Mr Tucker says water will probably get more expensive and mass production could see the costs of the modules fall, making aquacaps an attractive possibility for the future. The potential benefits of aquacaps are not confined to reducing evaporation. An unexpected observation is the effect the modules have on reducing algal blooms, which may include toxic blue-green algae. An inconvenience for holiday makers can be disastrous for farmers, since some types of blue-green algae are capable of killing stock. One 'cure' can involve using poisonous copper sulfate, which treats the algae but not the toxins.
Prevention is obviously preferable.
Mr Burston says the aquacap modules reduce algal bloom to such an extent that they could be useful in stopping the problem under certain circumstances. The domes also appear to reduce turbidity and to minimise wave action on the water surface, which helps to alleviate erosion on the banks. A reduction in salinity is yet another benefit that would be particularly appealing to farmers in salt-affected areas such as northern Victoria. Since evaporation is greatly reduced, the salt concentration in the water is also lessened. That challenge lies ahead.