96 million plastic balls prevent drought and save countless lives
- 96 million four-inch plastic balls were poured into a reservoir
- It looked like a lot of fun but actually had a serious reason behind it
- To stop the water beneath from evaporating during a drought
Published on Feb 19, 2024 at 8:25 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Feb 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Alessandro Renesis
This literal ball pool might look like fun, but it actually has a very serious reason behind it: preventing drought.
A pilot project at the E.M. Johnson Water Treatment Plant, it was a move enforced by the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, in the US, as it faced a water shortage.
The move is designed to prevent water evaporating in the height of summer – as well as algae growth caused by sunlight.
Algae can affect the taste and odor in drinking water – but is very difficult and expensive to treat with chemicals.
Referred to as ‘Shade Balls’, they’re lightweight, inexpensive and the four-inch plastic toys will eventually cover the entire reservoir.
In other news on thew waterways of America, $540-billion worth of ‘white gold’ has been discovered beneath a California lake
That amount of lithium is enough to power more than 382 million batteries for electric vehicles.
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London-based Amelia cut her journalistic teeth covering all things lifestyle, wellness and luxury in the UK capital. Fast-forward a decade and the experienced content creator and editor has put pen to paper for glossy magazines, busy newsrooms and coveted brands. When her OOO is on you can find her spending quality time with her young family, in the gym or exploring the city she loves.
