Shade balls

Shade balls in a European hotel swimming-pool

Shade balls are small plastic spheres floated on top of a reservoir for environmental protection and to slow evaporation.

Usage by LADWP

Shade balls in the Ivanhoe Reservoir, 2015

Starting in mid-2008, the LADWP deployed about 400,000 of these devices in the Ivanhoe reservoir with the main objective of denying the formation of a dangerous chemical, "...when sunlight mixes with the bromide and chlorine in the Ivanhoe reservoir's water, the carcinogen bromate forms..."[1] In the original release by the LADWP, there is no mention of water conservation as an objective, and the project was planned for a 5 year life span, until a Griffith Park project is completed.

In 2014 and 2015, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power deployed 96 million shade balls on its largest reservoir in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's surface water treatment rule,[2] which requires large reservoirs to be covered.[3][4] The LADWP claims that in addition to reducing evaporation, they will also reduce UV radiation by-products and algae growth.[5]

Construction

The shade balls used in the Los Angeles project are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) with carbon black additive to protect the plastic from ultraviolet radiation. Adding carbon black prevents bromate from forming, which causes stomach problems when the water contaminated with bromate is consumed.[6][7][8][9]

They are about 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, and partially filled with water to avoid being blown by wind. HDPE plastic is commonly used for food and beverage containers as well as water distribution pipes.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Vara-Orta, Francisco. "A reservoir goes undercover". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Water: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  3. ↑ "Los Angeles Unleashes 'Shade Balls' To Protect Reservoir Water Quality". National Public Radio. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  4. ↑ Walton, Alice; Grad, Shelby (2015-08-12). "The 36-cent 'shade ball' that could save $250 million and keep L.A. water clean". The Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Times). Retrieved 2015-08-12. Shade balls are used to protect water quality, prevent algae growth and slow evaporation from the city’s reservoirs.
  5. ↑ Walton, Alice (August 23, 2015). "L.A.'s shade balls go viral — but the Internet has mixed opinion". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Shade Balls: Sustainable Drought Prevention", retrieved 3-31-2016, Precision Plastic Ball
  7. ↑ "Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With 96 Million Shade Balls to Conserve Water Amidst Drought" (Aug 12, 2015) ABC News
  8. ↑ "'Shade balls' protect LA water supply during drought" (13 Aug 2015) CNBC
  9. ↑ "LA Rolls Out Water-Saving 'Shade Balls'" (August 11, 2015) NPR

External links

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Coordinates: 34°06′14″N 118°15′59″W / 34.1040°N 118.2663°W / 34.1040; -118.2663

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