A BRO reader has passed along a pretty neat contraption that he feels could be an inspiration to waterways around the world. The water wheel might look futuristic, with a hint of whimsical steampunk, but I assure you that it is practical in its duties at the same time.
As the wheel spins, generated by the current of flowing water, it picks up garbage and debris that is filtered directly to the “mill”. You might think that this is just fantasy, or merely a prototype? Just the opposite. The gadget is already at work in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
You can read all about this fascinating machine, its inventor, and the 40 tons of waste that it has collected in just over a month’s time by clicking here to see the NPR article. What surprised me most about this whole story is the amount of litter that is flowing into the harbor. Buffalo’s Inner Harbor might have a bit of debris, but nothing close to what we see being pulled out of the water in Baltimore during a rain shower.
Lead image: NPR
Also be sure to check out the YouTube video: