IMO 159(55)/USCG NVIC 1-09

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IMO 159(55)/USCG NVIC 1-09

• Sewage Treatment Plants
• from a Laboratorys View
• Matthew D. MacGregor
• TEi-Testing Services, LLC
• Salt Lake City, UT - USA

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Why Test

• The end state of any new regulations or devices
  meant to meet new regulations is the proof of
  compliance.
• This is done by initial qualification testing
• and continual compliance testing.

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Initial Qualification Testing

• Initial qualification testing has two
  requirements, physical testing consisting of
  mechanical/electrical performance challenges.
• And influent processing testing to establish that
  the Device under Test meets effluent regulations.
  

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Physical Testing

• The requirements for mechanical/electrical
  performance are based on the ability of a Sewage
  Treatment Plant (STP) to withstand the rigors of
  the marine environment to include corrosion,
  vibration, incidental impacts, etc.

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Effluent Testing

• Processing testing is based on the ability of a
  STP to affect the basic composition of sewage
  which has physical, chemical and biological
  elements. Testing for these elements is done
  using three types of analysis Physical, Chemical
  and Biological challenges.

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Effluent Physical testing

• Consists of determining the amount of matter
  discharged in the effluent which is made up of
  the solid residues found in sewage such as
  fibrous, cellular and foreign material.
• Testing looks for the amount of Total Solids
  untreated by the STP and passed into the
  environment.

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Effluent Chemical testing

• Consists of determining the amount of natural and
  introduced chemicals found in the STP influent.
• Chemical testing consists of determining the
  amount of natural and introduced chemicals found
  in the STP influent. These chemicals constitute
  what is known as bio-limiting nutrients and
  hazardous materials.
• Bio-limiting nutrients are naturally occurring in
  human waste and if untreated promote unwanted
  growth in an aquatic system. These bio-limiting
  nutrients are determined by testing for Chemical
  Oxygen Demand, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Total
  Organic Carbons.
• Hazardous chemicals are those chemicals used in
  treating waste (such as disinfectants) and/or
  chemicals found in grey water introduced into a
  STP. Hazardous chemicals are determined by
  testing for residues and affects Acidity,
  Alkalinity, Chlorides, pH, semi-volatiles,
  volatiles and other analytical methodology.

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Effluent Biological testing

• Biological testing consists of determining the
  amount of natural pathogens found in human waste.
  
• These pathogens constitute harmful microorganisms
  that promote illness and use available oxygen
  thus limiting or destroying the growth of the
  natural aquatic system.
• These microorganisms are determined by testing
  for Biological Oxygen Demand and Thermotolerant
  coliforms.

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Conclusion

• The future of Marine Sanitation Device testing
  will be based on using analytical methods that
  will evaluate STP discharge to ensure minimum
  affects on the aquatic system to the point where
  all physical, chemical and biological elements of
  shipboard grey and black wastewater will be
  neutralized or removed.
• This will ensure that even in the most sensitive
  aquatic systems the passage of a ship will not be
  noticed and an earth friendly environment
  established.