Where Does Poop Go on a Cruise Ship?

By Anna Duncan

Where Does Poop Go on a Cruise Ship?

Cruise ships are vast vessels that can carry hundreds or even thousands of passengers and crew. Despite their size, cruise ships are still subject to the same laws of physics as any other vessel.

This means that all the waste produced by passengers and crew must be disposed of in some way. So, what happens to all the poop on a cruise ship?

The first step in dealing with sewage is to separate it from other waste streams. On a cruise ship, this is done by collecting blackwater and greywater in separate tanks.

Blackwater is wastewater from toilets and sinks, whereas greywater is wastewater from showers and sinks. The two streams are kept separate to prevent contamination between them.

Once the blackwater has been collected, it must be treated before being released into the ocean. To do this, most cruise ships use a process called Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT).

This involves passing the blackwater through several tanks containing bacteria that break down organic matter, such as human waste. The water is then filtered to remove any remaining solids before being discharged into the ocean.

Greywater is usually treated less rigorously than blackwater because it contains less organic matter. It may simply be filtered and chlorinated before being discharged into the ocean.

The final step in disposing of waste on a cruise ship is managing solid waste such as food scraps and paper products. This is usually done by compacting the waste into small cubes which can then be stored until they reach port where they can be disposed of safely ashore.

In summary, poop on a cruise ship is separated from other types of wastewater before being treated with Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT). Greywater may also be treated but to a lesser extent than blackwater before being released into the ocean.

Finally, solid waste such as food scraps and paper products are compacted and stored until reaching port where they can be disposed of ashore. Conclusion: Onboard a cruise ship, poop goes through an extensive treatment process before it can safely be discharged into the ocean. Greywater must also undergo some treatment before being released while solid waste such as food scraps must be compacted and stored until reaching port where it can be disposed of safely ashore.