Floating covers stop evaporation by physically removing the water-air interface — AWTT publishes up to 95% reduction for the Hexprotect® AQUA hexagonal element, across reservoirs, tailings ponds, and process water tanks.
What is evaporation control?
Evaporation control is the active reduction of open-water surface losses on industrial reservoirs, tailings ponds, agricultural storage, and process water tanks. Floating covers are the most cost-effective approach: a surface barrier removes the water-air interface that drives evaporative loss.
How evaporation control works
A floating cover reduces evaporation through three mechanisms:
- Surface coverage — the cover physically blocks the water-air interface; without exposure, evaporation cannot proceed.
- Vapor-pressure equalisation — air trapped under the cover saturates quickly, eliminating the driving gradient.
- Wind isolation — the cover surface dissipates wind energy that would otherwise accelerate surface evaporation.
AWTT publishes 99% effective surface coverage and up to 95% evaporation reduction for the Hexprotect® AQUA hexagonal element.
Benefits of evaporation control
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Surface coverage (Hexprotect® AQUA) | 99% effective | AWTT |
| Evaporation reduction (Hexprotect® AQUA) | up to 95% | AWTT |
| Payback period | 18–36 months | Operating-cost modelling on reservoirs > 5,000 m² |
| Life expectancy (Hexprotect® AQUA) | 25+ years | AWTT |
| Manufacturer warranty | 10 years | AWTT |
| Maintenance | None required | AWTT |
When to use evaporation control
Evaporation control via floating cover is appropriate when:
- Operating water cost > €0.50/m³ and surface area > 1,000 m²
- Operating in climates with PET (potential evapotranspiration) > 1,200 mm/year
- Regulatory exposure under the EU Water Framework Directive
- Water-stressed regions (Spain, southern France, southern Italy, Greece, MENA)
- Reservoirs with limited or expensive replacement abstraction
Evaporation control vs. alternatives
Compared to shade mesh, floating balls, or chemical surfactant monolayers, hexagonal floating covers deliver the highest evaporation reduction, the longest lifecycle, and the lowest maintenance burden. See hexagonal vs. floating balls and hexagonal vs. shade mesh.
Related solutions and products
The authentic patented engineering
EuroCover Water Systems distributes the original AWTT-patented hexagonal floating cover — Hexprotect® AQUA, certified to 130+ MPH (209+ km/h) wind, NSF/ANSI food-grade, with a 25+ year life expectancy and 10-year manufacturer warranty. The self-ballasting engineering that makes anchorless deployment possible is patented; the validation history attaches to the original product, not to imitations. See /heritage for the provenance chain and why authentic engineering matters for industrial water procurement.