What do Boats - Especially Cruise Ships - Do About Waste, Water, and Leaks?

Question

Do they carry large water tanks and then put the sewage in other tanks to dump later? I've heard they purify the water before dumping it - would that work in a large lake (like Lake Superior) too? What happens to food scrapes? What are cruise ships made of?

Answer 1

Wastewater is held in huge holding tanks until they dock. Fresh water is also stored and large cruise ships also have desalination systems onboard. As far as leaks, if they are discovered by the harbor master there is a huge fine so it is in the ship company's best interest to keep up with the mantenance.

Answer 2

Waste water is treated and discharged while at sea.   I don't know if they would work on a lake.   I suppose it would be possible.  The discharges are usually made at least 25 nautical miles from land.

Excess food is either given to the crew,  incinerated or discharged at sea (fish food).

Paper, plastic and sometimes cardboard is incinerated aboard ship and the resulting ash is off-loaded in approved ports.  Glass and aluminum cans are crushed and off-loaded in approved ports.

Water that is used onboard is taken from the sea and treated until it is drinkable, etc...

Ships are made primarily of steel.

Answer 3

they make their own water and most have there own sewage plant on board. They have a special walk in refrigerator for food waste so it doesn't stink by the end of ship.  Ships are like a floating city.  Totally self contained.