Device and method for containing, covering, and treating produced water in a container

An apparatus for treating a contaminated source water therein by evaporation and subsequent condensation, comprising:

• a container defining an inner volume for treatment of contaminated source water;
• a plurality of substantially vertical spaced-apart dividing walls, each dividing wall longitudinally extending within said interior volume of the container, adjacent pairs of said dividing walls partitioning the interior space of the container into a plurality of water-treatment zones between respective pairs of said dividing walls, each dividing wall comprising one or more first openings for fluid communication between adjacent water-treatment zones;
• and
• a plurality of cover members extending respectively longitudinally along or across each of said pairs of dividing walls and above each of said pairs of dividing walls, the cover members each comprising a vaulted cover section for defining a gas chamber above each of the pairs of spaced-apart dividing walls, mutually-opposite side edges of said cover members respectively extending upward from side edges of said spaced-apart dividing walls;
• wherein each vaulted cover section comprises:
• an inner condensation surface in association with and forming part of the gas chamber and adapted for condensing thereon a water vapour evaporated from the contaminated source water in the water container by application of sunlight or a heat source to the contaminated water and which resulting water vapour rises in the gas chamber;
• and
• a water collection channel coupled to at least one lower side edge of the inner condensation surface of each vaulted cover section, which is adapted to collect condensed water vapour which drains via gravity down from said vaulted cover section into said water collection channel associated with each water treatment zone.