It seems pretty clear that there are no grey water systems for small boats,
though I've
wondered if it would be feasible to save shower water for deck washdown.
However, many
(most?) of the newer cruise ships do recycle gray water. They filter it to
"near drinking
water quality" and use it, not for drinking, but for cooling systems and
washing.

Thanks for clearing that up, Jeff. I had never heard of recycling grey water
for cruising boats. Even the mega yachts don't seem to have it. This exists on
Princess Cruise line ships and the like?

RB

Bobsprit wrote:

It seems pretty clear that there are no grey water systems for small boats,
though I've
wondered if it would be feasible to save shower water for deck washdown.
However, many
(most?) of the newer cruise ships do recycle gray water. They filter it to
"near drinking
water quality" and use it, not for drinking, but for cooling systems and
washing.

With the exception of spacecraft, wastewater simply is not recycled as
potable water. It is too expensive, too difficult, too risky, and too
offensive for all Earth based users. It is simply easier, cheaper, takes
less volume for the machinery, and is safer to process the local source.

Cruise ships recycle gray water for political and marketing reasons alone.

Only in NulWorld and JaxWorld do boaters drink gray water.

But then again, I don't know everything about every new technology and
maybe Nul knows about this gray water recycling system he would use if
he went on his extended cruise where water was in short supply. It would
be nice if he would tell us about it but he seems to be more interested
in pursuing his little hissy fit and won't share his information with us.


Rick

On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 16:34:49 GMT, Rick
wrote:

With the exception of spacecraft, wastewater simply is not recycled as
potable water.

Ok, here's what I would do.

I generally know if the water I'm using is going into my body or not.
If not, why wouldn't I just dip up a bucket of whatever it is I'm
floating in for washing? Dip it up, use it, dump it out.

If you're sailing in some polluted waters, like the Hudson river, by
definition you are not far out of range of water you can trust. If
you *are* out of range of water you can trust, the water you're
sailing in is probably clean enough to wash with, and if you were
really worried about it, you could boil the rinse part first. I'm
thinking of dishes here.

For your body, a couple of cups of fresh water on a sponge should take
care of your personal needs for as long as you're out. On the Navy
ships I was on, we used sea water for the heads, and in areas of the
galley like the food disposals. Don't see why you wouldn't be able to
do the same on a thirty footer.