This is an age of participation, in which the public is asked to suggest names for any number of things including animals at zoos and eagles at the arboretum.

So why not the two new skimmer boats that are intended to keep Washington’s waterways clean?

The boats were introduced last week by D.C. Water, the city’s water and sewer utility.

According to the utility the new boats cost $484,000 each, were built in Wisconsin and delivered to DC Water recently. Each boat is 50 feet long, 13 feet wide and weighs 26,000 pounds. They each feature an aluminum cab with tinted windows and both a captain and passenger seat.

DC Water said its older boats lacked the same features and were also dated.

(DC Water photo)

The vessels are to help in cleaning up the Anacostia River by pulling debris and floating trash from its surface.

With that assignment, the names for the craft might almost be regarded as suggesting themselves.

But they were given their names by Amanda Kolson Hurley. “congrats@amandakhurley your submission won” D.C. Water said on Twitter.

“You guys!” tweeted Hurley, “I named boats! Two of them!!”

And the names: Flotsam and, of course, Jetsam.