The New Environment Marine-Sewage Treatment
Authors: Weiss Paul A. 
Published: October 2008

INTRODUCTION

With the rising national and international interest in the preservation and improvement of the environment, considerable attention is being directed toward the detrimental effects of wastes discharged by vessels and conveyances to the waters on which they operate. The Offshore Industry is receiving its share of attention in this regard.

Wastes discharged by vessels are of many types; solid waste (both floating and non-floating), oil, dirty water, domestic wastes from galley, showers, sinks, laundry, etc., body wastes and many more. To discuss the problems and management of each of these wastes would be a tremendous undertaking and well beyond the intended scope of this paper. This paper is devoted to a discussion of the problem of body wastes generated aboard vessels and management of that problem, specific attention being given as it applies to the Offshore Industry.

Legislation and proposed legislation establishing the rules and regulations for control of sewage from vessels is summarized. These rules and regulations will determine the operational New Environment of the Offshore Industry in regards to marine sewage treatment.

Representative systems for the holding of sewage or its treatment aboard the vessel are described. Suitability of each of the various systems to particular segments of the industry is discussed. Current "State of the Art" of marine sewage treatment is covered and some attempt made to project the direction of future development under the influence of rules and regulations existing or likely to come about.

LEGISLATION

Historically the body wastes of persons aboard vessels have been discharged directly, with little or no treatment, to the waters on which the vessel operated. This has also been generally true of structures standing over waters. This method was the most expedient, and in many cases the only means available for disposing of the waste. The practice was not particularly objectionable so long as the receiving body of water was large enough, relative to the volume of wastes received, to assimilate these wastes without unacceptable degradation of the receiving waters quality.

Increased population, greater industrial activity, expanded use of agricultural chemical s. and many other factors including increased marine activity have resulted in rising pollution of the waters. The practice of vessel discharge of untreated sewage has become unacceptable to an increasing segment of the populace. This is particularly true for inland and coastal waters and is becoming increasingly true for open waters. In response, legislatures on local, state, and national level in the United States and throughout the world have enacted laws setting standards and provisions for enforcement to control vessel sanitary wastes discharged. An understanding of this legislation is essential to an understanding of the problem confronting the vessel operator and support activities.

The Refuse Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 407-409, 411,419) prohibits the dumping of refuse of any kind or description into navigable waters. Application of the meaning of the word refuse to sewage has been attempted in the courts on several occasions.