Soil sealing method

A method of containing water in an effective water holding area formed of a soil-bentonite admixture comprising the steps of:

• determining a quantity of bentonite which, when admixed with a quantity of soil, forms a bentonite-soil admixture having an effective water holding capacity;
• admixing not more than 50 percent of said quantity of bentonite with said amount of soil to form a soil-bentonite admixture;
• providing in said soil-bentonite admixture a water soluble polymer in an amount of from 0.05 to 2.0 percent, based on the weight of the bentonite and polymer, said soluble polymer being selected from the group consisting of polyacrylic acid and water soluble salts of polyacrylic acid, to provide a soil-bentonite-polymer admixture;
• said quantity of polymer being sufficient that the water holding capacity of said soil-bentonite-polymer admixture is at least as high as said effective water holding capacity of a soil-bentonite admixture containing said determined quantity of bentonite;
• forming a water holding area from said soil-bentonite-polymer admixture;
• and providing water in said water holding area.