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MECO was contracted in the mid 1980s to redesign the original reverse osmosis units used by the U.S. Army (i.e. the 600 gph ROWPU) to improve the system's reliability. MECO went on to manufacture the first initial substantive production run of the 600 GPH ROWPU, where more than 200 units were provided. Following that production run for subsequent contracts, MECO acted as a major subcontractor to other suppliers, providing all the pipe spools and associated components on those contracts.

This system utilizes reverse osmosis technology to treat water from fresh, brackish and seawater sources. The unit is also capable of treating water contaminated with nuclear, biological and chemical warfare agents. MECO continues to this day as a key supplier of components of this system to the U.S. military, either directly or through various contractors.

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MECO supplied thousands of diesel powered pumps, rated at 125 gallons per minute, to the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps for use around the world. The typical application is for water distribution systems in remote locations, and some will be used in conjunction with military Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU's), many of which were manufactured by MECO.

The assembly features a 3.8 horsepower one cylinder diesel engine, aluminum casing and frame and bronze impeller. Chief characteristics include quiet, reliable operation and light weight.

MECO has also designed and manufactured many other pumping systems for fuel and water. One of the most notable systems is the distribution pump for the 3000 gph ROWPU. This electrically driven pump is skid-mounted, portable system which forms part of the unit water distribution system.

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Two MECO Model PEE400M3N electric vapor compression plants were installed for the U.S. Navy on each of 21 newly constructed DDG-51 Class guided missile destroyers. They provide fresh water for the ships' operating systems and crews.

The units were specially designed by MECO for the Naval Sea Systems Command as part of the Navy's effort to convert the auxiliary systems on its newest warships from steam to electric power. The plants meet all the latest military specifications, including shock, vibration, low noise, electro-magnetic interference and electronic stress screening.

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Under a contract for the U.S. Navy, through Newport News Shipbuilding, MECO designed and manufactured the heat exchanger for the U.S. Navy 688 Class Nuclear Attack Submarine. The contract covered the construction of eighteen (18) of these highly specialized heat exchangers. The heat exchangers were all copper nickel construction and fabricated to U.S. Navy welding specification MIL- STD-278. The exchangers were subjected to the full submergence pressure of the submarines and built to conform to military specifications in accordance with a stringent quality assurance program to MIL-Q-9858A.

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MECO was contracted by Newport News Ship Building to help develop new water purification systems for the U.S. Navy's CVX aircraft carrier program. The requirement was for four units, each rated at 125,000 GPD (473 m3/Day).

The CVX project is going to be the most challenging naval venture that has ever attempted. On paper, the new generation carrier - while retaining the core capabilities of a Nimitz class carrier - will have a lower price tag and will be much cheaper to operate. All of this thanks to "smart" technologies being pioneered today on the "smart ship", the USS Yorktown CG48 and geared toward reducing onboard manpower.

Working in conjunction with the Newport News, MECO developed specifications, proposed new innovative technology and provided engineering support.

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In the early 1990s, MECO developed the 2000/3000 GPH High Pressure ROWPU for the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The system was designed and manufactured to meet the stringent requirements to produce potable water from very high TDS seawater under the harsh environmental characteristics of that region. The unit utilized extremely high pressure reverse osmosis technology employing unique membranes to treat water from the local seawater sources in the Middle East. Under this program, MECO designed, developed and manufactured several units, and commissioned and trained the Saudi Forces personnel in country.

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Based on our experience with the U.S. Army 600 gph ROWPU, MECO designed and developed our well-known Water Buffalo. It's a self-contained water purification unit that has its own integral power source. The Water Buffalo produces 20,000 GPD (75m3/day) from virtual any water source - fresh, brackish or seawater. It is housed in a lightweight aluminum enclosure and is powered by its own integral diesel-driven reverse osmosis pump. Therefore, no external power source is required.

The Water Buffalo utilizes corrosion resistance piping such as 90/10 copper nickel and 316L stainless steel. Also, the unit is equipped with all the necessary ancillary equipment for complete deployment and maintenance. This includes feed and storage pumps, a collapsible fabric product water storage tank, spare parts, tools and chemicals.

The MECO Water Buffalo has been used on many humanitarian and disaster relief efforts for such agencies as the United Nations and Brown & Root (Haliburton).

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MECO is the only company in the world which designs, develops and manufactures systems utilizing the three technologies used for marine watermakers: vapor compression, reverse osmosis and waste heat. Systems are employed on surface ships, drilling platforms and rigs.

MECO Model PEE1250M3C Vapor Compression Desalination Plant

The Hibernia Platform is one of the largest, most complex and most expensive offshore production platforms ever built. It was installed offshore Newfoundland in one of the harshest offshore production environments in the world.

MRO20000 High Salinity Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant

This contract was awarded by McDermott for the Salman Complex in the Persian Gulf. The unit operates on high salinity seawater (45,000 ppm TDS) and produces 20,000 GPD (75 m3/Day).

Waste Heat Water Makers

Two ST100 waste heat desalination plants were commissioned for a Chevron platform located in the Gulf of Mexico. These plants included surge tanks, circulating pumps and hot oil heat exchangers. The plants utilize hot oil as the heating source and were designed to rigid technical specs. They are the most compact of the waste heat plants supplied by MECO.