---
url: https://www.eurocovers.eu/glossary/evaporation-suppression
term: Evaporation suppression
definition: Active reduction of open-water surface evaporation, typically achieved via floating covers, shade structures, or chemical surfactant monolayers.
updated: 2026-05-25
---

# Evaporation suppression

Active reduction of open-water surface evaporation, typically achieved via floating covers, shade structures, or chemical surfactant monolayers.

**Evaporation suppression** is the active reduction of water loss from open industrial water bodies
through surface intervention. Mechanisms include floating covers (most effective, 90–97% reduction),
shade structures (minimal direct effect on evaporation), and chemical surfactant monolayers
(short-lived, 20–50% reduction). For industrial water operators in water-stressed regions, evaporation
suppression directly reduces operating cost and supports EU Water Framework Directive compliance via
reduced abstraction.

The 90–97% reduction figure is the field-verified performance of the AWTT-patented hexagonal
floating cover — independently measured by the USDA Bureau of Reclamation. See
[/heritage](/heritage) for the engineering and validation history.