21/6/2016 DamEvaporationMitigation

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DamEvaporationMitigation Go
ProjectQuickLinks:
Leader:
Progresstodate
MrErikSchmidt
Publications
INFLO
ProjectDescription: MediaReleases
FromtheCEO'sdesk
Overview Researchers December
DamEvaporationMitigationaddressesthesubstantialevaporationlossesofwaterfromdams. Postgraduatestudents
Becauseofitshighrainfallvariability,Australiahasgreaterstoragecapacitythanothercountries. Workshops
Waterstoredindams,particularlyshallowonfarmdams,issubjectedtohighevaporativelosses.In Toolkits
smalldamsthiscanbereducedthroughphysicaldamcovers,butonlargedamschemicalmonolayer Training
techniquesarepotentiallymorefeasible.Thisprojectwillimprovethereliabilityofevaporation
mitigationtechnologybydevelopingnewmonolayerdetectionandapplicationsystemsandabetter
understandingonfactorsaffectingmonolayerperformance.

Objectives
Developmentoftechnologyandsystemstoevaluateevaporationandseepagelossesfromwater
storages.
Developmentofimprovedmonolayerbasedevaporationmitigationsystemsthatcanbeappliedto
largescalewaterstoragestoreduceevaporationloses.

Strategies
Developstandardisedmethodsforevaporationandseepagemonitoringofstoragedamsincluding
improveddepthsensingtechnologiesandanalysisproceduresanduseofmeteorologicalbased
evaporationestimates.
Collationofavailableinformationofstoragessizeclassesandevaporationlosses,coordinationof
systemforaccountingofstoragedamsandassessmentofmarketpotentialforevaporationmitigation
productsandsavings.
Reviewofcurrentmonolayerformulationsandassessmentoffactorsaffectingspreadingand
evaporationreductionperformance.
Developmonolayerapplication,monitoringandcontrolsystemsandrecommendationsforbest
managementpractices.

ProgresstoDate:
JUNE2009UPDATE
SystemsformeasuringevaporationandseepagefromstoragedamsdevelopedbytheCRCarenow
beingcommercializedthroughtheIrrimateTMnetworkofconsultantsandAquatechconsulting.The
NationalWaterCommissionhasfundedaprojectwithanaimtoimprovethewaterefficiencyofon
farmstoragesinthecottonindustry.Thisproject,deliveredthroughtheCRCCottonCatchment
CommunitiesisusingCRCIFmonitoringtechnologiestobenchmarkstorageperformanceonatarget
of200storages.

Studiestoidentifyperformanceandbestmanagementpracticesformonolayersystemshavebeen
completed.Thestudieshavedemonstratedwidevariabilityinproductperformancewithevaporation
savingsrangingfromzeroto70%.Performanceisimpactedbyproduct,dosagerate,waterqualityand
weatherconditions(egwindandtemperature).Inparticularperformanceisinfluencedbytheexistence
andevolutionofnaturalmicrolayerswhichexistonmostnaturalwaters.Anewproduct(E10)
developedthroughanalliancebetweenCRCPolymers,CRCCCCandCRCIFhasdemonstrated
improvedperformanceovercurrentcommercialproducts.

AwebbasedEconomicReadyReckonerwhichcanbeusedtoevaluatetheperformanceand
economicsofevaporationcontroltechnologieshasbeendeveloped.Fourtrainingdayshavebeen
heldinVictoriaandNSWtoprovideirrigators,consultantsandofficialsinformationonevaporation
controltechnologies.AnumberoflocalcasestudieshavebeenusedtoillustratetheuseoftheReady
Reckoner.

Researchintomonolayerapplicationmonitoringandcontrolsystemhasbeencompleted.Auniversal
designframeworkforsmartmonolayerapplicationisbeingformulatedwhichwillleadtooptimum
deploymentofmonolayerapplicationsystems.Ademonstrationunitiscurrentlybeingfinalisedfor
deploymentandevaluation.Akeylimitationinusingmonolayersisourabilitytoidentifythepresence
oftheproductonthewatersurface.Variousmonitoringapproacheshavebeenresearchedandan
innovativeapproachusingprecisiontemperaturemeasurementisbeingfurtherrefinedandtested.

TheCRCIFarecontributingtoanewprojectfundedthroughtheSouthEastQueenslandUrbanWater
Alliancewhichwillassessthepotentialformeasuringevaporationlossesonlargeurbanwater
storagesandthepotentialformonolayertechnologiestominimisesuchlosses.

PresentationshavebeenmadeatarangeofforumsundertheauspiciousofCRCIF,CRCCCC,
QueenslandFarmersFederation,CottonTradeShow,GwydirIrrigationaswellastoarangeoffarmer
andconsultantgroupsatfielddays.InternationallinkshavebeenestablishedwithClemsonUniversity
USASingaporeNationalWaterUtilityBoardAdvancedPhotonSource(APS)Chicago,USAScience
andTechnologyCentreforminingresearch,Chile.Aninternationalworkshoponevaporationisbeing
plannedforDecember2009withinternationalvisitorsProfJSaylor,USAandAssProfVictoria
MartinezAlvarez,Spain.

http://www.irrigationfutures.org.au/projects.asp?ID=37 1/4
21/6/2016 DamEvaporationMitigation

TheprojectteamheldaverysuccessfulplanningworkshopinMelbourneonNovember62008
facilitatedbyNPSIandfocussingonarangeofintegratedprojectsaddressingmonolayersand
reducingevaporationlosses.ThreePhDstudentsandonemastersstudentarecurrentlyworkingon
componentsoftheproject.

FUTUREDIRECTIONS
Activitiesintheremaining12monthsoftheprojectarefocussingondeploymentandfurthertestingof
monolayerapplicationandsensingsystems,developmentoftrainingmaterialviaanonlineweb
resource,promotionofprojectoutcomesviaconferencesandworkshops,publishinginselected
journalsandsupportintheongoingdeploymentandevaluationofseepage/evaporationmonitoring
systems.

Publications:
Author
CraigI(2006)
SchmidtE(2007)
Barnes,G.T.(2008)
Craig,I.,Aravinthan,V.,Baillie,C.,Beswick, Evaporation,seepageandwaterqualitymanagement
A.,Barnes,G.,Bradbury,R.,Connell,L.,
Coop,P.,Fellows,C.,Fitzmaurice,L..,Foley, EnvironmentalHealth
J.,Hancock,N.,Lamb,D.,Morrison,P.,Misra,
R.,Mossad,R.,Pittaway,P.,Prime,E.,Rees,
S.,Schmidt,E.(2007)
Duncan,R.A.,Bethune,M.G.,
Thayalakumaran,T.,Christen,E.W.and
McMahon,T.A(2008)
Gillies,M.H.,Smith,R.J.andRaine,S.R.
(2007)
InmanBamber,N.G.,Bonnett,G.D.,
Spillman,M.F.,Hewitt,M.L.andJackson,J.
(2008)
Schmidt,E.(2009)
Author
CraigI,SchmidtE&ScobieM(2006)
Baillie,C.(2008)
Pittaway,P.&vandenAncker,T.(2009)
Symes,T.Hancock,N.&Schmidt,E.(2009)
Symes,T.Pittaway,P.&Schmidt,E.(2009)
Author
Muir,J.,Danaher,T.andBaillie,C.(0)
Solomon,D.andPrime,E.(0)
Brink,G.,Symes,T.,Pittaway,P.,Hancock,N., Smartmonolayerapplicationandmanagementto
Pather,S.andSchmidt,E.(0)
Atkins,D.&Schmidt,E.(0)
Brink,G.Wandel,A.Hancock,N.&Pather,S. Towardsadaptiveoperationalrequirementsfor
(0)
TitleandRefereedJournal
Comparisonofprecisewaterdepthmeasurementson
agriculturalstorageswithopenwaterevaporation
estimatesAgriculturalWaterManagement
PuttingathinlidonevaporationlossesPuttingathin
lidonevaporationlossesECOSECOS
Thepotentialformonolayerstoreducethe
evaporationofwaterfromlargestoragesAgricultural
WaterManagement
instoragedams:areviewofresearchmethods
Managementofsaltmobilisationintheirrigated
landscapeAreviewofselectedregionsJournalof
Hydrology
Accountingfortemporalinflowvariationintheinverse
solutionforinfiltrationinsurfaceirrigationIrrigation
Science
Increasingsucroseaccumulationinsugarcaneby
manipulatingleafextensionandphotosynthesiswith
irrigationAustralianJournalofAgriculturalResearch
Reducingevaporationlosses.InternationalWater
PowerandDamConstruction,
TitleandReport
EvaporationMitigationTechnology(EMT)
ManufacturersLiasonReportNCEA
AssessmentofEvaporationLossesandEvaporation
MitigationTechnologiesforOnFarmWaterStorages
acrossAustraliaCRCforIrrigationFutures
Microbialandenvironmentalimplicationsforuseof
monolayerstoreduceevaporativelossfromwater
storages.CRCforIrrigationFuturesTechnicalReport
No.07/10.
EstimationofEvaporationusingEnvironmental
MeasurementsforanOpenWaterBody(Final
Report)NationalCentreforEngineeringin
AgriculturePublication1002999/2,USQToowoomba
Evaporation,TemperatureandWaterQualityImpacts
forAquaArmourTMFloatingPods.NationalCentrefor
EngineeringinAgriculturePublication1003113/1,
USQToowoomba
TitleandPublishedConferencePaperorWorkshop
Paper
Whereisallthewater?Usingtimeseriesanalysisof
Landsatimagerytomaptheextendofwaterbodies
theworkshoponSpatialInformationforWater
ResourceManagement
MinimizingWaterEvaporationbyMonolayers12th
InternationalCOMSconferenceonthe
commercializationofmicroandnanotechnologies,
reduceevaporationfromfarmdamsformulationofa
universaldesignframeworkEREConference
FarmDamManagement.AustralianIrrigation
Conference2010:OneWaterManyFutures,
optimalapplicationofevaporationsuppressing
monolayertoreservoirsviaa'UniversalDesign
Framework':InternationalWorkshoponEvaporation
fromReservoirsGriffithUniversity,

http://www.irrigationfutures.org.au/projects.asp?ID=37 2/4
21/6/2016
Brink,G,Symes,T&Hancock,N(0)
Brink,G.Wandel,A.Pittaway,P.Hancock,N. Determiningoperationalrequirementstooptimise
&Pather,S.(0)
Coop,P.Lamb,D.Fellows,C.&Bradbury,R. Windassistedsurfaceprobe(WASP)anautomated
(0)
Gill,E.Prime,E.&Solomon,D.(0)
Hancock,N.Pittaway,P.&Symes,T.(0)
Hancock,N.&Symes,T.(0)
Herzig,M.&Barnes,G.(0)
Herzig,M.Brink,G.&Barnes,G.(0)
Pittaway,P.(0)
Pittaway,P.Herzig,M.vandenAncker,T.&
Barnes,G.(0)
Pittaway,P.Hancock,N.Brink,G.Symes,T.& Revisitingartificialmonolayersasastrategyto
Schmidt,E.(0)
Pittaway,P.&vandenAncker,T.(0)
Schmidt,E.(0)
Schmidt,E.(0)
Symes,T.&Brink,G.(0)
Symes,T.Hancock,N.&Schmidt,E.(0)
DamEvaporationMitigation
Developmentofa'smart'monolayerapplication
systemforreducingevaporationonfarmdams
introductorypaper.The2009CIGRInternational
SymposiumoftheAustralianSocietyforEngineering
inAgricultureAgriculturalTechnologiesina
ChangingClimate
monolayerperformanceonafarmdamviaa
UniversalDesignFramework.AustralianIrrigation
Conference2010:OneWaterManyFutures,
sensorforthedetectionofevaporationreducing
monolayers.AustralianIrrigationConference2010:
OneWaterManyFutures,
Efficacyofselectedmicroandmonolayerproducts
onevaporation.AustralianIrrigationConference
2010:OneWaterManyFutures,
Towardsabiophysicalunderstandingofobserved
performanceofevaporationsuppressantfilms
appliedtoagriculturalwaterstorages.The2009
CIGRInternationalSymposiumoftheAustralian
SocietyforEngineeringinAgricultureAgricultural
TechnologiesinaChangingClimate
EvapCalcamodestcosttechniqueforrealtime
measurementofevaporation(andseepage)from
farmdams.:InternationalWorkshoponEvaporation
fromReservoirs.
Usingemulsionstoimprovethespreadingratesof
monolayerstoreducewaterevaporation.Australian
IrrigationConference2010:OneWaterManyFutures,
Formulationsforeffectivemonolayerperformance.
InternationalWorkshoponEvaporationfrom
Reservoirs,
Waterqualityperformancecriteriaformonolayer
productspecifications:Selectingtherightproductfor
thejob.AustralianIrrigationConference2010:One
WaterManyFutures,
Resiliencetobacterialdegradationandbiosurfactant
disruptionasselectioncriteriaforimprovedartificial
monolayercompounds.InternationalWorkshopon
EvaporationfromReservoirs.
reduceevaporationlossfromlargeopenwater
bodies..UrbanWaterSecurityResearchAlliance
ScienceForum.
Theimpactofwaterqualityonmonolayer
performanceinreducingevaporativelossfromwater
storages.AustralianIrrigationConference2010:One
WaterManyFutures,
ReducingevaporationlossesOpportunitiesforcost
effectivewatersavings.IrrigationAustralia
ConferenceIrrigationToday:MeetingtheChallenge.
Collaborativeresearchtowardsreducingevaporation
lossesfromwaterstorages.AustralianIrrigation
Conference2010:OneWaterManyFutures,
Ascalabledistributionsystemfortheoptimal
applicationofevaporationsuppressantfilmtofarm
dams.AustralianIrrigationConference2010:One
WaterManyFutures,
Reliable,modestcostseepageandevaporation
measurementforfarmdamsusingEvapCalc
AustralianIrrigationConference2010:OneWater
ManyFutures,

MediaReleases:
MEDIARELEASE:Technologytoboostwaterproductivityasfarmmodernisationbegins
Boostforfarmdams
Sprayonliquidreduceswaterloss
Sprayonprotectionreduceswaterloss

Researchers:
ProfStevenRaine ProfRodSmith
DrRabiMisra MrErikSchmidt
AssProfNigelHancock MrIanCraig
MrPeterSmith MrAlanBeswick
MrJosephFoley MrCraigBaillie
AssProfDavidLamb DrChrisFellows
AssProfArmandoApan MrHarnamGill

http://www.irrigationfutures.org.au/projects.asp?ID=37 3/4
21/6/2016 DamEvaporationMitigation
MrBillWilliamson

PostgraduateStudents:
MrPaulCoop MrMichaelHerzig
MrGavinBrink MichelleWinter

Workshops:
PresentationstotheNationalWaterCommission
AnnualResearchForum2008Presentations
AnnualResearchForum2008PosterSession

Toolkits:
DamEvaporationCalculatoraneconomicreadyreckoner

Training:

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