A method of providing a meniscus reducing member (132,1132) for use in a vessel for containing an aqueous liquid according to claim 4, the method comprising: a) providing a physical surface feature (134,1134) having annular first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and at least a third surface (142,1142) extending between the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces, the third surface (142,1142) intersecting both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces, the physical surface feature (134,1134) configured to physically alter a receding contact angle between a liquid and the physical surface feature (134,1134), wherein the first inner surface (138,1138) is positioned above the second inner surface (140,1140) and a step edge (144,1144) is defined by the intersection of the second inner surface (140,1140) and the third surface (142,1142), and preferably wherein the second inner surface (140,1140) is laterally inwardly offset from the first inner surface (138,1138), and optionally wherein the third surface (142,1142) is • perpendicular to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces or • inclined at an oblique angle to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces; and b) coating the first inner surface (138,1138) and the third surface (142,1142) with a surface coating material, to modify the receding contact angle between the liquid and the first inner surface ((138, 1138) and third surface (142,1142) of the physical surface feature (134,1134) that is coated with the coating material, and wherein the coating material comprises at least one of a siloxane based coating, a fluoropolymer agent, a wax, a wax-like saturated fatty acid, a non wax-like saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, a superhydrophobic particle suspension coating, or a nano-particle based coating. a) providing a physical surface feature (134,1134) having annular first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces that are parallel to and spaced apart from each other and at least a third surface (142,1142) extending between the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces, the third surface (142,1142) intersecting both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces, the physical surface feature (134,1134) configured to physically alter a receding contact angle between a liquid and the physical surface feature (134,1134), wherein the first inner surface (138,1138) is positioned above the second inner surface (140,1140) and a step edge (144,1144) is defined by the intersection of the second inner surface (140,1140) and the third surface (142,1142), and preferably wherein the second inner surface (140,1140) is laterally inwardly offset from the first inner surface (138,1138), and optionally wherein the third surface (142,1142) is • perpendicular to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces or • inclined at an oblique angle to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces; and • perpendicular to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces or • inclined at an oblique angle to both the first (138,1138) and second (140,1140) inner surfaces; and b) coating the first inner surface (138,1138) and the third surface (142,1142) with a surface coating material, to modify the receding contact angle between the liquid and the first inner surface ((138, 1138) and third surface (142,1142) of the physical surface feature (134,1134) that is coated with the coating material, and wherein the coating material comprises at least one of a siloxane based coating, a fluoropolymer agent, a wax, a wax-like saturated fatty acid, a non wax-like saturated or unsaturated fatty acid, a superhydrophobic particle suspension coating, or a nano-particle based coating.