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Your vessel’s marine sanitation device (MSD) is a piece of equipment that has specifically been designed to treat and discharge your sewage in a safe—and compliant—manner. Not only is your MSD important for keeping you and your crew safe and sanitary, but it’s also vital for helping you avoid pesky and expensive Coast Guard fines.
If your MSD isn’t working properly, you’re going to need to fix it. However, there are some times when you don’t need a fix—instead, you need a new MSD. These devices don’t last forever! Even high-quality marine sanitation devices have an expiration date.
Updating or even upgrading your MSD on a regular basis is crucial for the health and safety of your vessel. By keeping your MSD up to date or even getting a better one, you’ll avoid myriad unsanitary scenarios. You’ll be better able to keep up with the growing needs of your crew. And, because you’ll be complying with boat sewage regulations and avoiding fines, you’ll be helping out your bottom line.
Here’s how to tell if it’s time for an MSD upgrade.
Your boat may need a new MSD if:
1. It would be more expensive to maintain your current MSD than it would be to get a new one.
You may be tempted to troubleshoot or fix your old MSD to save some money, but doing so could end up costing you more than you think. Going to the effort to replace individual parts, such as a new regenerative blower or discharge pump, can take a lot of time—and a lot of money.
In addition, there’s a certain point where getting new parts for an older MSD will no longer make it work like new. Make sure you speak with an MSD expert to see whether maintenance will be effective or if you just need to bite the bullet and get a new system.
2. You’ve outgrown your current sanitation system.
MSDs are only rated for a certain volume of use. If your operation has grown significantly since the last time you updated your system, you might be overloading the device, which can result in blockages and harm to the system. Whether you have a larger crew now or you hope to grow in the future, you’ll need to consider whether your current system is up to the task.
3. It’s time for an upgrade.
It may have been a while since the last time you bought a marine sanitation system. There may be more durable options available to you now. If your current system depends on a plastic device, you might have noticed that it’s warped in response to years of cycling. A carbon or stainless steel model will have a significantly higher resilience to hot and cold temperatures, which, in turn, will make it last longer for you.
When you’re buying your next system, it’s probably a good opportunity to opt for some type of strategic upgrade, whether it be in size or material. That way, you’ll know that your crew has room to grow or that your MSD will last for years and years of use, making your investment a good one for your vessel.
Time for a new system? Here’s how to size your new MSD.
If you’ve realized that you need a new marine sanitation system, the No. 1 decision you’ll need to make is how big it should be. Fortunately, we’ve boiled the sizing of an MSD down into a few easy questions. (We even made a handy calculator to do all the work for you!)
You need to make sure that your new MSD is up to the task and is big enough that you have room to grow in the future.
Here’s what you need to think about:
- How many people are working aboard your vessel?
- How many hours per day are you on your platform?
- What certifications do you require?
- What types of waste will your MSD need to handle?
The answers to these questions will determine the right size of MSD for you!
Talk to H2O LLC today to source a new MSD for your boat.
Ultimately, if it seems like you might be in danger of overloading your MSD, you’re noticing corrosion,, or it’s just time for an upgrade, you’re going to need a trusted manufacturer to help you find the best marine sanitation device for you.
At H2O, we’re proud to be a source of high-quality, long-lasting, high-performance MSDs and a source of great information. Have any questions? Need help assessing the health of your MSD? Reach out to our knowledgeable team today, and we’ll get you information on troubleshooting, pricing, and more.
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