Clean Water of New York

By Emmalynn Kohl

Editor: Morgan White

Clean Water of NY Inc Logo (Courtesy of Clean Water of NY Inc) ​​

Clean Water of New York, Inc. (CWONY) is a privately owned marine wastewater treatment and cleaning facility located at 3249 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, New York. The site sits in the Mariners Harbor area with direct access to Newark Bay. Because it is close to both the Goethals Bridge and the Outerbridge Crossing, the company can easily reach major Mid-Atlantic ports, including Baltimore.

Founded in 1993, Clean Water of New York has served the marine industry for more than 30 years. It became the first facility in the Northeast to provide vessel cleaning, water treatment, and oil recycling all in one place. The company follows the motto “Driven by Service, Steered with Integrity,” which reflects its focus on professionalism, environmental care, and building trust with customers.

Photo: Clean Water of NY Inc Water Treatment System (250 galls per minute) (Courtesy of Clean Water of NY Inc)

On the marine side, the company offers tank cleaning, vacuum services, and disposal of

water and solid waste. The cleaning plant can remove petroleum products, water, and sludge from many types of vessels, from small tugboats to large cargo ships. All wash water and slops are treated at the company’s plant. Oils recovered from ships are cleaned and reused as fuel, keeping thousands of pounds of waste from being dumped or burned.

On land, Clean Water handles wastewater processing, oil recycling, vacuum-truck work, and drum disposal. The facility is approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the U.S. Coast Guard to process oily water, used oil, and petroleum debris. As a MARPOL reception facility, it can store up to five million gallons of waste and process about 250 gallons of wastewater per minute—the equivalent of more than 1 ton of water every six minutes. 

Fleet of Clean Water of NY Inc waste hauling trucks parked in a lot, showcasing their robust design and readiness for service. (Courtesy of Clean Water of NY, Inc.)

The company’s physical plant includes a five-million-gallon treatment and storage system, an ABS-inspected steam boiler, and six U.S. Coast Guard–certified marine

barges. Its fleet has about 20 power units, 23 trailers, roll-off containers, dump trailers, and box trucks. Around 40 employees operate this equipment across several Mid-Atlantic states, including Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

Clean Water of NY Inc barge operations (Courtesy of Clean Water of NY)

Clean Water of New York plays an active role in helping the Port of Baltimore run smoothly. The company transports and processes oil and sludge for major cruise lines such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. A vacuum truck usually leaves Staten Island around 4 a.m. and reaches the Baltimore Cruise Terminal by 8 a.m. After confirming safety steps with ship staff, the driver pumps the ship’s sludge—often thousands of pounds of thick waste—into the truck. Once the job is done, the driver returns to Staten Island so the waste can be treated and recycled.

This partnership shows why companies like Clean Water of New York matter. By safely removing waste and recycling valuable materials, the company helps protect the environment and keep ports operating efficiently. Its work supports healthier waterways, cleaner ships, and stronger port communities. Clean Water of New York continues to be an important part of the Greater Baltimore intermodal ecosystem through its commitment to service, safety, and sustainability.

Photo below: Clean Water of New York Shoreside Facility on Staten Island Along Kill Van Kull in NYC (Courtesy of Clean Water of New York)