Salt is an important natural resource, used both as a good product and for a variety of industrial purposes—and brine ponds are a key way to produce it. Seawater has a surprisingly high salt content at about 3.5% salt by weight—and that means salt production through seawater is an effective, straightforward way to harvest salt, especially as opposed to complicated and environmentally damaging mining operations.
Brine ponds used for salt production are simple. Seawater is pumped into the pond, and then allowed to evaporate slowly. Once the water has evaporated, all that remains are the salt crystals, which can then be harvested. Pond liners are an important part of these systems because they prevent leaks that can lead to the loss of product and to the salination of the soil beneath the pond.
