Oil spills, trash, debris, sediment, chemicals: how do we keep our waterways clean?
Who is responsible for the storm water runoff that carries silt, sediment and chemicals into our streams and rivers?
Stewards of the Waterways Who is responsible for cleaning up nonpoint source water pollution?
The MWRD receives flow from combined sewer collection systems, which means that wastewater and stormwater flow together in a single pipe.
A Carmi, Illinois company, Elastec, with a core competency in oil spill recovery systems, worked with MWRD to develop two custom trash and debris skimming and collection boats, the ELASTEC Omni Catamarans.
Elastec’s main mission is to manufacture simple solutions to protect our waterways.
The “Swiss Army Knife-like” multi-purpose waterway and marina maintenance vessel is just one work boat in an evolving line of river utility boats manufactured by Elastec.
“Jon boats have their place, but not in oil spill response or for waterway maintenance.
How Do We Keep Our Waterways Clean?
We can try and keep our waterways clean with passionate volunteers like Lenny Arkinstall, responsible and enforced environmental regulations, dedicated MS4 Stormwater Managers and companies like Elastec – but the real issue is not to pollute our streams, rivers and oceans in the first place.