Closing the loop

摘要

Can the loop be closed on the wastewater treatment process to allow vessel operators to recirculate treated effluent for domestic use onboard? It's not as far-fetched as you would think and, as stomach churning as it sounds, ship passengers and crew could soon be drinking and showering in water straight from the sewage treatment plant. ACO Marine, the marine subsidiary of German water specialist ACO Group, has developed a system capable of turning the treated effluent from the wastewater separator into potable water and while the end result is of a standard fit for human consumption, its optimum use would be for general surface cleaning, laundry, showering, toilet flushing, engine cooling - in fact, any technical fresh water requirement.