Black balls as a reservoir cover.

[Lummy]

96 million black balls in an LA water reservoir.

[Standing Wolf]

Maybe it's just because when I saw this thread title for the first time it was immediately above the thread about reparations for slavery, but my first thought was that it was going to describe some kind of race-related protest. Call me cynical.

[Lummy]

CA says they help prevent cancer.

[Sergeant Gleed]

They will heat the water and increase evaporation.

[Lummy]

Well, thank your for your reply. I expected your response to be, "So where'd they dump all the $#@!s?"

You will be surprised -- if not amazed -- to know, Sgt Gleed, that the balls insulate the water from the scorching southern California sun and no heating occurs, or so the video asserts that you didn't watch.

[Collateral Damage]

Interesting. Though I'd have to agree, the black would heat the water, especially in CA's sun during the summer.

It may actually reduce evaporation, as the vapor would liquify against the sides of the balls, and drip back into the reservior. I didn't watch the video, but are the plastic balls of a leach-free material? Are they periodically removed for sanitation?

[Standing Wolf]

Well, thank your for your reply. I expected your response to be, "So where'd they dump all the $#@!s?"

You will be surprised -- if not amazed -- to know, Sgt Gleed, that the balls insulate the water from the scorching southern California sun and no heating occurs, or so the video asserts that you didn't watch.

So, the balls absorb and trap the heat so the water will absorb less heat? I guess that makes sense.

[Lummy]

Dead air space in the balls, like heat shield tiles on the Space Shuttle.

https://photovault.com/data/comps/USR/USRV01P06_01.jpg

The carbon black also remains chemically unchanged in the high desert heat.

That's the story.

It's a good watch, if anyone cares to look.