Apparatus for reducing water evaporation and method therefor

Abstract

A floating cover has a plurality of upper tubular members. The plurality of upper tubular members is attached widthwise together to cover the waterway to reduce water in the waterway from evaporating. A plurality of lower tubular members is provided. Each of the plurality of lower tubular members is positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members, the lower tubular members having open ends to allow water to flow through the lower tubular members.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floating cover for a waterway comprising:
 a plurality of upper tubular members, wherein the plurality of upper tubular members is attached widthwise together to cover the waterway to reduce water in the waterway from evaporating;   a plurality of lower tubular member attached lengthwise to a bottom section of at least one of the upper tubular member, the lower tubular member having open ends to allow water to flow through the lower tubular member; and   a buoyant foam material positioned within at least one of the plurality of upper tubular members keeping the at least one of the plurality of upper tubular members afloat when water enters the at least one of the plurality of upper tubular members.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lower tubular members are attached lengthwise to a bottom section of upper tubular members located on opposing ends of the floating cover. 
     
     
         6 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lower tubular members are attached lengthwise to a bottom section of upper tubular members located on opposing ends of the floating cover and at least one upper tubular members located in a central area of the floating cover. 
     
     
         7 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lower tubular member is positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members. 
     
     
         8 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of lower tubular members is positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members, the lower tubular members having open ends to allow water to flow through the lower tubular members. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lower tubular members are positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members located on opposing ends of the floating cover and at least one upper tubular members positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members located in a central area of the floating cover. 
     
     
         11 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , comprising a lifting attachment coupled to a top surface of the floating cover. 
     
     
         12 . The floating cover of  claim 11 , wherein the lifting attachment comprises a plurality of eye bolts coupled to a multiplicity of the plurality of upper tubular members. 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A floating cover for a waterway comprising:
 a plurality of upper tubular members, wherein the plurality of upper tubular members is attached widthwise together to cover the waterway to reduce water in the waterway from evaporating;   a plurality of lower tubular members, wherein each of the plurality of lower tubular members is positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members, the lower tubular members having open ends to allow water to flow through the lower tubular members; and   a buoyant foam material placed within each of the plurality of upper tubular members keeping each of the plurality of upper tubular members afloat when water enters any of the first plurality of the plurality of upper tubular members.   
     
     
         15 . The floating cover of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of upper tubular members comprises:
 an end cap attached to each end of each of the upper tubular members.   
     
     
         16 . The floating cover of  claim 14 , comprising a lifting attachment coupled to a top surface of the floating cover. 
     
     
         17 . The floating cover of  claim 17 , wherein the lifting attachment comprises a plurality of eye bolts coupled to a multiplicity of the plurality of upper tubular members. 
     
     
         18 . The floating cover of  claim 14 , comprising a solar panel attached to a top surface of the floating cover. 
     
     
         19 . The floating cover of  claim 1 , comprising a walkway attached to a top surface of the floating cover to form a planner top surface on the cover. 
     
     
         20 . A floating cover for a waterway comprising:
 a plurality of upper tubular members, wherein the plurality of upper tubular members is attached widthwise together to cover the waterway to reduce water in the waterway from evaporating, wherein each of the plurality of upper tubular members comprises:
 a buoyant foam material positioned within each of the plurality of upper tubular members keeping each of the plurality of upper tubular members afloat when water enters any of the first plurality of the plurality of upper tubular members; and 
 an end cap attached to each end of each of the upper tubular members; 
   a plurality of lower tubular members, wherein each of the plurality of lower tubular members is positioned between and attached lengthwise to corresponding bottom sections of adjacent upper tubular members, the lower tubular members having open ends to allow water to flow through the lower tubular members; and   a lifting attachment coupled to a top surface of the floating cover.