The importance of clean, safe drinking water cannot be overstated onboard yachts. For yacht owners, crew, and operators, maintaining water hygiene is crucial to ensure the health and safety of all passengers and crew. Contaminated water can lead to serious health issues, thus investing in reliable yacht sterilisation systems is essential. This article explores the critical role of sterilisation systems on yachts, focusing on chemical dosing systems, their benefits, and Octo Marine’s offerings.
The Significance of Safe Drinking Water on Yachts
Yachts often travel into remote areas where access to fresh water supplies can be limited. Consequently, onboard water systems must be capable of treating and sterilising water to meet safe drinking standards. Contaminated water can harbour harmful pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, leading to illnesses that can range from mild gastrointestinal discomfort to severe health issues.
Maintaining water hygiene on yachts involves not only treating incoming water but also ensuring that the storage and distribution systems remain uncontaminated. This is where sterilisation systems come into play, providing a robust solution to waterborne pathogen removal and ensuring water safety.
Types of Sterilisation Systems
Chemical Dosing Systems
Chemical dosing systems are a highly effective method for disinfecting water on yachts. These systems introduce specific chemicals into the water to kill or inactivate pathogens, providing ongoing protection against recontamination.
How They Work
Dosing systems, like those provided by Octo Marine, precisely control the introduction of chemicals, for example, Hydrasil AG+ into the water system. Hydrasil AG+ is a solution of stabilised hydrogen peroxide with silver, used for biofilm removal and continual sterilisation, ensuring the water remains safe for consumption over time.
Octo Marine’s Sterilisation Technology
Octo Marine offers a range of advanced sterilisation systems designed specifically for yachts, ensuring safe and clean drinking water for all onboard. Here’s an overview of their key products:
Katadyn Micropur Integrated Silver Treatment System
- Integrated Disinfection: Utilises Micropur® Classic to inactivate bacteria in water tanks and distribution systems, ensuring constant protection.
- Durable Construction: Mounted on an epoxy-coated aluminium frame for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance.
- Advanced Control System: Features a microprocessor-controlled dosing pump for precise chemical delivery.
- Safety and Monitoring Enhancements: Includes a low chemical level sensor, NO/NC alarm outlet for system alerts, and a pulse-emitting flow metre with an accumulated treated volume counter.
- Injection Valve: Facilitates accurate chemical introduction to the water system.
Hydrasil AG+® Integrated Treatment System
- Effective Disinfection: Uses Hydrasil AG+ for the treatment and removal of biofilms, sterilisation of potable water, and prevention of legionella and bacterial infections.
- Durable Frame: Mounted on an epoxy-coated aluminium frame that provides robustness and resistance to corrosion.
- Advanced Control Mechanisms: Equipped with a microprocessor-controlled dosing pump for precise chemical management.
- Safety and Monitoring Features: Includes a low chemical level sensor, NO/NC alarm outlet, and a pulse-emitting flow metre with an accumulated treated volume counter.
- Injection Valve: Allows for precise control of chemical introduction into the water system.
Bifipro® Marine Silver/Copper Sterilizer 60LPM
- Patented Technology: Uses separate treatment cells for silver and copper ionisation, removing bacteria and biofilms from water systems.
- Continuous Monitoring: Features a PLC with data acquisition for continuous monitoring and control, enabling remote inspection and adjustment.
- Certification and Compliance: Certified by KIWA, according to BRL-K14010-2/01, and compliant with EU, USEPA, and MCA standards.
- Not suitable for water produced by reverse osmosis.
Benefits of a Hydrasil Ag+ Dosing System
- Ongoing Protection: Provides residual disinfection, ensuring continued water safety.
- Effective Pathogen Elimination: Highly effective against a wide range of microorganisms.
- Versatility in Use: Compatible with various chemicals, allowing for flexible applications in different settings.
- Precision and Control: Advanced control mechanisms ensure precise chemical dosing, optimising disinfection while conserving chemical use.
- Enhanced Safety Features: Integrated sensors and alarms monitor the system’s chemical levels and operational status, enhancing safety.
- Ease and accuracy of measurement: easy to measure the residual sterilisation as required on a weekly basis.
Remineralising Dosing System
While not directly related to sterilisation, the Remineralising Dosing System by Octo Marine plays a crucial role in enhancing water quality onboard yachts. This system restores essential minerals to purified water, improving both its taste and health benefits.
- Comprehensive Mineral Restoration: Adds essential minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which are removed during the desalination and purification processes.
- Health Benefits: Enhances water quality by providing minerals that are beneficial to health, ensuring balanced and safe drinking water.
- Optimised for Marine Environments: Specifically designed for the marine setting, ensuring robust performance and reliability.
UV Water Sterilisation
UV sterilisation is another popular and effective method for disinfecting water on yachts. This technology uses ultraviolet light to destroy the DNA of microorganisms, rendering them harmless. It should be used as a secondary form of point of use sterilisation.
How It Works
UV sterilisation systems, such as the Slimline 5 Stage Drinking Water System with LED UV, consist of a chamber where water flows through and is exposed to UV light. The UV light penetrates the cells of microorganisms, disrupting their DNA and preventing them from reproducing. This process effectively neutralises bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.
Benefits
- Effective Pathogen Elimination: UV sterilisation is highly effective against a wide range of microorganisms.
- Chemical-Free: Unlike chemical treatments, UV sterilisation does not introduce any substances into the water.
- Low Maintenance: UV systems require minimal maintenance, typically involving only the periodic replacement of the UV lamp.
Limitations
- No Residual Disinfection: UV light does not provide residual disinfection, meaning it only works at the point of contact.
- Water Clarity Requirement: UV effectiveness can be reduced if the water is not sufficiently clear, as suspended particles can shield microorganisms from the UV light.
Installation and Maintenance Ease
Octo Marine’s systems are designed for easy integration into existing yacht water systems. Professional installation services ensure that the systems are set up correctly, and ongoing maintenance services help maintain optimal performance. Regular servicing and the availability of replacement parts ensure that the systems continue to provide reliable water sterilisation.
Choosing the Right System
When selecting a sterilisation system for your yacht, consider the following factors:
- Water Source: The type of water being treated (e.g., seawater, freshwater) will influence the choice of sterilisation technology.
- Capacity: The system should be capable of handling the yacht’s water usage requirements.
- Maintenance Requirements: Consider the ease of maintenance and the availability of support services.
- Compliance: Ensure that the system complies with international water safety standards.
Ensuring a Safe Water Supply Onboard
Ensuring safe drinking water on yachts is vital for the health and safety of passengers and crew. Sterilisation systems play a crucial role in maintaining water hygiene by eliminating harmful pathogens and contaminants. Octo Marine offers a range of advanced sterilisation solutions designed for the unique challenges of the marine environment. By choosing the right system and maintaining it properly, yacht owners can ensure a reliable supply of safe drinking water, meeting international safety standards and protecting the health of everyone on board.
Investing in a robust water sterilisation system is not just a regulatory requirement but a commitment to the well-being of all who sail on your yacht. Get in touch to embrace the advanced sterilisation technologies available today and sail with confidence, knowing that your water supply is safe and clean.
