Ballasts are useful in many types of ponds, but in brine ponds, they may not be a feasible option. In non-brine ponds, a variety of materials can be layered over the pond liner to help hold it in place and protect it from damage. These materials include boulders, concrete blocks, crushed stone, gravel, sand and soil. However, in a brine pond that is designed for evaporation and harvesting of collected solids, none of these materials offer a smooth enough surface to make collection feasible. Therefore, brine ponds will often feature smooth concrete poured over the liner, both to protect the liner from damage by heavy equipment, and to make the surface smooth enough to make collection easy.
Floating ballasts can be used in ponds to keep out wildlife or to slow evaporation—and these ballasts are sometimes used on some brine ponds. However, in brine ponds designed for evaporation, floating ballasts generally aren’t present because they slow the evaporation process.
