Eletric sanitation

[Jim Gillmore]

I hope someone or the Head Mistress is about the forum to help answer this, I am confused I read in the catalogs about using saltwater and 12VDC to sanitize head effluent. OK I am sure it works but then what? Can we just discharge it into the water? Are there limits as to what and where the discharge can happen. My boat is not set up with a large holding tank and if this is the answer that would be great since we are thinking of sailing to the mainland US and don't want have to add another holding tank.
Thanks
Jim

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

This should help

You're asking about the Raritan ElectroScan (newest version, renamed, of the Lectra/San, which has been around since the 70s.). Spending some time with the literature and instructions for it should help you understand how it works You'll find those here:

http://www.raritaneng.com/products/waste_treatment/electroscan.htm

From this page, go to the Promo Sheet, and then the owners manual...you see those listed on the left side of the page. Unless your toilet uses onboard pressurized fresh water, you don't need to worry about the salt tanks.

As for where you can use it: in any US waters that are not specifically designated "no discharge" (hold for pumpout only). On the east coast, that would be just about all coastal waters between the FL Keys and New England..and everywhere in the Gulf of Mexico except the FL Keys and Destin Harbor. Inland fresh water lakes and rivers are a different story...the discharge of treated waste is legal on most rivers, but not all...most inland lakes and the Great Lakes are "no discharge."

So whether to install a treatment device or a bigger tank really depends on where you plan to cruise in the US. If in parts of the country where treatment is legal, I highly recommend it!

 

[sailingdog]

Many areas of New England, like Buzzards Bay, are also NDZs...so a holding tank is generally required there.

 

[Ross]

I don't believe that electroscan can work in fresh water because the system requires sodium chloride in solution to make sodium hypochlorite to sanitize the waste.

Edit to add: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite

 

[sailingdog]

It can work in freshwater, but you have to add a salt dispenser to the system IIRC.

I don't believe that electroscan can work in fresh water because the system requires sodium chloride in solution to make sodium hypochlorite to sanitize the waste.

Edit to add: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_hypochlorite

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

ElectroScan in fresh water

The ElectroScan (nee Lectra/San) does require salt, but it's not necessary to add a salt tank...salt can be added to each flush manually--4 tablespoons (2 coffee measures) into the bowl when the boat is in fresh or brackish water. Adding a salt tank really only makes sense if the boat is relocating from salt to fresh water full time.

However, the Electroscan - Lectra/San creates hypochlorous acid, not sodium hypoclorate, by charging the ions in salt water with electrical current. The interesting thing about producing hypochlorous acid by charging the ions in salt water with electrical current is that the solution reverts to salt water again as soon as the stimulus--electrical current--is removed.

In the early 90s Raritan introduced the PuraSan for use on boats in fresh or brackish water and with toilets that use onboard fresh water. It doesn't need salt. You can read all about both devices here: Raritan Waste Treatment

 

[Jim Gillmore]

what about the discharge of the effluent

Peggy
Thanks
Jim

 

[Jim Gillmore]

All you others that replied thank you as well. We are in Saint Thomas and looking to come north for hurricane season.
Jim

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

Re: what about the discharge of the effluent

Each treated flush is discharged automatically...no holding...one flush at a time.

I think most of your questions about how the system works will be answered in the promo sheet and the instruction manual, both of which are available online and can be accessed from the page for which I posted the link in my first reply.