Have you ever seen a lake or reservoir covered with millions of small black balls? If you’ve been to Los Angeles, you might have noticed this unusual sight. These are called “shade balls,” and they play a crucial role in keeping the city’s water safe and clean.
Los Angeles has large reservoirs that store drinking water for the city. According to federal law, this water cannot be left open to the air because it can become contaminated. In 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced this rule after a stomach illness outbreak was linked to contaminated water.
Open reservoirs can get dirty from things like bird droppings and dust. After the events of 9/11, there was also a concern that someone might try to contaminate the water on purpose. Another problem is that sunlight can cause chemical reactions in the water. The water contains chlorine to kill germs, but when it mixes with bromide, a natural element in groundwater, it can form bromate, a harmful chemical. Sunlight also helps algae grow, which can create other harmful byproducts when it breaks down.
To solve these problems, Los Angeles County needed to cover their reservoirs. Building a roof or using a giant tarp was too expensive, costing around $300 million. Instead, they chose to use shade balls, which are much cheaper.
Shade balls are small, 4-inch diameter plastic balls that float on the water’s surface. They help reduce evaporation and keep pollutants out of the water. The balls are coated with a black carbon colorant that blocks ultraviolet light, preventing the balls from breaking down. This coating can last up to 25 years.
Each shade ball costs only 36 cents, saving Los Angeles County about $250 million compared to other options. This innovative solution is expected to prevent around 300 million gallons of water from evaporating every year.
Shade balls are a creative and cost-effective way to protect water resources. They help keep the water clean and safe while saving money and conserving water. What do you think about this solution? Could shade balls be used in other places to help protect the environment?
Gather some small black balls or use black balloons to create a model of a reservoir covered with shade balls. Work in groups to simulate how these balls float on water. Discuss how they help prevent evaporation and contamination. Share your model with the class and explain the benefits of using shade balls.
Conduct research on other innovative methods used around the world to conserve water. Compare these methods to shade balls in terms of cost, effectiveness, and environmental impact. Present your findings in a short report or presentation to the class.
Divide into two groups and prepare for a debate. One group will argue in favor of using shade balls, while the other will propose alternative solutions for protecting water reservoirs. Use facts from the article and additional research to support your arguments. After the debate, discuss which solution seems most viable and why.
Create a poster or digital presentation to raise awareness about the importance of protecting water resources. Include information about shade balls and other water conservation techniques. Share your campaign with the school community to educate others about the significance of water conservation.
Conduct a simple experiment to observe the effects of sunlight on water evaporation. Use two identical containers filled with water, covering one with a black plastic sheet to simulate shade balls. Place both containers in a sunny spot and measure the water levels over a week. Record your observations and discuss how shade balls help reduce evaporation.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Today, I’m going to tell you a little story about some interesting objects.
Hello everyone, Jules here for DNews. If you’ve ever been to Los Angeles, you may have noticed a lot of small plastic balls floating on top of their water reservoirs. There are millions of them! From a distance, they can look like a solid surface rather than a large body of water.
These balls actually serve a very important purpose. Reservoirs, like the ones in Los Angeles, store the city’s drinkable water. However, federal law mandates that this water cannot be left exposed to the open air. When the EPA enacted this regulation in 2006, it was in response to an outbreak of a stomach illness caused by contaminated water from reservoirs.
Exposed reservoirs can also be affected by various contaminants, such as bird droppings and dirt. After 9/11, there were concerns that open reservoirs could be targeted for contamination.
One of the main concerns regarding exposed drinking water in LA County is a chemical reaction that occurs when the water interacts with sunlight. LA’s reservoirs contain a small amount of chlorine for disinfection. When chlorine combines with bromide, a natural element found in groundwater, it creates a chemical called bromate, which can be harmful if ingested. Sunlight can also promote algae growth, which, while not harmful in itself, can lead to the formation of byproducts when it breaks down and interacts with chlorine. These byproducts have been linked to health issues.
To address these concerns, LA County needed to cover their reservoirs and considered several options. Building a large roof or using a massive tarp were logical solutions, but they were very expensive—around $300 million. Instead, LA County opted for “shade balls.”
The concept was straightforward: 96 million 4-inch diameter plastic balls would float on the reservoir, reducing evaporation and protecting the water from pollutants. The balls are coated with a black carbon colorant that repels ultraviolet light, helping to prevent degradation. This coating is designed to last up to 25 years.
Additionally, shade balls are cost-effective. Each ball costs just 36 cents, leading to an overall savings of approximately $250 million for LA County. This approach is relatively new, and LA is the first county to implement shade balls for this purpose.
The shade balls are expected to prevent around 300 million gallons of water from evaporating each year.
What do you think? Could shade balls be a viable solution for environmental protection? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget to like and subscribe to DNews for more videos every day.
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This version maintains the essential information while removing any informal language or potentially inappropriate references.
Shade – A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface. – Trees provide shade that helps keep the environment cooler and reduces the need for air conditioning.
Balls – Round objects used in various applications, including environmental science, such as floating balls used to reduce evaporation in reservoirs. – In Los Angeles, shade balls were used to cover reservoirs to prevent water loss through evaporation.
Water – A transparent, tasteless, odorless, and nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth’s streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluids of most living organisms. – Conserving water is essential to maintaining a healthy environment and ensuring that there is enough for future generations.
Los Angeles – A large city in California known for its efforts to address environmental challenges such as water conservation and pollution reduction. – Los Angeles has implemented various strategies to reduce water usage and improve air quality.
Reservoirs – Large natural or artificial lakes used as a source of water supply. – Reservoirs are crucial for storing water that can be used during dry periods or droughts.
Pollutants – Substances that contaminate the environment, causing harm to ecosystems and human health. – Reducing pollutants in the air and water is vital for protecting the environment and ensuring clean resources.
Evaporation – The process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas or vapor. – Evaporation from lakes and rivers is a natural part of the water cycle, but excessive evaporation can lead to water shortages.
Sunlight – The light and energy that come from the sun, which is essential for life on Earth. – Sunlight is a renewable energy source that can be harnessed through solar panels to generate electricity.
Clean – Free from dirt, pollution, or contaminants; pure. – Keeping our rivers and oceans clean is important for the health of aquatic life and human communities.
Environment – The natural world, including the air, water, and land in which people, animals, and plants live. – Protecting the environment is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future.
