96 million 'shade balls' rolled into Los Angeles Reservoir as water protection
Small, black plastic balls floating on surface designed to conserve water, utility company says
Los Angeles is hoping that a 36-cent plastic ball — well, 96 million of them, to be precise — could help the city protect and conserve its drinking water amid California's historic drought.
L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti released 20,000 so-called "shade balls" into the Los Angeles Reservoir on Monday, bringing the total number of balls floating on the water to 96 million.
The small, black plastic balls are designed to protect water quality by blocking sunlight, preventing unwanted chemical reaction and curtailing algae blooms, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the utility company that owns and manages the reservoir.
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The shade balls also come with the added benefit of reducing evaporation by nearly 300 million gallons (about 1.1 billion litres) a year — enough to supply drinking water to 8,100 people, said city councillor Mitchell Englander.
"As the drought continues, it has never been more important to focus on innovative ways to maintain the highest quality drinking water for our four million residents," he said.
The shade balls require no assembly or labour, except for occasionally rotating them, the utility company said. The $34.5-million US initiative could help the company save $250 million compared to other alternatives for water quality protection.
California, the most populous state in the U.S., is currently battling a multi-year drought. The dry spell has resulted in unprecedented water restrictions, water waste crackdowns, and even "drought shaming."