A pre-evaporative system used with an evaporative cooling apparatus is provided. The system may include a pre-evaporative media and a cooling media, each having a fiber pad with an edge coating and a distribution plate. The distribution plate operates to evenly distribute water over the entire surface. The system includes a shield with a mounting plate. The shield with the mounting plate operate to retain the pre-evaporative media and the cooling media adjacent each other; to form a seal with the distribution plate of the pre-evaporative media and with the distribution plate of the cooling media; and to shield a first water distribution pipe and a second water distribution pipe that supply water to the pre-evaporative media and the cooling media.