How to Increase Salt Pond Yield with HDPE Geomembrane

One of the largest salt-producing regions in Indonesia lies along the coast of Java, particularly in East Java province. Its long dry seasons make the region well suited to salt production, and farmers are always looking for ways to increase salt pond yield.

Conventional methods produce very low yields. Salt farmers channel seawater into holding ponds, either by pumping or by waiting for high tides. The water left in the pond evaporates over roughly 1 month, leaving behind salt crystals. From experience, the conventional method allows salt farmers to harvest about 3 times a year.

Around 2012, geomembrane material began to be trialled in salt ponds on Madura Island to increase salt pond yield. For the trial, one pond was lined with geomembrane and another was left unlined. The results of the two ponds were then compared.

Salt Pond Geomembrane

Salt pond geomembrane is a waterproof liner for salt ponds made from polyethylene polymer. Its strength, durability, cost-effectiveness and resistance to chemicals and UV light make it the best choice for lining ponds.

How Geomembrane Helps Increase Salt Pond Yield

Geomembrane performance was evaluated by comparing salt pond productivity per unit of pond area. Based on the chart above, the productivity of ponds lined with geomembrane increased by up to 460%.

Key reasons why HDPE membrane increases salt pond productivity:

1. Shorter evaporation time. Observations showed that evaporation takes about 25 days with the conventional method, compared with only 14 days with geomembrane.
2. More harvest cycles
3. Better salt quality (no contamination from the subgrade soil)
4. HDPE has a long service life, which reduces preparation time between seasons.

*Reference: Increasing the Productivity of Salt through HDPE Geomembrane Indonesian Case History in Salt Evaporation Pond Electronic Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 2016