how do I stop evaporation from my dam and still water sheep?

Question

I heard of a liquid additive made from cilica or contained cilica that created a film preventing evaporation but harmless to wild life in general, koonacs, yabbies, ducks,Heron, etc;

Answer 1

I think you are refering to fumed silica or fumed colloidal silica. The EPA has ruled it as non-toxic due to the inert qualities of silica and oxygen, with having no culmulative or aggregate effects. Yhe report is below.

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-PEST/2002/May/Day-15/p11743.htm

It has been used or at least paptented for its potential applications in cleaning up oil spills. The only negative environmental effects I have found is that it can lead to some pretty serious beach erosion issues downstream. (when I say only - this is actually a pretty major concern).

Healthy beaches are sustained by the natural cohesion that exists between sand and water. However, much of the sand around the world is coated with Fumed Silica (do it its long-term use in the treatment of paint, plastics rubber etc), which acts as a lubricant and disrupts this natural cohesion.

Fumed silica is one of the most well-established nano-technologies, having being produced for its used in plastics, rubber, cosmetics, paint additives for well over 50 years. As a nanotechnology there are potential concerns about its safety in an aerosol form and as a potential inhalant hazard.

There are few published articles on using it for the purpose you are proposing. Is remote watering a potential alternative for your sheep? Other technologies in arid areas are subsurface or ground water dams - although as a solution to your imediate crisis, this might be pretty expensive....Planting vegetation around your reservoir (depending on the size of your dam) will definately help in a number of ways. Firstly the buffer will help water quality and also help in preventing sedimentation - soil build-up will definitely reduce the dam's water holding capacity.

Shelterbelts in the catchment can reduce evaporation from the dam and prevent wave erosion of the dam walls. A shelterbelt of native vegetation can be established to provide protection from the major wind direction. Reduced air movement across the dam then reduces evaporation from the dam surface.

In warmer areas, wind can account for approximately
25 per cent of evaporation from farm dams.

Slower wind also reduces the size and strength of waves on the water surface. This in turn helps prevent wave erosion of the wall and banks, and can eliminate the need for expensive erosion control structures.

Aquatic plants which provide shelter for the dam edge can also provide the added benefit of reducing nutrients in the dam water and it will also improve your reservoir as a potential habitat for fish and waterfowl.

You can also buy evaporative covers or membranes, although these would hardly be condusive to local wildlife.

Anyway, I could go on (in fact I think I already have!).

Good luck!

Answer 2

Another possible solution is mineral oil . A few drops will make a very thin layer over the water and in such small amounts it is harmless.

Answer 3

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