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Going Under Cover To Save Water Brings Dramatic ResultsPioneering research involving East Gippsland Water has revealed the dramatic benefits of installing shade cloth covers over water storage basins –both in protecting water quality and combating evaporation. By East Gippsland Water - 27th February 2007 - Back to News Between 2004 and 2006 East Gippsland Water participated in a $1 million research project to comprehensively test the effectiveness of shade cloth covers – essentially the first experiment of its kind in the world and partially funded by the Federal Government.
Working with the CSIRO, shade cloth specialists Gale Pacific and SuperSpan (who designed and constructed the shade cloth structures), covers were erected over open air storage basins at Omeo, Mallacoota, Swifts Creek and Cann River. Two storage basins were left uncovered, at Sarsfield and Orbost, to act as a control for the test and all sites were monitored closely to check for evaporation, as well as for algal, bacterial and air borne contamination.
The results were dramatic, with the study showing that shade cloth covers drastically reduced the incidence of algal blooms. Covering storage basins also reduced evaporation by an amazing 90%. In the case of Mallacoota’s storage, evaporation fell from around 10 megalitres (or ten Olympic size swimming pools) a year to just one megalitre (one Olympic size pool). In total across all covered storage basins, evaporation was drastically cut from 29 megalitres to just 2.9.
Said East Gippsland Water’s Chief Executive Officer Les Mathieson: "Shade cloth covers
could revolutionise the way water authorities go about protecting water in storage basins from bacterial and air borne contamination, how they minimise algal growth and reduce losses through evaporation.
"What we have here is an economic solution for urban and regional water storages. It’s no surprise that the water industry and water authorities have been sitting up and taking notice of this project, given the far reaching benefits offered. The significant decrease in evaporation alone has helped us during the current drought in delaying the introduction of water restrictions at Omeo for example."
The cloth used is 97% light proof and intended to prevent, or at least minimise, the growth of algae, weed or vegetation by hampering photosynthesis. It also pretty much eliminates water contamination from bird droppings and other wind borne material.
Needless to say, East Gippsland Water intends continuing with the shade cloth covers well into the future.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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