FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our team is ready to help answer any questions you may have about FCI Watermakers
General
What are the differences between all of FCI Watermakers systems?
With products and custom options available, we solve any water need with industry-leading technology, reliability and customer support.
The Seawater line allows for dockside independence with open frame and modular systems for your offshore sport fishing boats to mega yachts.
The Brackish Water line is great for oil platforms, commercial ships, military vessels, and mid-sized hotels.
The Municipal Water line is your solution to clean water on demand for food & beverage, home, agriculture, island applications and also our spot-free dockside watermakers great for drinking, cooking, cleaning, bathing and getting a spot-free wash on your vehicle.
Are watermakers noisy?
FCI Watermakers is proud to have designed and manufactured our watermakers that are the quietest in the industry. Our systems are build on four-point vibration isolations mounts, which dissipate system vibrations and keep them from resonating through the vessel.
How long should I expect my Reverse Osmosis system to last?
The life expectancy of an FCI marine watermaker system should be 20 years or more of trouble-free service, provided the unit receives proper maintenance according to the owner’s manual. FCI Watermakers designs are second to none, using only the finest quality components, allowing longer lifespans.
Can I install a Watermaker by myself?
Yes. Installation is straightforward, and we provide comprehensive installation, operation and maintenance manuals. Our materials, available both digitally and in print, include exploded views, diagrams, and parts lists that anyone can follow. Download a competitor’s manual, and you can see the difference in our thoroughness and ease of use. In addition, we have a large dealer network in 60 countries across six continents available to assist as needed.
What do I need onboard to setup a watermaker?
Think of an FCI Watermaker as an integrated system. Our inclusive Watermaker systems don’t require add-ons, accessories, or upgrades to achieve the desired performance. They also come fully calibrated, unlike some brands, so additional accessories or calibration isn’t needed to complete the setup.
For a yacht application, you would need an inlet thru-hull, discharge thru-hull, connection to the freshwater tank, electrical connection to the breaker panel, and a line from the boat’s freshwater pump to the Watermaker for the included automatic fresh water flush.
What’s the difference between RO system v. water softener?
Water softeners condition the water, while reverse osmosis filters the water. Reverse osmosis does not use any chemicals. RO removes contaminants and minerals in the water by using a filter. Impurities found in water that can be removed by RO filters include fluoride, chlorine, detergents, salt, lead, pesticides, nitrates, and sulfates.
Is Remote Operation Possible?
Yes! We offer optional remote displays that can be installed in any desired location from remote starting and monitoring your Watermaker system.
Reverse Osmosis
FCI Watermakers Optimizes Marine Desalination Equipment?
Over a decade ago, FCI Watermakers pioneered features and automation never before seen in a marine water maker. FCI’s exclusive Universal Reverse Osmosis Controller (UROC) technology set the standard in operating today’s marine desalinators by integrating one-touch commands, multiple station operation and remote system control and monitoring of your water production from a computer and remote locations. FCI Watermakers are among the most effective marine desalination systems providing automatic and customizable fresh water flushing. This feature is integral to every marine water purification system because it deters growth of biological contaminants when the system is not in use.
How Does Desalination Equipment Work?
A marine desalination system begins with a through-hull fitting, or skin fitting, where ocean water is initially drawn into the system. The raw sea water is then filtered through a sea strainer to approximately 50 microns; and, further filtered to five microns by being pumped through a pre-filter using a low pressure pump running at approximately 30 to 35 psi. The reverse osmosis process begins when the filtered sea water is pumped under high pressure (at approximately 800 to 850 psi depending upon the temperature and salinity of the sea water) through the system’s membrane vessels. The product water that successfully passes through the membranes is then routed to a salinity probe, which confirms the quality of the water produced. If the product water is acceptable, this purified water is transported to a fresh water holding tank. Unacceptable product water that does not pass the salinity test is discarded and diverted with the brine discharge.
For more information on this topic, check out our blog post Desalination: How It Works And Which System Is Right For You.
Seawater Recovery Through Reverse Osmosis
For marine water purification, sea water is driven under high pressure through a special membrane. The resulting “product water” is potable water with over 99% of the Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) removed. The product water is directed from the marine water maker to a fresh water holding tank. Permeate that does not successfully pass through the membrane is sometimes referred to as the “brine discharge,” and on vessels is diverted overboard.
What Is Reverse Osmosis?
The osmotic process involves the natural movement of a solution through a semi-permeable membrane without applying external pressure. The membrane allows the passage of solvent but not of solute. In reverse osmosis, high pressure is used to push the solution through a membrane, which traps the solute on one side making pure solvent obtainable from the other side.
For more information on this topic check out our blog post, Desalination: How It Works And Which System Is Right For You.
What Is A Marine Watermaker?
A marine water maker is a desalination unit that converts sea water into fresh water using a reverse osmosis process that removes salt and other minerals, making it suitable for human consumption.
SEAWATER
How do I commission my marine watermaker for long-haul cruising?
Watermakers give you the autonomy while out at sea, commissioning your watermaker will prevent casualties, check out our 20-point checklist you can view here.
Commissioning your marine watermaker should be done yearly, or in preparation for a long-haul cruise.
What type of boat can benefit from a FCI Watermaker?
Any boat that has a genset or invertor and comes to port to fill up can use a Watermaker.
What size Marine Watermaker is right for my boat?
Watermakers are not one-size-fits-all and should be fitted for your specific vessel. Some important factors to consider include: tank size, run time, passengers, and water usage. Try out our Gallons Per Day calculator or give us a call, we’re happy to help lead you in the right direction 801.906.8840.
Can I run my seawater watermaker in brackish water?
Yes, our systems are designed to work in a wide variety of water conditions. If you have a manual system you will need to reduce the pressure to ensure the unit is making its rated output based on the feed water conditions. If you have an APC (Automatic Pressure Control) system it will self-adjust to the feed water conditions. FCI Watermakers designs systems for average ocean water conditions which are 32,000 PPM at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. These standards are representative of the salinity and temperature of average sea water. However, in different geographic locations and at different times of the year both of these parameters will fluctuate.
What parts and features come standard with my marine watermaker system?
With FCI’s inclusive pricing on our watermaking systems, you don’t need to buy add-ons, accessories and upgrades to achieve advertised outcomes and superior performance. FCI systems come fully calibrated so you can enjoy quick water satisfaction, versus other brands that require the purchase of additional accessories or calibration solutions to complete the set up.
I work in marine environments, will the watermaker withstand the elements?
Yes, our marine systems are designed for vessel operating conditions. From power-coated aluminum frames to high heat tolerance electrical components we have you covered.
Why would I need a RO watermakers on my vessel?
Safety is a paramount concern. If you have a marine water maker onboard, then you can avoid or greatly limit the potential risk to you and your passengers by providing virtually limitless fresh water in the event there is an emergency that keeps your vessel offshore for an extended period of time. This provides both you and your passengers with peace of mind.
There is also a tremendous risk in filling your fresh water tanks with dock-fill water, particularly in foreign countries where the quality of the water is uncertain. By introducing potentially contaminated water into your fresh water tanks you are exposing all people onboard to unknown risk. You know the water from your marine watermaker is fresh and will keep your tanks clean and safe.
Brackish Water
What is Brackish Water?
Merriam-Webster defines the term brackish as “somewhat salty”. Brackish water refers to a water source that is less salty than seawater and can be found at points of water where fresh water meets seawater.
Are these systems automated or hands-on?
We are proud to have manufactured and designed reliable and customizable watermakers. You have the option of manual or fully-automated operation. If you’re looking for a fully-automated system our controller interface allows for customization through intuitive touch screen controls.
My water usage fluctuates day-to-day at my resort, should I be worried about heavy water usage days, and scarcity of water the days following?
No, our watermakers are designed for high-demand applications. You can provide fresh water without hassle, and without limiting tomorrow.
Municipal Water
What is Municipal Water?
The term “municipal water supply system” means the reservoirs, canals, ditches, flumes, laterals, pipes, pipelines, and other surface facilities and systems constructed or installed for the collection, impoundment, storage, transportation, or distribution of drinking water. Also known as your tap water.
What type of water is needed for the Municipal reverse osmosis systems?
We designed our commercial municipal systems specifically to treat and purify Municipal Water, that includes Well Water or Lake Water, great for businesses, sea side resorts, agricultural, homes and more.
Do I need a feedwater analysis?
Yes, this is a necessary step to ensure we can spec the system that will meet your requirements. Please get in touch with an Engineering at FCI Watermakers who can assist you with this feedwater analysis process.
How do your spot-free water systems work?
Simply connect your garden hose to the system, plug into a standard utility outlet, and enjoy making purified spot-free water.
I need a dockside treatment, what system is right for me?
We’ve manufactured four Dockside Treatments options, each that offers a unique set of features and needs dependent on the user.
The DTS+ Mobile is a compact, portable water purifiying system for your dockside or municipal source. A perfect solution for washing your vehicles, RVs or vessels for a spot-free shine.
The DTS+ is an in-line spot-free dockside treatment system specially designed to treat dock water while utilizing your existing watermaker pump and control system.
The DTS+ Auto does everything the DTS+ does but completely automatic utilizing our V4 HMI/PLC control system.
The DTS+ Solo is a stand-alone, high output water purification system that can be used while dockside (single-feed) or at sea (dual-feed).