Indian River Queen Dragonfly Water Treatment Systems Cocoa, Florida

In the last few years, wastewater and water use management in marine applications has become one of the most critical elements of marine operations. With discharge regulations and public awareness of waterways and ocean pollution, the importance of wastewater from larger vessels has become significantly more critical than in the recent past.  In addressing the wastewater in marine applications, the industry approached the problem in groups. There are three options: the first mixes the partially treated waste with chemicals such as chlorine or hydrogen peroxide which get dumped overboard. Another choice installs an incredibly expensive sewage treatment system. The final alternative is to pump the waste out at pumping stations.

The Indian River Queen (IRQ) is a paddle wheel vessel stationed in the Indian River at a marina in Cocoa, Florida.  Ms. Penny Flaherty, IRQ owner, provides scheduled tours and private parties traveling within the Indian River, which is part of the Intercostals Waterway. Ms. Flaherty identified the need to address the wastewater system onboard the IRQ after learning about the Dragonfly system.

Working with Captain Jim Georges, the captain of the vessel, AJT, Agrimond engineers and scientists developed, designed, and installed IRQ’s Marine Dragonfly System.  Prior to installation, the IRQ’s system consisted of one black water holding tank and five 200-gallon potable water tanks.  The IRQ has six toilets and one urinal.  It has a carrying capacity of approximately 200 passengers and crew, and typically cruises an average of four hours per cruise.  One issue with the IRQ was that each cruise would use half and sometimes more than half the black water capacity of the existing tank.  However, the biggest issue faced was the need to move IRQ every time it needed to be pumped out.  This was no easy procedure- both were difficult and time consuming.

The Marine Dragonfly was retrofit to connect onto the existing tanks.  The black tank is used as the treatment tank, and three of the five potable water tanks were converted into reuse tanks.  The installation included the addition of clarifiers, an ozone contactor and generator, the computer control system, and a separate water supply pump. The system has been installed for over four months now, and has not needed a pump-out or discharge from the black water system.  The water is continuously reused to flush the toilets and the urinals.  The IRQ can now schedule its cruises without having to worry about the black water capacity. In addition, the IRQ has become one of the most environmentally friendly vessels operating in the Florida waters.