Hexagonal floating covers eliminate evaporation and algae; shade mesh blocks sunlight (suppressing algae) but is vapour-permeable, so it does NOT stop evaporation.
At a glance
| Metric | Hexagonal floating cover | Shade mesh | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evaporation reduction | 90–97% | 0–5% | Mesh is vapour-permeable. |
| Algae suppression | 95%+ | 70–90% | Both block sunlight. |
| Odor reduction | 90%+ | 0% | |
| Lifecycle | 25+ years | 3–7 years | |
| Capex / m² | Higher upfront | Lower upfront | |
| Wind loading | Self-ballasting, no anchors | Requires anchor structure |
Hexagonal floating covers eliminate evaporation and algae; shade mesh blocks sunlight (so it suppresses algae) but is vapour-permeable, so it does not stop evaporation. For most industrial water bodies, the difference matters.
Where each comes from
Shade mesh is a permeable woven fabric — typically HDPE or polypropylene — suspended above the water surface on an anchor frame. It blocks roughly 50–95% of incident sunlight depending on mesh density.
Hexagonal floating covers are solid modular HDPE elements that tessellate directly on the water surface, blocking sunlight AND removing the water-air interface.
When shade mesh is the appropriate choice
- Algae suppression is the only goal
- Evaporation reduction is not valued (heavily replenished water source, very low water cost)
- 3–7 year lifecycle is acceptable
- Small water body where anchor-frame economics work
- Aquaculture applications where partial gas exchange is required
For these use cases, shade mesh is cheaper upfront.
When hexagonal covers are the appropriate choice
- Evaporation reduction is valued (most industrial applications)
- Odor or emission reduction is required
- 25+ year lifecycle is the operating horizon
- Anchorless deployment is required
- Larger water bodies (mining, water utilities, irrigation, biogas)
Recommendation
For algae-only suppression on small specific applications, shade mesh works. For everything else, hexagonal covers deliver the bigger benefit envelope at lower 10-year total cost.
When Shade mesh makes sense
Shade mesh is appropriate where the only goal is algae suppression on a small water body, where evaporation reduction is not valued (e.g. heavily replenished water source, very low water cost), and where the 3–7 year lifecycle is acceptable. For most industrial applications, the lifecycle cost favours hexagonal covers.
Total cost of ownership over 10 years
| Line item | Hexagonal cover | Shade mesh |
|---|---|---|
| Capex (m²) | Higher one-time | Lower one-time |
| Replacement over 10 years | None | 1–2 replacements |
| Anchor / structure maintenance | None | Required |
| Water savings (10 years) | Large positive | Negligible |