What is a Shade Ball?

For lack of a better term, “shade balls” are exactly what their name implies - balls that provide shade. Some 96 million black carbon balls partially filled with water are being deployed into California’s reservoirs to aid in the conservation of water due to the severe drought. They float on top of the water to prevent rapid evaporation. The plan is expected to save the city $250 million, compared with other available plans, according to a press release. Talk about innovation! See a video and more about what is being done here.