Wetting of an evaporative cooler media through a permeable layer

An evaporative cooler, and associated method of cooling air, comprises an evaporative pad 12 and a liquid coolant distribution container 28, where the evaporative pad includes a liquid coolant-receiving surface 18 at which a liquid coolant distributed to the evaporative pad is received and thereafter passes into the evaporative pad. The liquid coolant distribution container includes an upper portion 32 configured to hold liquid coolant and a lower portion 34 contiguous with the upper portion. The lower portion includes an opening 36 and a permeable bed 37 in place over the opening through which the liquid coolant held in the upper portion of the liquid coolant distribution container passes and is distributed to the liquid coolant-receiving surface of the evaporative pad, thereby wetting essentially the entirety of the evaporative pad. The liquid coolant may be selected from a group consisting of untreated water, treated water and an aqueous solution. Preferably, the evaporative cooler is included as a component of an air-conditioning system that is operably associated with a gas turbine system to which air exiting the air-conditioning system is directed.