Brine ponds often go uncovered to maximize evaporation rates, but there are cases in which you may want to cover a brine pond. In general, covered brine ponds are not used for evaporation. Instead, they’re often used for short or long-term storage for brines that will later be processed using some other method. One example is within the oil and gas industry, especially where fracking is prominent. Here, covers on brine ponds prevent evaporation, which prevents the evaporative loss of valuable water that can be used in the mining process.
Covers can also be used for a variety of other purposes. They can be a security measure, preventing animals, birds and humans from accessing potentially toxic brine, and they can also be used to temporarily prevent brine from becoming diluted by rainwater. In some cases, brine ponds may require covers to comply with state regulations. Additionally, covers on brine ponds can increase the reuse potential of surrounding lands. Winds can cause brine spray, which can contaminate surrounding lands. A cover over your brine ponds will prevent this from happening.
