Efficient wastewater discharge for archipelago ferries in Västerås
In Västerås, new Jets® Pump-out stations have replaced the need for regular sewage tanker truck visits to the busy harbour area. The solution provides a more efficient and discreet way to handle blackwater and greywater from passenger ferries operating in the archipelago.
For four decades, our people have developed trusted and eco-efficient sanitation solutions used around the world. We believe technology can make a positive difference – and that dedication and competence are key to making it happen.
At the Port of Västerås, tourists and local residents can enjoy a wide range of ferry trips through the beautiful archipelago. One of the ferries also offers food and beverages on board. Naturally, all passengers have access to toilets during the journey. Wastewater from the toilets, together with water from the washbasins, is collected in holding tanks on each ferry. When the ferries return to the quay, the tanks must be emptied.
Previously, a large sewage tanker truck had to drive down to the harbour, connect a hose to the ferry’s holding tank, and pump out all blackwater and greywater. This process created disruption in the busy harbour area. In addition, each ferry needed emptying according to its own schedule, making it difficult to coordinate bookings for the tanker truck. As a result, frequent call-outs led to increased operating costs.
Thom Blomqvist and Bosse Thyr, both project managers for the City of Västerås, explain the background to the project and the installation of the new pump-out stations.
With two newly installed Jets® Pump-out stations, each ferry can now easily connect a hose directly to the station and empty its holding tank. No vacuum tanker truck is required, as the wastewater is transferred through underground pipework connected to the municipal sewer network. These discharge stations are dedicated exclusively to the operator providing the archipelago ferry services.
Built for reliable operation
Based on the same proven vacuum technology trusted aboard some of the world's largest cruise ships, the Jets® Pump-out station is designed for reliable, year-round operation in Nordic conditions with minimal maintenance.
- We have taken the same vacuum technology that has proven itself in demanding maritime environments and adapted it for harbours. The result is a robust, low-maintenance solution that can be configured for everything from small marinas to larger terminals, says Tove Lerheim, Sales Manager Pump-out at JETS.
Available as a standalone unit or as part of a central vacuum system, the solution can be adapted to harbours of all sizes. As environmental regulations continue to tighten across Europe, accessible pump-out facilities help ports and boat owners dispose of sewage responsibly and protect coastal waters. In Sweden, discharge of toilet waste from recreational boats is prohibited in Swedish waters.
Protecting the archipelago
Other parts of the large harbour are home to an active recreational boating community, with approximately 3,500 leisure boats. Here, the Culture, Leisure and Sports Department is responsible for smaller adapted discharge stations, helping to prevent boats from carrying out illegal or uncontrolled discharges into the sensitive archipelago environment.
What was once a process dependent on frequent tanker truck visits is now handled through a permanent, year-round infrastructure connected directly to the municipal sewer network. For Västerås, the result is a cleaner, more efficient and more convenient solution for both ferry operators and harbour users.