like the balloon idea, even briefly thought of it myself, but I do wonder if it will deflate quickly.

          Thanks!

          Seth

  2. User avater
    bobl | Mar 26, 2002 09:08pm | #3

    I don't know how big they come, plumbers have a blow up ballon type rubber(?) device they use to block a DW pipe.  Don't know if they come in 10" size.

    bobl
    Volo Non Voleo 
    9
    Joe's cheat sheet

  3. TomMoen | Mar 26, 2002 10:37pm | #4

    Seth,

    You might want to ask a marina.  I've seen ads for some goop sailors can use to patch a hole in their hull while at sea.  Maybe cut a patch, and goop the patch on.

    The problem I see with the plumbers' blow up toy is that its bound to have a slow leak.

    Tom

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