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{{short description|Plastic balls used in reservoirs for environmental protection and evaporation reduction}}
{{short description|Plastic balls used in reservoirs for environmental protection and evaporation reduction}}
[[File:Schwimmbad-Abdeckung.jpg|thumb|Shade balls in a European hotel swimming-pool]]
[[File:Schwimmbad-Abdeckung.jpg|300px|thumb|Shade balls in a European hotel swimming-pool]]


'''Shade balls''' are small plastic spheres floated on top of a [[reservoir]] for [[environmental protection|environmental reasons]], including to slow [[evaporation]] and prevent sunlight from causing reactions among chemical compounds present in the water. Also known as '''bird balls''', they were developed initially to prevent [[birds]] from landing on bodies of water.
A '''shade ball''' is a small plastic sphere floated on top of a [[reservoir]] for environmental reasons, including to slow evaporation and prevent sunlight from causing reactions among chemical compounds present in the water. Also known as '''bird balls''', they were developed initially to prevent birds from landing on bodies of water.


==History==
==History==
Line 12: Line 12:
[[File:Ivanhoe Reservoir view from north 2015-10-11.jpg|thumb|Shade balls in the [[Silver Lake Reservoir|Ivanhoe Reservoir]], 2015]]
[[File:Ivanhoe Reservoir view from north 2015-10-11.jpg|thumb|Shade balls in the [[Silver Lake Reservoir|Ivanhoe Reservoir]], 2015]]


Starting in mid-2009, the [[Los Angeles Department of Water and Power]] (LADWP) put about 400,000 balls in the [[Silver Lake Reservoir|Ivanhoe reservoir]] with the main objective of preventing the formation of a [[carcinogen]]ic chemical, [[bromate]], which forms when naturally occurring [[bromine]] reacts with [[chlorine]] in sunlight.<ref name=oved/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Vara-Orta|first1=Francisco |title=A reservoir goes undercover|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/10/local/me-balls10 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> In the original release by the LADWP, there is no mention of [[water conservation]] as an objective and the project was planned for a five-year life span, until a [[Griffith Park]] project was completed. The reduction in evaporation led to an estimated savings of about {{Convert|1.1|e9l|e6gal|abbr=unit}} of water in one year.<ref name=oved/>
Starting in mid-2009, the [[Los Angeles Department of Water and Power]] (LADWP) put about 400,000 balls in the [[Silver Lake Reservoir|Ivanhoe reservoir]] with the main objective of preventing the formation of a [[carcinogen]]ic chemical, [[bromate]], which forms when sunlight interacts with naturally occurring [[bromine]] and the [[chlorine]] added to prevent algae growth.<ref name=oved/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Vara-Orta|first1=Francisco |title=A reservoir goes undercover|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-10-me-balls10-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=10 June 2008 |access-date=27 December 2015}}</ref> In the original release by the LADWP, there is no mention of [[water conservation]] as an objective and the project was planned for a five-year life span, until a [[Griffith Park]] project was completed. The reduction in evaporation led to an estimated savings of about {{Convert|1.1|e9l|e6gal|abbr=unit}} of water in one year.<ref name=oved/>


In 2014 and 2015, the LADWP put 96 million shade balls onto its [[:Category:Reservoirs in Los Angeles County, California|largest reservoir (Las Virgenes)]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Poon |first1=Linda |title=How a Giant Ball Pit Is Saving L.A.'s Water Supply |url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2015/08/la-covers-its-reservoirs-with-millions-of-shade-balls/401066/ |website=CityLab |language=en |date=August 12, 2015}}</ref> in response to the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]'s surface water treatment rule,<ref name="epa">{{cite web|url = http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/lt2/basicinformation.cfm |title = Water: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule|access-date = 2015-08-13|date = 2013-02-11|publisher = [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]}}</ref> which requires large reservoirs of treated water to be covered.<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/08/12/431959386/los-angeles-unleashes-shade-balls-to-protect-reservoir-water-quality
In 2014 and 2015, the LADWP put 96 million shade balls onto its [[:Category:Reservoirs in Los Angeles County, California|largest reservoir (Las Virgenes)]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Poon |first1=Linda |title=How a Giant Ball Pit Is Saving L.A.'s Water Supply |url=https://www.citylab.com/life/2015/08/la-covers-its-reservoirs-with-millions-of-shade-balls/401066/ |newspaper=Bloomberg |language=en |date=August 12, 2015}}</ref> in response to the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]'s surface water treatment rule,<ref name="epa">{{cite web|url = http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/lt2/basicinformation.cfm |title = Water: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule|access-date = 2015-08-13|date = 2013-02-11|publisher = [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]]}}</ref> which requires large reservoirs of treated water to be covered.<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2015/08/12/431959386/los-angeles-unleashes-shade-balls-to-protect-reservoir-water-quality
|title=Los Angeles Unleashes 'Shade Balls' To Protect Reservoir Water Quality |publisher= National Public Radio |access-date=2015-08-13 |date=2015-08-12}}</ref><ref name="LA Times 2015-08-12">{{cite news |last1=Walton |first1=Alice |last2=Grad |first2=Shelby |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shade-ball-water-20150812-htmlstory.html |title=The 36-cent 'shade ball' that could save $250 million and keep L.A. water clean |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2015-08-12 |access-date=2015-08-12 |quote=Shade balls are used to protect water quality, prevent algae growth and slow evaporation from the city’s reservoirs.}}</ref> The LADWP says that in addition to reducing evaporation, they also reduce UV radiation by-products and algae growth.<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Walton|first1 = Alice|title = L.A.'s shade balls go viral – but the Internet has mixed opinion|url = http://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-balls-first-and-spring-20150824-story.html |access-date = 24 August 2015|work = Los Angeles Times|date = August 23, 2015}}</ref> The balls saved 1.7 million cubic metres of water from evaporating during their deployment from August 2015 to March 2017. However, they required 2.9 million cubic metres of water in their manufacture. Nevertheless, the balls have a lifespan of ten years, and the plastic may be reused after that.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Starr |first1=Michelle |title=These Shade Balls Were Supposed to Save Water, But There's a Big Problem |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/la-reservoir-shade-balls-manufacture-use-more-water-than-they-saved |website=ScienceAlert |language=en-gb}}</ref>
|title=Los Angeles Unleashes 'Shade Balls' To Protect Reservoir Water Quality |publisher= National Public Radio |access-date=2015-08-13 |date=2015-08-12}}</ref><ref name="LA Times 2015-08-12">{{cite news |last1=Walton |first1=Alice |last2=Grad |first2=Shelby |url=http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-shade-ball-water-20150812-htmlstory.html |title=The 36-cent 'shade ball' that could save $250 million and keep L.A. water clean |work=Los Angeles Times |date=2015-08-12 |access-date=2015-08-12 |quote=Shade balls are used to protect water quality, prevent algae growth and slow evaporation from the city’s reservoirs.}}</ref> The LADWP says that in addition to reducing evaporation, they also reduce UV radiation by-products and algae growth.<ref>{{cite news|last1 = Walton|first1 = Alice|title = L.A.'s shade balls go viral – but the Internet has mixed opinion|url = http://www.latimes.com/local/cityhall/la-me-balls-first-and-spring-20150824-story.html |access-date = 24 August 2015|work = Los Angeles Times|date = August 23, 2015}}</ref> The balls saved 1.7 million cubic metres of water from evaporating during their deployment from August 2015 to March 2017. However, they required 2.9 million cubic metres of water in their manufacture. Nevertheless, the balls have a lifespan of ten years, and the plastic may be reused after that.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Starr |first1=Michelle |title=These Shade Balls Were Supposed to Save Water, But There's a Big Problem |url=https://www.sciencealert.com/la-reservoir-shade-balls-manufacture-use-more-water-than-they-saved |website=ScienceAlert |date=23 July 2018 |language=en-gb}}</ref>


====Construction====
====Construction====
[[File:Single Shade ball.jpg|thumb|A single shade ball]]
[[File:Single Shade ball.jpg|thumb|A single shade ball]]
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.<ref name="shadeballs">"[http://www.precisionplasticball.com/shade-balls Shade Balls: Sustainable Drought Prevention]", retrieved 3-31-2016, Precision Plastic Ball</ref><ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/beta/US/los-angeles-reservoir-covered-96-million-shade-balls/story?id=33038319 "Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With 96 Million Shade Balls to Conserve Water Amidst Drought"] (Aug 12, 2015) ''ABC News''</ref><ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/13/shade-balls-protect-la-water-supply-during-drought.html {{"'}}Shade balls' protect LA water supply during drought"] (13 Aug 2015) CNBC</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/11/431670483/la-rolls-out-water-saving-shade-balls "LA Rolls Out Water-Saving 'Shade Balls{{'"}}] (August 11, 2015) NPR</ref> Adding carbon black also prevents the formation of [[bromate]], a suspected human [[carcinogen]].<ref>{{cite web
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.<ref name="shadeballs">"[http://www.precisionplasticball.com/shade-balls Shade Balls: Sustainable Drought Prevention] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808104252/http://www.precisionplasticball.com/shade-balls |date=2018-08-08 }}", retrieved 3-31-2016, Precision Plastic Ball</ref><ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/beta/US/los-angeles-reservoir-covered-96-million-shade-balls/story?id=33038319 "Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With 96 Million Shade Balls to Conserve Water Amidst Drought"] (Aug 12, 2015) ''ABC News''</ref><ref>[https://www.cnbc.com/2015/08/13/shade-balls-protect-la-water-supply-during-drought.html {{"'}}Shade balls' protect LA water supply during drought"] (13 Aug 2015) CNBC</ref><ref>[https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/08/11/431670483/la-rolls-out-water-saving-shade-balls "LA Rolls Out Water-Saving 'Shade Balls{{'"}}] (August 11, 2015) NPR</ref> Adding carbon black also prevents the formation of [[bromate]], a suspected human [[carcinogen]].<ref>{{cite web
| url= http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol73/73-17.html
| url= http://www.inchem.org/documents/iarc/vol73/73-17.html
| work= [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]]: Summaries and Evaluations
| work= [[International Agency for Research on Cancer]]: Summaries and Evaluations
Line 46: Line 46:
They are about {{convert|4|in|cm}} in diameter, and are 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.<ref name=shadeballs/>
They are about {{convert|4|in|cm}} in diameter, and are 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.<ref name=shadeballs/>


{{clear}}
== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|30em}}


== External links ==
== External links ==

Latest revision as of 22:04, 18 November 2024

Shade balls in a European hotel swimming-pool

A shade ball is a small plastic sphere floated on top of a reservoir for environmental reasons, including to slow evaporation and prevent sunlight from causing reactions among chemical compounds present in the water. Also known as bird balls, they were developed initially to prevent birds from landing on bodies of water.

History

[edit]

Shade balls were originally known as bird balls, as they were developed initially to prevent birds from landing on toxic tailing ponds produced by mining operations.[1][2]

They have also been used by airports to prevent birds from being attracted to nearby drainage ponds thus reducing collisions with planes.[3]

Usage by LADWP

[edit]
Shade balls in the Ivanhoe Reservoir, 2015

Starting in mid-2009, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) put about 400,000 balls in the Ivanhoe reservoir with the main objective of preventing the formation of a carcinogenic chemical, bromate, which forms when sunlight interacts with naturally occurring bromine and the chlorine added to prevent algae growth.[1][4] In the original release by the LADWP, there is no mention of water conservation as an objective and the project was planned for a five-year life span, until a Griffith Park project was completed. The reduction in evaporation led to an estimated savings of about 1.1 billion L (290 million US gal) of water in one year.[1]

In 2014 and 2015, the LADWP put 96 million shade balls onto its largest reservoir (Las Virgenes)[5] in response to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's surface water treatment rule,[6] which requires large reservoirs of treated water to be covered.[7][8] The LADWP says that in addition to reducing evaporation, they also reduce UV radiation by-products and algae growth.[9] The balls saved 1.7 million cubic metres of water from evaporating during their deployment from August 2015 to March 2017. However, they required 2.9 million cubic metres of water in their manufacture. Nevertheless, the balls have a lifespan of ten years, and the plastic may be reused after that.[10]

Construction

[edit]
A single shade ball

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.[11][12][13][14] Adding carbon black also prevents the formation of bromate, a suspected human carcinogen.[15][16]

They are about 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter, and are 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.[11]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Marco Chown Oved, "Shade Balls – Just Add Water", Toronto Star, October 23, 2016
  2. ^ L.A. Says Goodbye to ‘Shade Balls’
  3. ^ Los Angeles Unleashes 'Shade Balls' To Protect Reservoir Water Quality
  4. ^ Vara-Orta, Francisco (10 June 2008). "A reservoir goes undercover". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
  5. ^ Poon, Linda (August 12, 2015). "How a Giant Ball Pit Is Saving L.A.'s Water Supply". Bloomberg.
  6. ^ "Water: Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule". United States Environmental Protection Agency. 2013-02-11. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  7. ^ "Los Angeles Unleashes 'Shade Balls' To Protect Reservoir Water Quality". National Public Radio. 2015-08-12. Retrieved 2015-08-13.
  8. ^ Walton, Alice; Grad, Shelby (2015-08-12). "The 36-cent 'shade ball' that could save $250 million and keep L.A. water clean". 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Starr, Michelle (23 July 2018). "These Shade Balls Were Supposed to Save Water, But There's a Big Problem". ScienceAlert.
  11. ^ a b "Shade Balls: Sustainable Drought Prevention Archived 2018-08-08 at the Wayback Machine", retrieved 3-31-2016, Precision Plastic Ball
  12. ^ "Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With 96 Million Shade Balls to Conserve Water Amidst Drought" (Aug 12, 2015) ABC News
  13. ^ "'Shade balls' protect LA water supply during drought" (13 Aug 2015) CNBC
  14. ^ "LA Rolls Out Water-Saving 'Shade Balls'" (August 11, 2015) NPR
  15. ^ "Potassium Bromate (Group 2B)". International Agency for Research on Cancer: Summaries and Evaluations. Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  16. ^ Kurokawa, Yuji; Maekawa, A; Takahashi, M; Hayashi, Y (July 1990). "Toxicity and carcinogenicity of potassium bromate – a new renal carcinogen". Environmental Health Perspectives. 87. Environmental Health Perspectives: 309–35. doi:10.1289/EHP.9087309. JSTOR 3431039. PMC 1567851. PMID 2269236.
[edit]
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