Now that you have selected which type of liner you’ll be working with between clay, concrete, and flexible liners, it’s time to narrow down the requirements of what to look for in the liner itself. Working with a high-quality irrigation pond liner from the start ensures that your pond stays in peak condition all year long.
Here are a few things to look for when selecting your irrigation pond’s liner:
Excellent UV Protection
Since your pond will be under the heat of the sun for a substantial portion of each year, you should always make sure that any liner you consider has outstanding UV protection. This will ensure that your liner doesn’t melt or warp in particularly hot months!
High Puncture Resistance
Your irrigation pond will likely be placed up against roots, rocks, and other debris that risk poking holes in your new liner. That’s why it’s essential to select a pond liner that has high puncture resistance.
Remember, replacing an installed liner is both a difficult and expensive task. By choosing a puncture-resistant liner now, you’re saving yourself a substantial amount of time down the road that might otherwise be spent sealing or patching holes.
NSF Certification
NSF International is an independent, accredited, third-party certification body. They test and certify products to verify that they meet certain public health and safety standards. Products that have met these standards proudly bear an NSF mark.
In particular, NSF certifies drinking water system components to standards that are applicable to each type of treatment option. You may spot the NSF mark on a product along with numbers like NSF/ANSI 42 or NSF/ANSI 53. These numbers refer to the standard to which the component has been certified.
If you distribute, sell, or manufacture either water treatment or distribution products in the United States, your product is required to comply with NSF 61: Drinking Water System Components – Health Effects by the governmental agencies that regulate drinking water supplies.
Before you purchase a pond liner, make sure that it is NSF 61-certified. NSF 61 sets health effects criteria for a variety of water system components including:
- Non-metallic potable water materials
- Protective barrier materials (coatings, cements, and paints)
- Joining and sealing materials (adhesives, gaskets, and lubricants)
- Pipes and related products (pipe, hose, and fittings)
- Plumbing devices (faucets and drinking fountains)
- Mechanical devices (water meters, valves, and filters)
- Process media (filter media and ion exchange resins)
- HDPE Weaving
- HDPE, also known as high-density polyethylene, mesh is a heavy-duty knitted cloth that is designed for tensile membrane and shade structures where fabric is placed under large pre-stress.
High-density polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer that is sometimes called "alkathene" or "polythene". With its high strength-to-density ratio, HDPE is frequently used in the production of plastic bottles, geomembranes, corrosion-resistant piping, and plastic lumber.
HDPE woven liners are well-suited to pond projects because ponds require their liners to be exposed to environmental conditions including UV exposure, rain, hail, wind, and dust. Woven HDPE liners provide the maximum Ultra Violet A & B protection available to increase the longevity of your new pond.
Reinforced Polyethylene
RPE (reinforced polyethylene) irrigation pond liners are significantly more durable than their counterparts, EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) liners and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) liners. These liners are reinforced, which makes them more durable and puncture-resistant than the other two types of liners.
- Here are a few fast facts about RPE pond liners:
- RPE liners are one third the weight of other liners. This makes it easier to produce large sheets and liners for bigger pond projects.
- RPE pond liners are widely considered to be the most durable liners available, lasting up to 40 years.
- RPE packs smaller than other liners and therefore easier to install.
- RPE liners are half the thickness of PVC and EPDM liners.
- RPE pond liners don’t require any underlayment because of their strength and puncture resistance.
- Since RPE liners are stronger and utilize reinforcement, they don’t stretch as much as EPDM pond liners.
- RPE liners can be welded together with heat to repair any damage or increase their size.
- RPE liners are fish and plant safe
- RPE liners are flexible enough to fold around corners and pond shelves.
Irrigation Pond Liner Checklist
When choosing your irrigation pond’s liner, you will want to ensure that your choice has excellent UV protection, high puncture resistance, an NSF-61 certification, and strong HDPE weaving. You should also to purchase a liner that is both exceptionally tough and pliable.
BTL Liners fabricates AquaArmor liners that meet all of the above qualifications to ensure that your new irrigation pond is as sturdy and long-lasting as possible.
