Aqua-Chem Inc., headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a major manufacturer of shipboard evaporator and distilling plant equipment for the United States Navy and commercial marine markets throughout the mid-twentieth century. Aqua-Chem evaporators and distilling plants — the shipboard “water makers” that produced potable water from seawater through evaporation and condensation — were installed aboard Navy surface combatants, auxiliary vessels, and amphibious ships, providing the fresh water required for crew drinking water, boiler feed water, and ship’s service needs during extended deployments. According to asbestos litigation records, Aqua-Chem evaporator and distilling plant assemblies incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at evaporator shell cover flanges, distillate collecting chamber covers, and piping system connections, creating exposure for Machinist’s Mates who performed evaporator maintenance in shipboard engineering and auxiliary machinery spaces.

Evaporator and Distilling Plant Asbestos

Aqua-Chem evaporator assemblies incorporated asbestos at shell and chamber joints:

  • Evaporator shell cover flange gaskets — Aqua-Chem shipboard evaporator shells incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the shell cover flange joints providing access to the evaporator tube bundles. Machinist’s Mates removing evaporator shell covers for tube bundle inspection, tube cleaning, or tube plugging encountered and disturbed the asbestos-containing compressed gasket at the shell cover flange face during each cover removal operation
  • Distillate collecting chamber gaskets — the distillate collecting chambers and condensate sections of Aqua-Chem distilling plants incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at the chamber access cover joints. Engineering personnel accessing distillate chambers for scale cleaning and chamber inspection encountered asbestos gasket materials during each chamber access operation
  • Evaporator feed and distillate piping gaskets — the seawater feed and distillate discharge piping systems connected to Aqua-Chem evaporators incorporated asbestos-containing compressed gasket materials at flanged connections. Machinist’s Mates servicing evaporator piping connections encountered asbestos gasket materials during evaporator piping maintenance

VA Claims for Veterans Exposed to Aqua-Chem Products

VA presumptive service connection under 38 CFR § 3.309(d) covers asbestos exposure from Navy evaporator maintenance. Machinist’s Mates who performed shipboard evaporator and distilling plant maintenance on Aqua-Chem installations and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.