Method for reducing water loss through soil by seepage

A process for creating a semi-permeable, subsurface barrier for reducing the loss of water by seepage through permeable soils comprising the steps of:

• applying to the surface of said soils, a composition comprising:
• a. a 15 to 50% weight aqueous, cationic emulsion of a petroleum asphalt having a softening point of 90.degree.to 200.degree. F. and a penetration at 77.degree. F. of from 4 dmm to 205 dmm, ninety percent of the particles of asphalt being less than about 10 microns in size;
• b. a cationic emulsifier in from 0.15 to 0.75 percent by weight of said emulsion;
• c. a non-ionic surface active agent in from 3.0 to 7.5 percent by weight of said emulsion selected from the group consisting of alkyl aryl polyether alcohols, polyethoxylated nonylphenols (average ethylene oxide content of 4-12 mols per mol of nonylphenol), benzyl ethers of octyl phenol and linear organic alcohols;
• d. from 1.0 to 10.0 percent by weight of said emulsion of an elastomeric material;
• and
• e. an acid in sufficient quantity to set the pH of said composition at from 3 to 7, and thereafter flooding said surface with water to force said emulsion downward into said soil to form a tough, flexible water-impervious mass below said surface.