Black plastic balls have been dumped by the millions into L.A.’s reservoirs this summer—and with good reason.
Known as shade balls, they play an essential role in protecting the city’s water supply, which has been severely threatened by this year’s brutal California drought.
Among some of their benefits, the Los Angeles Daily News says they prevent the reservoir’s water from evaporation and pollution by wildlife. The balls even stop toxic chemical reactions caused by the sun from contaminating the water.
And the process is really cheap — around $250 million cheaper than any other preservation method available to the city, the paper reports.
The above video, made in western Los Angeles county, was released in June but the procedure was ongoing until Monday, when L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials released 20,000 shade balls into a reservoir in the final stage.
Read next: Cat Walks On Stage During Classical Concert, Everyone Just Carries On
Listen to the most important stories of the day
- Column: The Tyre Nichols Videos Demand Solemnity, Not Sensationalism
- For People With Disabilities, Losing Abortion Access Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
- Inside the Clandestine Efforts to Smuggle Starlink Internet Into Iran
- How to Help the Victims and Community After the Monterey Park Shooting
- The Biggest Snubs and Surprises of the 2023 Oscar Nominations
- Talking Less Will Get You More
- Kamala Harris Subtly Emerges as Powerful White House Asset
- How Avatar: The Way of Water Became the 6th Movie in History to Make $2 Billion
- Is There Really No Safe Amount of Drinking?
- How Our Cells Strategize To Keep Us Alive
