A clean and dirty story of the QE2

13/09/2007

A North East company is honoured to bow to a right royal request when the QE2 sails into the Tyne as part of her 40th Anniversary voyage.

Northumbrian Water has been asked by Cunard, the owners of the 963-foot liner, to remove 400 tonnes of sewage produced by 1,900 passengers and 1,015 crew members, when it docks at North Shields this weekend.

The water and sewage company, which is based in Durham, will use its sludge vessel - also called Northumbrian Water - to remove the waste water.

It would have taken 15 loads in a road tanker to take away the waste which is the equivalent to that which Consett sewage treatment works produces in a week.

After the ship to ship transfer, the waste will be taken to Bran Sands at the mouth of the Tees for treatment.

What comes out, must go back in.  Whilst the waste water is being removed, Northumbrian Water will also fill the massive on board fresh water tank with one million litres of top quality tap water, which is equivalent to 12,500 bath fulls. 

The recharge will take around 12 hours to fill from a quayside hydrant.

Dave Robson, Northumbrian Water’s Sludge manager said: "Like everyone else, the customers of the QE2 can take clean drinking water for granted and can also flush away what comes naturally without giving it a second thought, assured that the waste water will be treated and safely returned to the environment.

"Northumbrian Water supplies top quality tap water to 2.6 million customers on land everyday in the North East and also treats all their waste water. The company is flushed with success to add the QE2 to its list of customers and help ensure she is fully ship shape during her prestigious visit to the Tyne."

The QE2 will be arriving in the Port of Tyne on the afternoon of Sunday, September 16, for her first ever visit to the North East.

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For further information contact Carolyn King on 0191 3016 722.