Is Water on a Cruise Ship Recycled?

By Michael Ferguson

A typical cruise ship travels with hundreds of passengers and crew, and they all need a steady supply of water to shower, drink, and cook. But with limited tanks to store fresh water, is the water on a cruise ship recycled?

On board the majority of modern cruise ships, fresh water is supplied by two different sources: either directly from the port or shore-side treatment plant, or through desalination processes using seawater. A combination of both sources is common. Freshwater systems on board the ship typically consist of several large tanks which store the fresh water generated via these two methods.

The majority of wastewater produced on cruise ships is discharged into the ocean, however there are some instances in which it is recycled. Toilet flushing and shower drainage are treated and then discharged into the ocean.

In areas where strict environmental regulations are in place, some cruise lines have implemented advanced wastewater treatment systems that can recycle up to 80% of all wastewater generated onboard. This recycled wastewater can then be used for non-potable functions such as irrigation or air conditioning cooling towers.

So does that mean that cruise ships recycle their own water? The answer is yes, but only in certain cases where environmental regulations require it. In most cases, only a fraction (20%) of all wastewater produced on a cruise ship gets recycled back into non-potable uses such as irrigation or cooling towers – while the remaining 80% gets discharged into the ocean.

Conclusion: Cruise ships do not typically recycle their own water; however in areas with strict environmental regulations in place they may use advanced wastewater treatment systems to recycle up to 80% of all wastewater produced onboard for non-potable uses such as irrigation and cooling towers.