The Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) started this autumn with extra supervision of the discharge of sanitary waste water by seagoing vessels in Dutch seaports. Special attention is paid to international ferries, cruise ships and work ships because there are many people on board. 16 ships have now been inspected. Five ships were in violation and received a warning. The wastewater was discharged into the port, while the on-board treatment plant did not sufficiently purify the wastewater.

Purify wastewater

Sanitary waste water may be discharged untreated on the high seas. The situation is different in the Dutch ports and access waterways to those ports. Seagoing vessels may only discharge waste water into the port if it has been sufficiently purified. Specific rules apply to 'black' waste water (from toilets) and 'grey' waste water (from bathrooms, washing machines and kitchens) and the water treatment plant must, among other things, filter polluting substances and reduce the acidity. The ILT supervises the discharge of sanitary waste water by seagoing vessels. The inspections look, among other things, at the certificates of the treatment plants. Inspectors also assess how maintenance is carried out and how the treatment and storage of sanitary waste water is handled on board. To determine whether the treatment plant meets the requirements, samples are taken from the treated waste water.