What is the purpose of shade balls?
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What is the purpose of shade balls?
The creators of shade balls originally used them to prevent chemical treatments in the reservoir from reacting with sunlight and creating bromate, which is a carcinogen regulated by the EPA. California began deploying shade balls in 2008 as a cost-effective way to reduce bromate levels and also prevent algae growth.
Do shade balls actually work?
How are shade balls helpful? The balls have been successful in both reducing the creation of toxic bromate and reducing algae growth in public reservoirs. The balls were similarly effective as a means for keeping birds away from bodies of water. As for slowing evaporation, there are still some kinks to work out.
Why do they put black balls in the water?
Shade balls are small plastic spheres 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.
How do you prevent water from evaporating from a dam?
One of the lowest cost options for reducing evaporation from farm dams is to install windbreaks. Research by the Department of Agriculture and Food has shown that using windbreaks to slow the wind over the water surface of dams can reduce evaporation by 20 to 30 per cent.
Are shade balls used in Australia?
Total water savings for the 10-year life of the shade balls are projected at 1500 megalitres – or 1,500,000,000 million liters of water – worth over $750,000. That’s good business for this company’s bottom line and shareholders apart from being a great evaporation reduction solution. But it’s also good for Australia.
How much do shade balls cost?
36 cents each
The balls cost 36 cents each, for a total of $34.5 million. The utility has been testing the concept since 2008, reporting that shade balls reduce evaporation by 85 to 90 percent.
Does shade cloth reduce evaporation?
Abstract. One of the most efficient techniques to prevent evaporation is suspended shade covers, reported to reduce evaporation up to 85%, although at considerable cost.
