What problems are created when disposing of bilge water in marine ports and open sea?

All boats or sea vessels have an area towards the bottom of the hull where water collects. This area is called the bilge. The water that collects in this bottom compartment can come from various sources - rainwater, seawater, or waste water from the ships sewage system. Often oil from machinery and engines can also find its way into the bilge. Usually, the bilge is designed to house these noxious liquids as there is nowhere else on the ship where they can be stored safely.

Instead of "going green" and using bilge water treatment, the traditional way to dispose of these polluted waters was to release them, as is, from the bilge directly into the sea or port area. Of course, the effect of these polluted waters on the sea port was devastating.

Oil in any amount is toxic for fish and will either kill them or harm them in other ways. Sewage water can spur algal blooms which will consume oxygen, which will also affect the fish and other sea life.  There can also be harmful bacteria and parasites being released which affect other marine life and can cause public health problems.

Are there any options for disposing or treating these polluted waters?

After so many public accidents where ships dumped tons of oil, like in the case of the Exxon Valdez in Alaska, or other cases where ships caused massive pollution of ports or coastal areas, there is clearly a need to improve environmental standards with bilge water treatment.

Governments around the world are aware of this and have enacted laws to require bilge water treatment. Shipping companies and marine ports that don't adhere to these laws can receive heavy penalties.

There are different ways to perform bilge water treatment. Some systems use mechanical devices to separate the water from oil or other pollutants and this can be effective. Other methods include bioremediation, where biological processes are used to clean up the waste water. Whatever the method, once the water is cleaned, it can be returned to nature without harmful results.

Explore available solutions today, for the best way to perform bilge water treatment, and join the efforts to give the next generation a cleaner world.