Modern technology has revolutionized our lives, enhancing convenience, health, and overall well-being. Watermakers exemplify this progress, providing access to pure, fresh water for diverse applications. Watermakers are now an essential system, especially for marine vessels, offering independence from shore-based water supplies.
Marine watermakers employ desalination to transform seawater into potable water suitable for various onboard uses, including cleaning, cooking, drinking, dishwashing, ice production, showering, and laundry. These systems can produce substantial amounts of freshwater, ranging from 170 to 6,800 gallons per day, while larger commercial units can yield up to 50,000 gallons daily.
Investing in a marine watermaker delivers significant long-term benefits. Beyond the cost savings from eliminating the need to purchase water, it saves time and effort. Routine maintenance ensures a lifespan of up to 20 years. The initial cost is offset by the elimination of water costs and reduced fuel consumption due to less weight and space used for water storage.
Onboard watermakers offer unparalleled convenience, allowing boaters to perform everyday tasks without concern for water conservation or contamination. The constant availability of freshwater simplifies boat maintenance, protects the boat’s rigging and hull, and allows for extended voyages at higher speeds.
Watermakers utilize reverse osmosis, a technology developed for industrial water purification, to desalinate seawater. Pressurized seawater is forced through a semi-permeable membrane, removing up to 99% of salts, contaminants, and pollutants. Only water molecules can pass through, resulting in the production of fresh, potable water from seawater or even recycled sources.
A reverse osmosis desalinator typically operates for a few hours each day, depending on the freshwater demand. To determine the appropriate system size, assess daily water requirements and divide that total by the desired operating hours.