Water Goats

Environmental Waterwheel cleaning the waterway

_{Photos and statistics courtesy of Clearwater Mills LLC. (2013) Clearwater Mills Sustainable Environmental Technologies.}

The City of Fort Worth is home to over 100 miles of trails along the beautiful Trinity River and its tributaries.

Waterwheels are planned to be a new resource in Fort Worth, making a positive impact on being a sustainable and environmentally-friendly community. Everyone wants access to clean water and the ability to enjoy recreational activities without coming into contact with trash or stormwater pollution. Waterwheels are a gigantic solution to cleaner waterways.

It couldn’t be any simpler but the results are astonishing when it comes to cleaning tons of trash pollution from waterways in a short period of time.

Donate to the Waterwheel

Become part of the litter solution with the Waterwheel initiative for a cleaner Trinity River.

Make a donation!

What is a Waterwheel?

A waterwheel is a pollution-control, wheel-based machine that is placed in flowing waterways to collect and remove floatable pollution.

The waterwheel and an attached conveyer belt is mounted on a floating platform. Containment booms funnel floating trash and debris to a conveyer. The waterwheel, powered by energy from the river current and solar-powered pumps, works the conveyer to lift trash and deposit them into a detachable dumpster. The dumpster is then hauled by a service vessel to a transfer point for disposal.

The entire structure is covered to protect the equipment and prevent trash from being blown by the wind. It also houses the photovoltaic (solar) panels. The entire waterwheel measures approximately 52' long x 24' wide with a 14' diameter x 3' wide wheel.

Benefits

Collects trash and litter from rivers and streams
Improves the aesthetics and the usability of waterways
Improves the aquatic ecosystems for fish and wildlife
Uses solar power - a sustainable energy source
Provides an opportunity to educate the general public about the problem of pollution
Inspires people to become a part of the solution to end litter

Protecting Our Water Quality

Provides drinking water for Fort Worth and customers' cities
Supports efforts for economic development
Contributes to positive community appeal, appearance and overall quality of life
Provides habitat for aquatic life and recreation

Projected Impact

Waterwheels are a proven, sustainable, lower-cost technology to clean our valuable Trinity River. There’s no doubt that trash in our waterways harms habitats, transports chemical pollutants, and threatens aquatic life. This is an important step in laying the foundation to reduce and eliminate harmful environmental impacts for the Trinity River.

_{Data excerpted from Baltimore, MD Healthy Harbor Initiative.}

Did you know...?

A waterwheel can remove more than 50,000 pounds of solid waste per day. That's about the size of 2 ½ garbage trucks.
A waterwheel is capable of filling an 18 cubic yard dumpster in less than 2 hours.

Installation & Maintenance Costs

Cost per waterwheel

$597,000

(2x) = $1.2 million

Annual Operational Costs

Approximately $50,000

Daily, weekly and monthly system checks with annual system audits.

How can you help?

There are many opportunities to support the waterwheels project. Set a time to discuss ways you can get involved by contacting Keep Fort Worth Beautiful at KFWB@fortworthtexas.gov or (817) 392-2046.

Partners

Trinity River Water District

For more than 90 years, TRWD has improved the quality of life in the communities by providing a reliable and sustainable water supply, vital flood protection and an outstanding variety of recreational opportunities.