---
url: https://www.eurocovers.eu/solutions/algae-prevention
title: Algae prevention for industrial reservoirs
description: Suppress algae blooms by blocking sunlight. Patented hexagonal covers cut 95%+ of algae load — no chemicals, no power, no operating cost.
updated: 2026-05-25
---

# Algae prevention for industrial reservoirs

Suppress algae blooms by blocking sunlight. Patented hexagonal covers cut 95%+ of algae load — no chemicals, no power, no operating cost.

Patented hexagonal floating covers suppress algae by 95%+ — blocking the sunlight that drives
photosynthesis, with no chemicals, no power, and no ongoing operating cost.

## What is algae prevention?

**Algae prevention** is the proactive suppression of algal bloom formation in industrial water bodies
— reservoirs, irrigation storage, fire-suppression tanks, food and beverage process water, and potable
distribution storage. Floating covers are the most cost-effective long-term approach because they
remove the energy source (sunlight) that algae require for photosynthesis.

## How algae prevention works

Algae cannot grow without sunlight. A high-coverage hexagonal floating cover blocks > 95% of
incident light from reaching the water column:

- **Light blocking** — opaque HDPE elements block direct and diffuse sunlight.
- **Reduced thermal stratification** — covered water bodies have more stable temperature profiles, reducing the thermal cues algae respond to.
- **Sustained suppression** — light blocking is continuous, not episodic, so blooms cannot establish a foothold.

The result is sustained 95%+ suppression without chemicals, power, or ongoing intervention.

## Benefits of algae prevention via covers

| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Algae suppression | 95%+ |
| Chemical treatment reduction | 70–90% |
| Treatment cost reduction | 40–70% |
| Coverage threshold for effective suppression | ≥ 90% |
| Lifecycle | 25+ years |

## When to use algae prevention covers

- Potable water reservoirs where taste and odor complaints recur
- Irrigation reservoirs where algae clog drip emitters
- Food and beverage process water with strict microbial standards
- Fire-suppression storage where periodic refresh is operationally costly
- Any application where chemical dosing is the dominant treatment cost

## Algae prevention vs. alternatives

Compared to copper sulfate dosing, ultrasonic systems, mechanical aerators, or UV treatment, floating
covers offer the largest suppression effect, the longest lifecycle, and the lowest operating cost.
See [hexagonal vs. UV treatment](/vs/uv-treatment) and [hexagonal vs. aerators](/vs/aerators).

## The authentic patented engineering

EuroCover Water Systems distributes the **original AWTT-patented hexagonal floating cover
line** — original Hexprotect® patented by AWTT as the first self-ballasting hexagonal cover,
and Hexprotect® AQUA the pre-ballasted, one-piece moulded variant that
became AWTT's workhorse. The engineering that lets the cover stop algae across irregular
reservoirs without anchors is patented; the documented certification chain (NSF/ANSI
food-grade for potable applications) attaches to the original product. See
[/heritage](/heritage) for the provenance chain.