Methods for dust control on saline dry lakebeds using minimal water resources

Abstract

A method for controlling dust on a saline lakebed is disclosed comprising the steps of commencing the flooding of a wetting basin, testing to determine if there is a sufficient level of salts which when flooded will produce a brackish solution, testing the temperature of the lakebed substrate and curtailing further flooding of the lakebed depending on the substrate temperature.

Description

[0001]This patent application is a divisional of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 13 / 157,244, filed on Jun. 23, 2011, which claimed priority to non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 841,971 filed Jul. 22, 2010 which claimed priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. Nos. 61 / 228,271 entitled “System and Method for Use of Natural Brine To Prevent Fugitive Dust Using Minimal Water,” filed on Jul. 24, 2009; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 254,112 entitled “System and Method for Use of Natural Brine to Prevent Fugitive Dust Using Minimal Water,” tiled on Oct. 22, 2009; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 326,468 entitled “Chloride Salts With Divalent Cations Provide Temporary Surface Stabilization in Saline Systems Dominated by Sodium,” filed on Apr. 21, 2010; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 358,249 entitled “Chloride Salts with Divalent Cations and Polyacrylamide Provide Temporary Suthice Stabilization in Sali...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention proposes systems and methods for protecting surfaces from releasing dust using existing infrastructure designed for surface wetting. These methods consume minimal water resources for startup and maintenance. The methods are based on the natural properties of salts present within the Owens Lake system and work by either using a different type of salt or adding another ingredient to stabilize the surface. One method, called Springtime Conservation, aims to save water by reducing water delivery to the wetting basin during temperatures that induce summer crust formation. This method can still control dust effectively, while conserving significant water resources.

Problems solved by technology

Soils enriched with sodium carbonate and sodium sulfate through agricultural drainage, similar salty beds exposed due to anthropomorphically-changed hydrology (like the Owens Lake), and natural dry lakebeds with shallow groundwater connection are prone to create large sources of airborne dust that can cause health and safety hazards within the surrounding region.

Owens Lake was the historic terminus of the Owens River that was diverted for export by the City of Los Angeles resulting in desiccation of the lake early in the last century.

This process destroys soil cohesion and renders the surface easily lofted by only moderate winds of about 15 miles per hour.

Unfortunately, wetting of the Owens Lake surface is using enormous amounts of water—LADWP uses four feet per year to plan for the required water application for dust control through the dust control season.

Within the critically water-short semi-arid southeastern California region, this annual consumption of water for dust control is not sustainable.

Sodium chloride, the salt that provides the protective mechanism responsible for retaining the non-emissive qualities of a lakebed source deposit, may be present in limited but sufficient quantities, if managed correctly.

The June threshold arose because summertime winds are generally insufficient to cause dust emission from those portions of the Owens Lake bed that emitted dust during the winter and spring.

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