Release the shade balls! The last installment of a Los Angeles water protection project took a viral turn this week with a mesmerizing video.
On Monday, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power released 20,000 balls into the LA Reservoir to join 95,980,000 black orbs already on the surface. The EPA requires all reservoirs to be covered, and the shade balls provide a less expensive alternative to tarps. Each ball measures four inches in diameter made with UV-resistant material. This “ball pit” expects to save 300 million gallons of water annually, preventing evaporation and algae growth. Read more on the shade balls from NPR here.
Haven’t seen the video? Enjoy the satisfaction of watching balls roll down the slope: