A recent grease spill from a Key West, Fla., restaurant has officials praising a new preventative technology, the Smart Sponge Plus filtration system. It was installed in 11 storm water drains in the area after it captured grease from polluting the environment.
The Smart Sponge Plus is part of the city's storm water management project aimed at blocking oil, bacteria and trash from entering the nearby offshore reef community and coastal waters.
Operations Management Intl. conducted the grease spill cleanup and reported that a total of 4 gal of grease was captured in the AbTech Smart Sponge Plus filters located in the storm drain adjacent to the source of the spill.
"The Duval Street storm water system is heavily impacted by tourists and recreational activities that leave excessive trash and debris on our streets, sidewalks and storm drains," said Annalise Mannix, environmental programs manager. "It was only a matter of time before an accident of this nature was bound to occur and impact our waterways. We are so grateful that the installation of the Smart Sponge pollutant-removing system was in place to proactively limit any pollutants and toxins from entering our near-shore waters.
The Key West storm water management project involved the installation of 33 debris-trapping inserts that have been put into storm drains along Duval Street. The inserts have been provided through a Coral Reef Conservation Fund grant awarded to the city through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. In addition to blocking trash and absorbing oil, the system contains an antimicrobial agent that destroys E. coli and other bacteria and fungi.
