South Carolina county installs WaterGoat litter collector

Berkeley County in South Carolina will installed a WaterGoat device into the College Park Canalthis morning. This unique device is designed to collect litter in the canal and help with stormwater management to remove trash and improve water quality issues in nearby neighborhoods.

The WaterGoat is a floating netted trash barrier, made buoyant through a chain of netted plastic balls. Specifically, the WaterGoat will trap floating litter that washes in from area storm drains, keeping trash and other debris out of streets, ditches and streams. According to the WaterGoat website, it is designed to operate successfully in fast-moving, rapidly fluctuating waters.

The installation will be placed adjacent a bridge on Trinity Place. This convenient location provides an area for volunteers to park safely and access the WaterGoat for maintenance activities, future litter removal efforts and student/public education.

This project is a coordinated effort between Berkeley County Stormwater, Berkeley County Roads and Bridges, Keep Berkeley Beautiful, and Palmetto Pride/Keep SC Beautiful. Community groups and volunteers will be tasked with overseeing the routine maintenance and cleaning of the WaterGoat. The Caromi Volunteer Fire Department will provide routine cleanup efforts of the device. Additionally, Truck Carlson with the Savannah River Keepers and Veterans for Clean Water will be displaying his techniques for cleaning the canal with a tool of his creation.

Immediately following the installation, there will be a litter-removal initiative targeting the area in and around the canal. The effort will be led by community volunteers with Keep Berkeley Beautiful and PalmettoPride/Keep SC Beautiful. The public is invited to attend the event and participate in the litter clean-up. Materials, for clean-up, will be provided by Keep Berkeley Beautiful.

Since WaterGoat’s creation in 2006, nearly 200 devices have been installed in waterways around the country. Watergoat primarily serves the states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Missouri, Alabama and Texas. More information can be found at the WaterGoat website.

SOURCE: Berkeley County, South Carolina