96 MILLION BLACK BALLS: SAVING LA'S WATER
Los Angeles deployed a sea of plastic spheres to battle drought and toxic chemical reactions.
WHAT ARE SHADE BALLS?
Made of high-density polyethylene, these 10cm spheres are filled with water so they don't blow away.
BATTLING EXTREME EVAPORATION
The covering saves 290 million gallons of water annually by blocking the sun's heat.
THE TOXIC BROMATE THREAT
Sunlight reacts with bromide and ozone to create bromate, a known carcinogen.
THE CATALYST: CHLORINE + LIGHT
Chlorine used for algae control acted as a catalyst for bromate formation in open sun.
COST-EFFECTIVE ENGINEERING
Traditional roofs cost $300M+. Shade balls were a fraction of the price and easier to maintain.
WHY ARE THEY BLACK?
Carbon black pigment absorbs UV rays, protecting the plastic and blocking 90% of evaporation.
ELIMINATING ALGAE GROWTH
No light means no photosynthesis. Algae can't grow, reducing the need for chemical treatments.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL TRADE-OFF
Manufacturing the balls used 2.9M cubic meters of water, but they save more in the long run.
A MODEL FOR THE WORLD
Countries like Spain and Turkey are exploring shade balls to survive worsening global droughts.
PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF WATER
LA's 96 million spheres prove that simple innovation can solve massive climate challenges.