# Waterway Trash Interceptors The Water Wheel by Clearwater Mills Cleans a Baltimore River By Meghan Young | Published 2014-05-24 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/water-wheel-by-clearwater-mills References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2014/05/water-wheel-cleans-baltimore-harbor.html) & [clearwatermills](http://clearwatermills.com/) Bustling metropolises that boast [waterways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/canal-cafe), be them in the form of rivers, lakes and even oceans, often receive tons of complaints about their clean factor (or lack thereof); the Water Wheel by Clearwater Mills could make a vast difference. Inspired by these complaints, specifically those touring the City of Baltimore, co-founder John Kellett decided to take action, building a successful prototype to mitigate the damage. Backed by the [Waterfront Partnership of Baltimore](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/waterfall-festival), the official Water Wheel by Clearwater Mills was born, a world's first. The wheel funnels debris into itself, which is then captured in spring-loaded leaf rakes. The debris is moved along a conveyor belt that releases it into a dumpster on a floating dock. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.5/10 - Popularity: 13% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Water Clean-up Technology:** Developing new technologies to efficiently clean up waterways of debris could provide a significant competitive edge for companies looking to tackle environmental challenges. - **Sustainable Waste Management:** The development of sustainable waste management solutions has the potential to not only mitigate environmental damage caused by waste but also allows for resource recovery and creating new revenue streams. - **Smart Cities:** Smart Cities integrating IoT technologies to monitor and manage waterways in real-time can be more effective in keeping waterways clean and functional. ### Where This Applies - **Environmental Technology:** Environmental technology firms can leverage advancements in big data analytics and IoT to deliver innovation in water clean-up. - **Waste Management:** Waste Management companies can push for the development of integrated systems in waste collection and disposal as the next wave in the industry. - **Urban Planning:** Urban planners and policymakers can explore and implement smart, sustainable technologies and practices to enhance waterway cleanliness and overall city livability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Electricity-Free Microfiber Filters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/planetcare-20.md) - [Renewable Circular Trash Cans](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mill.md) - [Fishing Gear Cleaning Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/tackle-washing-and-storage-device.md) - [Lotus-Inspired Floating Water Purifiers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/floatis.md) - [Hydrokinetic River Turbines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydrokinetic-river-power.md) - [Microplastic Washing Machine Filters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/washing-machine-filter.md) - [In-Office Food Recycling Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mill-for-workplace.md) - [Interactive Autonomous Cityscape Sweepers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/interactive-unmanned-sweeper-concept.md) - [Water-Powered Air Purifiers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/swasher-pro.md)