Reducing Evaporation from

Dams

E Schmidt
 Introduction
How significant is the water lost from storage
dams due to evaporation and seepage?
 Information on number of dams, where and how
large (volume and surface area) is difficult to obtain.

NPSI Study (2005) There is simply no good data on the number,

capacity, surface area, geographical location and usage of farm
dams in Australia

ABS (2005) 22,000 agricultural enterprises with storage.

Example QLD : Estimates of on farm storage range from 2,500 GL

(Whole of State) to 20,000 GL (Queensland Murray Darling Basin)

Australian Total On farm storages 12,500 GL

ICOLD (2005) 500 Registered large dams 84,793 GL

Mining, Lakes, Wetlands, Swamps, Distribution Channels

Potential evaporation from storage dams

High Low
3000 mm/yr 1200mm/yr
 Example Evaporation Losses SEQ Water
Urban Supply Infrastructure
Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams
SEQ Water - 17,028ha = 306,000 ML /yr
Cooby, Cressbrook and Perseverence storages
Toowoomba 1073ha = 19,000 ML/yr
Hinze and Little Nerang storages
Gold Coast 1021ha = 18,000 ML/yr
 Example (farm storages)
Storage of 1,000,000ML (Australian Total 12,500,000ML?)
Annual evaporation loss could be +/- 40%
Annual water loss of 400,000ML

Benefits
1. Increased irrigation area of 50,000ha
(Increased production $150 million)
2. Water for environment
3. Water for alternative users
 Presentation Overview
1. Methods to reduce evaporation losses
2. Trials for evaluating products
3. Measuring evaporation and seepage loss
4. Performance of evaporation control products and
economics
5. Raising national standards for storage monitoring
and management and research challenges.
1. Methods to reduce evaporation losses
Floating covers
Modular covers
Shade structures
Chemical covers
Design features
Biological covers
Floating covers
Impermeable barrier
Many materials (polyethelene)
Many forms of installation
Modular Structures
Individual floating modules
Free floating or fixed
Lower evaporation control
efficiency
Easier installation
Shade Structures
Reduce energy for evaporation
Reduce wind
Trap humid air
Lower performance in reducing
evaporation
Chemical Covers
Monolayer - Long chain
alcohols forming thin layer on
water surface
Biodegradable
Frequent application
Lower effectiveness
Storage Design Issues
Depth/Surface Area
Storage Cells
Shading
Percentage time holding water

Biological Covers
 2. Trials for Evaluating Products

1) E-VapCap floating cover (St. 2) NetPro shadecloth (Stanthorpe)

George)

3) Water$avr monolayer 4) Three 10m ring tanks

(Dirranbandi & Capella, near (University of Southern
Emerald) Qld, Toowoomba)
3. Measuring Evaporation Loss
Weather Station
Class A pan

Scanning radar

Bowen Ratio Sonic Anemometer

Instrumentation to accurately measure water depth changes
Water Balance Approach
Flowin Flowout + Rainfall Seepage Evaporation
=
Change in Storage Volume
 St George open dam NE 13-19 May 04

1382

1381

1380

Analysis 1379

SW
1378

Methodology 1377

1376

1375

1374
200 296 392

St George open dam NE 13-19 May 04

1460

1440

1420
Water Level

1400

1380
NE
1360

1340

1320

1300

1280
0 96 192 288 384 480 576

Time
Case Studies
Urban Storage
Shire Council storage Pumping from river flows
Seepage 1mm/day (Dam 1) 4mm/day (Dam2)
Average Evaporation 6mm/day (December)

Goomeri Storage
1350

Penman-Monteith (FAO56)
Goomeri Storage 1mm/d seepage
1340
Nominal Depth (mm)

1330

1320

1310

1300
20/12/05 21/12/05 22/12/05 23/12/05 24/12/05 25/12/05 26/12/05 27/12/05 28/12/05 29/12/05 30/12/05 31/12/05
Date
Case Studies
Horticulture Storage
16 ha Storage irrigation of beetroot
Seepage <1mm/day
Average Evaporation 5 mm/day (March)
Case Studies

Dairy Storage
Gulley storage dam irrigating pastures
Seepage 7.5mm/day
Average Evaporation 6mm/day (February)
Case Studies
Comparing evaporation from covered and control storage
4. Performance of Evaporation Control Products and
Economics
Experimental Site
PRODUCT Average Range
(%) (%)
Water$avr 26 10 40
E-VapCap - trenched 96 94 100
E-VapCap - tethered 91 83 97
NetPro shade cloth 70 69 71
Raftex 87 80 100
PAM 37 31 - 43
4. Performance of Evaporation Control Products and
Economics
Potential Commercial Scale Performance

Product Performance of EMT (% evaporation mitigation)

Low Moderate High
Floating Cover 85% 90% 95%
Shadecloth 60% 70% 80%
Monolayer 5% 15% 30%
 Indicative Product Costs

Capital Cost Variable Costs

Floating Covers $5.5- $8.5/m2 $150-$1500/ha/yr
Shade Cloth $7.0 - $10.0/m2 $110-$ 600/ha/yr
Monolayers $0.04-$0.38/m2 $ 30-$ 800/ha/yr
Product $800-$1775/ha/yr
 Economic Analyses
Economics are strongly influenced by
Location (Evaporation potential)
Period Water Stored
System Capital Cost and replacement
Annual operating and maintenance costs
Product performance
 Economic Analysis
Economic Ready Reckoner
for Evaporation Mitigation
Systems

ECONOMIC READY RECKONER

FOR
EVAPORATION MITIGATION SYSTEMS

REFERENCE MANUAL

PREPARED FOR:
NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR SUSTAINABLE IRRIGATION

PREPARED BY:
CRC IRRIGATION FUTURES
PO BOX 56
DARLING HEIGHTS QLD 4350

FSA CONSULTING
PO BOX 2175
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350

NCEA
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND
WEST STREET
TOOWOOMBA QLD 4350
 Economic Analysis
Case Studies
Horticulture Storage
 Economic Analysis
Case Studies
Horticulture Storage
 Economic Analysis
Case Studies
Horticulture Storage
 Economic Benefit from Water Saved

Temporary trade value of water

Costs of water purchase (Allocation, pumping, infrastructure)
Opportunity cost of additional crop produced (crop production, quality,
price)
Environmental benefit (economic value)
 Observations
There is growing interest in evaporation mitigation
(agriculture, mining).
A number of products have commercial potential.
Further product development is taking place.
Technology is now available to measure evaporation and
seepage losses.
Part of a Total Water Management approach.
Site specific economic assessment is required.
Raising National Standards for Storage Monitoring
and Management and Research Challenges

National Accounting System for Farm

Storages
National Datasets for Evaporation Prediction
Commercial Scale Trials of Viable
Evaporation Control Products
Monitoring and Measurement of Storages to
Improve On-Farm Water Management
Research into Improved Technologies for
Reducing Evaporation from Large Storages
Development of new technologies for reducing evaporation
losses from large storages
 Development of new technologies for reducing evaporation
losses from large storages

Research Focus
Assessment Evaporation losses and potential savings
across Australia
Better Understanding of Monolayer product performance
Improved monolayer products
Monolayer application, monitoring and control systems
Large scale trials and evaluations
Commercialised Monolayer systems
Thank You for your Attention

Questions?