In 2007, the Department of Water Protection in Los Angeles detected high levels of bromate, a carcinogen that forms when bromide and chlorine react with sunlight, in Los Angeles’s Ivanhoe Reservoir. Bromide is naturally present in groundwater and chlorine is used to kill bacteria, but sunlight is the final ingredient in the potentially harmful mix. The 102-year-old facility serves about 600,000 customers downtown and in South Los Angeles. When the Department of Water Protection realized the problem, they began construction of a new underground reservoir in Griffith Park, but while the new facility was being built they had to determine a way to keep the sunlight out of the water.
The possibility of tarps and metal coverings were explored but they were either too expensive or will take too long to install. So one of the DWP's biologists, Brian White, suggested "bird balls," commonly used by airports to prevent birds from congregating in wet areas alongside runways. The balls are made of polyethylene and cost only 40 cents each. The coating contains carbon and black is the only color strong enough to deflect ultraviolet rays.
400,000 balls were dropped into the reservoir on June 2008, where they will remain for the next four to five years until the new underground reservoir is completed.
[via LATimes]
Could you imagine someone with OCD looking at this.
ReplyDeleteyeap, i imagine :)
Deleteits a fake
ReplyDeletehow do the people in the boat get out
ReplyDeleteYou are joking, right?
Deleteyou aren't really that stupid surely?
DeleteLooked fantastic. Like a lot...musta been fun
ReplyDeleteIt will heat the water to boiling by absorbing sunlight, and that's the end of the saved water.
ReplyDeleteIf you think the water is absorbing more heat with that huge black coating over top rather than just being open to sunlight, you should really keep your 'theories' to yourself. If you think sunlight will bring polyethylene to temperatures above boiling (100 C / 212 F), you're just plain stupid.
DeleteQuite impressive...simply amazing, human capacity to find solutions.
ReplyDelete'heat the water to boiling with sunlight'...
ReplyDeleteyou just found a new way to power the entire planet using steam turbines! yay for you!
it might heat the water, but that is not the same as ultraviolet rays. Yes, same temperature but not the same chemical reaction. Hope you didn't or aren't getting a scholarship in science! And just so you know this is an eleven year old speaking. You might want to study a bit more
ReplyDeleteAre they chemical free??? if not look out.
ReplyDeleteCould have introduced algae which would have been cost effective and eco friendky
ReplyDeleteAlgae is NOT eco-friendly. Though while it lives it does produce oxygen just like other plants, once it's dead the CO2 created while it's decomposing is several times the amount of oxygen it created.
Deletei gotta say....pretty bloody clever!
ReplyDelete@garrett: prove it mate
@DaveDanger: umm...the balls moved to the side as they returned to shore and were shoved back into position by the balls around them. after all they're only floating there.
@dani: really? come on here....we're talking about california....the "this has been proven to cause cancer" state. don't you think their own paranoia would have caused them to do some chemical testing before they did it?
@dani: sorry but algae? yeah sure ok...good way to clog up water pipes! after all, this *is* drinking water and they are *still* dispensing it to the populace. not a very thought out comment. besides, the water contains chlorine which would prevent any algae growth.
How do these balls form sequence like shown in above images?
ReplyDelete"@dani: sorry but algae? yeah sure ok...good way to clog up water pipes! after all, this *is* drinking water and they are *still* dispensing it to the populace. not a very thought out comment. besides, the water contains chlorine which would prevent any algae growth. "
ReplyDeleteYea, Like chlorine is better for you than algae. Pathetic! BTW the water works only introduce chlorine when it enters the pipe. The H-Bomb works much better to make a sterile environment.
if i had to choose between algae and ping pong balls in my drinking water... ping pong balls win. they float and serve their purpose without causing new problems. very clever solution.
ReplyDeleteThe balls should have been Polypropylene and that would make the solution perfect for drinking water.
ReplyDeleteEven better: use it to wash, but drink bottled water. No just any though. Evian is not treated (no need so no bleach or other chemicals), has tons of necessary minerals, and is slightly alkaline, which balances our systems back to a neutral ph as we're tendered acidic by our food. No wonder French people live a lot longer and are much healthier!
ReplyDelete