Do you know when you can store grey water in ballast water tanks?

India Ship Registry has issued a new Merchant Shipping Notice including clarifications on the interpretation of MARPOL Annex IV. Among others, it explains when exceptional storage of treated wastewater, or Grey Water in ballast water tanks is permitted.

Grey water is defined as drainage from dishwater, galley sink, shower, laundry, bath and washbasin drains. Grey water is not considered sewage unless it is mixed with drainage from toilets, urinals, hospitals, and animal spaces, as defined in Regulation 1.3 of MARPOL Annex IV.

It is recognised there are exceptional situations where, to comply with coastal State regulations or where there are inadequate reception facilities at ports and terminals, it may become necessary to store TWW or grey water in ballast water tanks.

The Indian Directorate may permit the use of ballast tanks as temporary storage of “treated wastewater’ (TWW) or Grey Water subject to the following conditions:

the ballast tank is temporarily isolated from the ballast system, so that no accidental discharge via the ballast system can take place within restricted waters ;
for TWW and/or Grey Water, the ballast tank, pipes and pumps are adequately flushed prior to being returned to use for ballast;
the tank is verified gas free if it is to be entered after having carried TWW and in particular, the atmosphere should be tested for the presence of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) gas.
the temporary treated sewage/grey water holding tank shall not be located in hazardous areas of the ship.
Entries are to be made in the log book regarding the transfer and discharge of such treated sewage and grey water to the ballast tank.
Port authorities to be informed of the temporary arrangement prior arrival to the port.
Treated sewage and the grey water being stored in such tank is to be discharged in accordance with the port/coastal state rules and requirements or is to be discharged beyond port limits, while ship is en route and beyond 12 NM from the nearest land.

Any ballast water tank, if being used for storage of grey water or treated sewage, could contaminate or damage the Ballast Water Treatment System and result in the discharged ballast water not meeting the discharge standard specified in Regulation D-2 of the BWM Convention (unless the BWTS is certified to meet the D-2 standard when processing such mixtures).

Hence it is to be ensured that the treated sewage or the grey water is not being stored in the ballast tank, especially when the ballast water treatment system requires the treatment during the de-ballasting also.

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However, the grey water and treated sewage can be stored in case the following is complied with:

The tank(s) shall be connected to only one system at any time;
The system is to be arranged such that grey water or treated sewage cannot contaminate the
ballast water treatment system;
The tank(s) shall be empty before change of use;
The tank(s) shall be adequately flushed after containing grey water or treated sewage, prior to
being returned to use for ballast.

EXPLORE MORE ABOUT MARPOL ANNEX IV HERE