---
url: https://www.eurocovers.eu/industries/agriculture
title: Floating covers for agricultural irrigation storage
description: Stop evaporation on irrigation reservoirs and rural water storage. Save €15,000–€50,000/year per hectare of cover in water-stressed EU regions.
updated: 2026-05-25
---

# Floating covers for agricultural irrigation storage

Stop evaporation on irrigation reservoirs and rural water storage. Save €15,000–€50,000/year per hectare of cover in water-stressed EU regions.

Hexagonal floating covers reduce irrigation reservoir evaporation by 90–97% — recouping capex in
18–30 months for water-stressed Mediterranean and Iberian agriculture.

## What covers do for agriculture

Spanish, southern French, and Italian irrigation reservoirs typically lose 30–50% of stored
volume to evaporation each season. Hexagonal floating covers eliminate that loss, retaining
reservoir capacity for irrigation season-end when it matters most. Secondary benefits include
algae suppression (no clogged emitters) and reduced filter maintenance.

## How they work

- **Hexagonal HDPE elements** tessellate over the reservoir surface.
- **No anchors** — accommodates moving water levels through the season.
- **Inflow/outflow tolerance** — covers float around irrigation infrastructure.
- **25+ year lifecycle** — capital recovered many times over.

## Benefits for irrigation operators

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Evaporation reduction | 90–97% |
| Stored capacity retained late season | Up to 50% |
| Drip emitter maintenance reduction | Significant |
| Payback period | 18–30 months |
| Lifecycle | 25+ years |

## Use cases

- Olive, almond, citrus, and vineyard irrigation reservoirs
- Greenhouse irrigation storage
- Aquaculture ponds (algae and evaporation control)
- Livestock watering ponds (algae control)

## Floating covers vs. agricultural alternatives

Agricultural operators considering evaporation control typically weigh:

- **Floating cover** (hexagonal modular). 90–97% evaporation reduction, 25+ year lifecycle, no power.
- **Shade mesh / shade cloth**. 0–5% evaporation effect (vapour-permeable); useful only for algae control on small bodies. See [hexagonal vs. shade mesh](/vs/shade-mesh).
- **Subsurface drip irrigation upgrade**. High capex; addresses distribution loss, not reservoir storage loss.
- **Switch to recycled water**. Capital-intensive (recycling plant); justified where regulation or scarcity drives.

For most Mediterranean irrigation operations, floating covers deliver the fastest and most
durable savings.

## Regulatory context

EU Common Agricultural Policy cross-compliance increasingly rewards measurable water-efficiency
improvement. Water-savings from floating covers are auditable and reportable.

## Related

- [Evaporation control](/solutions/evaporation-control)
- [Country pages — Spain, Italy, France](/countries/spain)
- [Hexagonal vs. shade mesh comparison](/vs/shade-mesh)