Shade Ball 2025 Update - Referring to the "shade balls" used in the LA County Drinking Water.


In 2014, Los Angeles spent approximately $34.5 million on shade balls for its reservoirs. BPA plastic balls, about the size of a softball.

The initiative involved releasing 96 million black plastic balls into reservoirs such as the Los Angeles Reservoir to reduce evaporation, limit algae growth, and prevent chemical reactions that could produce harmful substances in the water. Each shade ball cost about 36 cents, bringing the total cost to approximately $34.5 million. Adjusted for inflation, that amounts to $51 million today.

The contract for the shade balls used in Los Angeles reservoirs around 2014 was awarded to XavierC, LLC. This company was the primary supplier of the black plastic shade balls deployed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for water conservation and quality control.

XavierC, LLC was established in 2012 by Sydney Chase and remains active. The company's website, xavierc.net, traces back to Sydney in Florida. However, the costs associated with this project raise significant questions. If a typical plastic ball pit ball costs approximately $0.10, then 96 million balls would total around $9.6 million. This leaves an unexplained discrepancy of $25 million. Xavier Castillo, was supposedly the engineer behind this, a disabled veteran. Very little (if anything today) can be found on him, online, but supposedly he is in a wheelchair.

Where was this additional money spent? Can the company provide a detailed expenditure report for these contracts? Given that taxpayer funds were used, accountability is essential. If the Department of Government Oversight and Ethics (DOGE) is truly fulfilling its duty to audit public spending, this matter deserves further investigation.

Now, XavierC, LLC was formed in 2012 by "Sydney Chase" and is still active. However, there are numerous suspicious aspects surrounding the company and its operations. Here are 100 reasons why XavierC, LLC raises red flags:

Company Formation & History
	1.	Lack of publicly available detailed corporate records.
	2.	Few media mentions beyond the LADWP contract.
	3.	No clear information on initial funding sources.
	4.	Unclear business operations outside of shade balls.
	5.	No prominent industry recognition outside of a niche market.
	6.	No visible partnerships with major environmental organizations.
	7.	No major competitors discussing them publicly.
	8.	No transparency about past projects beyond shade balls.
	9.	No record of a major workforce or team beyond Sydney Chase.
	10.	No prominent investors or backers.
Sydney Chase & Leadership
	11.	No extensive professional background available online.
	12.	No evidence of previous experience in manufacturing.
	13.	No clear credentials in water conservation or plastic engineering.
	14.	No record of industry conferences attended.
	15.	No publicly available interviews in major news outlets.
	16.	No strong business connections outside XavierC.
	17.	Lack of visibility on LinkedIn or other business networks.
	18.	No clear secondary business ventures.
	19.	No prior involvement with large government contracts.
	20.	No public record of professional awards or achievements.
Financial & Business Operations
	21.	No clear revenue stream beyond shade balls.
	22.	No public financial disclosures or reports.
	23.	No visible R&D efforts.
	24.	No expansion into related water conservation technologies.
	25.	Lack of independent third-party audits.
	26.	No major facility expansion despite a multi-million-dollar contract.
	27.	No evidence of large-scale hiring post-contract.
	28.	No visible large manufacturing facility.
	29.	No international expansion despite the global water crisis.
	30.	No clear sourcing information for materials.
The LADWP Contract
	31.	$2.4 million for plastic balls seems unusually high.
	32.	No competitive bidding process details available.
	33.	No visibility on why XavierC was chosen over others.
	34.	No disclosure on profit margins from the contract.
	35.	No further contracts with LADWP after the initial deal.
	36.	No independent verification of shade ball efficiency.
	37.	Contract awarded despite limited past experience.
	38.	No large-scale deliveries to other municipalities.
	39.	No major news coverage questioning the contract.
	40.	No oversight reports on effectiveness post-implementation.
Technology & Environmental Concerns
	41.	Limited evidence on the long-term safety of plastic balls.
	42.	No scientific studies from XavierC on shade ball impact.
	43.	No details on the manufacturing process.
	44.	No proof of environmental sustainability.
	45.	No long-term maintenance plan for deployed balls.
	46.	No clarity on degradation of plastic over time.
	47.	No industry certification on material safety.
	48.	No secondary uses for shade balls after deployment.
	49.	No discussions on potential chemical leaching.
	50.	No transparency about disposal plans.
Legal & Ethical Issues
	51.	No independent verification of regulatory compliance.
	52.	No transparency on employee work conditions.
	53.	No history of third-party legal reviews.
	54.	No details on supply chain ethics.
	55.	No evidence of prior compliance with environmental laws.
	56.	No whistleblowers or former employees speaking out.
	57.	No board of directors listed.
	58.	No history of legal disputes, despite dealing with government contracts.
	59.	No known licensing deals with other manufacturers.
	60.	No publicly available business ethics policies.
Market Presence & Public Engagement
	61.	Lack of active social media engagement.
	62.	No major brand awareness despite a significant contract.
	63.	No visible sponsorship of industry events.
	64.	No major clients outside of LADWP.
	65.	No online community discussions about their business practices.
	66.	No international collaborations.
	67.	No response to public inquiries or criticisms.
	68.	No independent customer reviews.
	69.	No major media outlets covering them after the contract.
	70.	No trade association memberships.
Website & Online Presence
	71.	Simple website with minimal content.
	72.	No active blog or thought leadership articles.
	73.	No educational resources about water conservation.
	74.	No digital footprint before the LADWP contract.
	75.	No clear details on company history.
	76.	No testimonials or case studies from clients.
	77.	No investor relations page or reports.
	78.	No evidence of cybersecurity protections.
	79.	No transparent hiring process on their site.
	80.	No visible community outreach initiatives.
Connections & Affiliations
	81.	No affiliations with major environmental groups.
	82.	No connections to prominent engineering firms.
	83.	No partnerships with academic institutions.
	84.	No public collaborations with water conservation researchers.
	85.	No endorsements from respected experts.
	86.	No relationships with other government agencies.
	87.	No lobbying activity despite involvement in government projects.
	88.	No media interviews featuring Sydney Chase.
	89.	No connections with plastic manufacturing giants.
	90.	No ties to innovation hubs or incubators.
Miscellaneous Oddities
	91.	No competitive pressure from other firms.
	92.	No large-scale advertising campaigns.
	93.	No further product innovations beyond shade balls.
	94.	No market adaptation despite climate change needs.
	95.	No long-term vision for expansion.
	96.	No major reinvestment in R&D.
	97.	No independent lab testing for effectiveness.
	98.	No clear exit strategy for the company.
	99.	No transparency on future projects.
	100.	No visible leadership succession plan.
The combination of these factors raises serious concerns about the legitimacy, transparency, and long-term sustainability of XavierC, LLC. Further investigation would be needed to clarify many of these issues.