Reliable mobile water treatment and service keep U.S. Navy ships moving
Stretching across four miles of waterfront and more than 4,600 acres, Naval Station Norfolk in southeast Virginia is the world’s largest naval station. The base supports 75 ships and 134 aircraft alongside 14 piers and 11 aircraft hangars, and it houses the largest concentration of U.S. Navy forces.
Port Services at the station manage the movements of more than 3,100 ships annually, coordinating arrivals and departures while providing critical support and maintenance for the fleet. Among these essential services is providing a reliable supply of treated water for the ship’s steam propulsion systems. When feed water treatment issues began to threaten fleet readiness, the team urgently needed a solution.
Need for trusted treatment solution and responsive service
Shipboard boiling systems depend on high-quality demineralized feed water to convert high-pressure steam into energy. Subpar feed water can directly affect the performance and efficiency of a ship’s propulsion system, which is responsible for generating thrust to move vessels through water.
It is crucial to address feed water issues as quickly as possible so that ships are ready for duty at a moment’s notice.
While the ships are in port, the Navy treats feed water for their boiler systems via a land-based system. It is more efficient and cost-effective for the base to demineralize municipal water on land than it is to treat seawater with the ships’ on-board systems.
In 2015, Norfolk Naval Station was experiencing inconsistent demineralized water quality provided by its supplier and needed to make a change. The Navy required a responsive, reliable partner who could provide a solution that consistently delivered high-quality demineralized water to meet the station’s readiness commitments and keep operations running smoothly.
A proven track record leads to partnership
Xylem has been a longtime partner and supplier to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, where it has provided nuclear water purification services. Xylem has also supported the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington state.
Based on this track record of consistent quality and service, the Navy entered a five-year partnership with Xylem for feed water treatment at Naval Station Norfolk.
The feed water solution included six custom-designed mobile demineralization units, resin regeneration services, on-site systems management, transportation services and performance reporting via remote information systems.
Custom mobile units designed for flexibility and efficiency
Working closely with the Port Services team, Xylem designed and built the six mobile units to the Navy’s specifications. Key design elements included a 150,000-gallon capacity and compact footprint so Navy personnel can maneuver units around the congested dock area. Once a unit reaches its location, it processes treated water through advanced resin media and feeds it to polishing stations for use in the ships’ boiler systems.
The mobile design also makes it simple and efficient for Xylem drivers to transport the units to an offsite Xylem facility, when resin media periodically needs to be regenerated, eliminating the handling of hazardous chemicals and waste at the Navy yard.
Proud to help support Navy Station’s readiness
Xylem’s mobile services allow customers to meet their treated water needs safely, efficiently and without capital investment.
“The Navy needed a fast, flexible team to meet the unique requirements of a facility this size. We’re proud that, due to our proven record and fast, high-quality response, we can play a role in helping maintain U.S. readiness,” said Rodney Aulick, Senior Vice President and President, Water Solutions and Services, Xylem.
The world relies on the readiness of U.S. defense forces to respond to crises around the world. A key component of this is the American naval fleet and the many services that enable it to respond at a moment’s notice. With solutions like the mobile demineralization system, Xylem is ready – and proud – to be a part of this important effort.
Learn more about Xylem’s mobile treatment solutions.