“Preventing Evaporation”, Pilot tests here in Singapore
Posted on July 4, 2010 by yiqi
From the Straits Times:
“Singapore could save about 20 million cubic meters of water each year, or 8,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools’ worth, by using a thin film of organic molecules to cut evaporation from reservoirs.“
According to the article, also available on Wild Singapore, the amount of water “lost” through evaporation is enough to meet Singapore’s water demand for over 2 months.
Sounds like it’s a worthy cause then, no? I mean, water is a great concern to Singapore, since we do not have a source of fresh water on this tiny island of ours. National taps and all that.
I have a question here though. Does anyone think it’s a bad idea to mess with nature even further? I mean, from what I recall in science class back in secondary school, evaporation is pretty much a natural process that takes place, part of the whole Hydrologic Cycle. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, things like that. Nature at work.
Forgive me if I’m ignorant, but if I manage to pour a tonne of crude oil, say, from an oil spill, over Bedok Reservoir, would that not also “prevent evaporation”? Just saying.
Although, as Professor Peter Ng of National University of Singapore points out, it’s perhaps a good thing that this pilot project is being carried out at the Bedok Reservoir as it is an artificial system. Silver lining. Brightens up my day.
Thoughts?
