Fort Worth is gearing up to improve the health of the Trinity River with a new eco-friendly weapon, a waterwheel. According to the City of Fort Worth, the floating structure is designed to tackle the persistent problem of litter with a unique blend of old and new technology—using hydropower or solar power to scoop up trash from the river's surface.
This effort doesn't stand in isolation, it's part of the broader Trinity River Waterwheel Initiative, with the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant Regional Water District, and Streams & Valleys Inc. among its champions. They're banking on this project to push forward environmental responsibility, and with support swelling from the community, and sponsors, they're nearly two-thirds of the way there financially. However, an additional $500,000 is still up for grabs for backers looking to invest in a cleaner, more sustainable city.
The mechanics are quite straightforward. The waterwheel captures litter through a combination of containment booms and a conveyor belt system. It packs a punch, too, capable of corralling up to 50,000 pounds of waste daily. In addition to making the waterways more attractive, it promises a ripple effect of ecological improvements for local wildlife. As noted by the City of Fort Worth, this project makes Fort Worth the first city in Texas, to join the ranks of places like Baltimore and Panama City that have adopted this eco-conscious technology.
