Case Study: Urban Water Cleanup Protects Wildlife and Natural Beauty

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

60-mile-long Hillsborough River runs through the City of Tampa before flowing into Tampa Bay and eventually the Gulf of Mexico
The Hillsborough River watershed drains an area of about 675 square miles
600 miles of stormwater pipes manage over 50 inches of annual rainfall
Each year, 3.33 billion plastic pieces flow from the Hillsborough River into the bay
725,000 Tampa residents rely on the Hillsborough River as their primary source of drinking water

Beautiful aerial view of the Tampa bay City, it's Skyscrapers and Ybor city

PROJECT CHALLENGE

Multiple low bridges cause clearance issues, especially during periods of high water
Some natural shoreline, though much of the riverbank has hardened seawalls
River and canals are freshwater, but Tampa Bay is saltwater
Widespread area of various waterways including rivers, canals and shipping channels

THE SOLUTION

Operating 10-hours a day, 4-days a week, the Trash Skimmer patrols the waterways around Tampa, collecting floating debris.

In just two years, it has removed over 36 tons of trash, from everyday items like plastic bags, bottles, and wooden debris to unexpected finds like a 12-foot buoy bumper and lawn furniture.

Cobalt Blue Aquatic River Skimmer