Calculating evaporation rates isn’t an exact science because a variety of environmental concerns—like temperature, humidity, and wind speed—go into it, but there are ways to estimate how long the process should take. Liquid reduction times can be estimated based on a couple of factors, including the pond’s design and the type of brine. First, it’s important to realize that the rate of evaporation slows with more heavily concentrated brines. The trend is a curve, with exponentially less evaporation happening the less water is present within the brine.
You’ll also need to calculate surface area, average daily solar radiation, average daily wind speeds, and the brine’s chemical composition. A great way to find this information is to contact state environmental protection agencies to get data on wind speed and solar radiation. Be sure to ask about designs for brine ponds as local environmental protection agencies may already have plans for brine ponds that have been installed in your area. These agencies will also be able to help you learn how to manage wastewater.
