Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Kevin Costner's <em>Waterworld</em> Will Save the Gulf
By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 19, 2010
Modified May 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jaya Saxena
Published May 19, 2010
Modified May 19, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
So remember that time in Waterworld when that machine could turn urine into clean water? Well, Kevin Costner was apparently so inspired by the technology, and so devastated by the Exxon-Valdez spill, that he paid scientists millions of dollars to develop a similar system for oil. The resulting centrifuge machines, named "Ocean Therapy," will now be applied to the Gulf of Mexico. The world actually has Waterworld to thank for something.
The 300 machines suck in the oily water, separate the oil from the water and spit the clean water back out, with the largest doing so at a rate of 200 gallons a minute. The break in the pipe is currently spewing about 145.83 gallons a minute. Costner told the Daily News, "I'm just really happy that the light of day has come to this. It's prepared to go out and solve problems, not talk about them." Wait, the machines can talk?
The news of the invention was released just before a permit issued to BP by the Minerals Management Service was made public. The facepalm inducing permit warned BP to “Exercise caution while drilling due to indications of shallow gas and possible water flow.’’ The permit was granted on April 6th, just two weeks before the explosion that killed 11 and sent oil flowing wantonly into the Gulf.
Tagged
BP
gulf oil spill
kevin costner
ocean therapy
oil spill
waterworld
Jaya Saxena
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
GOP candidates in NY face a changed landscape on immigration
The 'migrant crisis' has changed markedly since the voters went to the polls two years ago.
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 28, 2026 at 6:30 a.m. ET
Mamdani plans redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue after nurse killed in hit-and-run
Sunset Park residents and street safety advocates have called on city officials to make the avenue safer for years.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
News
Mamdani plans redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue after nurse killed in hit-and-run
Sunset Park residents and street safety advocates have called on city officials to make the avenue safer for years.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
NJ Gov. Sherrill: Election is secure, noncitizens taken off voter rolls
By
Michael Sol Warren
Ex-NYPD officer again faces murder charge in George Washington Bridge shooting
By
Samantha Max
Former NYC buildings boss helped reopen mayor's favored restaurant despite health violations
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .