The Scoop on Poop
Recreational boat sewage discharges -- what's the
effect?
Human sewage from boats creates environmental problems, especially
in shallow or poorly flushed inlets or marinas. Boat sewage introduces
disease-carrying bacteria and viruses into the water. You can get sick
if you swim, ski or surf in polluted waters or if you eat raw or partially
cooked shellfish taken from contaminated waters. Untreated boat sewage
lowers oxygen levels in water, making it more difficult for fish and
other aquatic life to survive. And boat sewage creates an aesthetic
problem as well.
It's illegal to discharge untreated sewage into all navigable U.S. waters, but some recreational boaters still discharge raw wastes into inland waters. You might think an individual boater's contribution to the overall pollution problem is small. But when you consider that there are 841,000 boats registered in California, it's easy to see that those individual contributions can add up to a significant total.
MSDs -- Preventing Pollution
A Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) is designed to keep untreated sewage out of the water. All boats with installed marine toilets must have an operable Coast Guard-approved MSD. There are three types (Type III is the one most commonly used by boaters):
- Type I MSDs treat sewage so that the discharged effluent meets
specified standards for bacterial content and contains no visible
floating solids.
- Type II MSDs are similar to Type I MSDs, but must meet a higher
sewage treatment standard. Type II MSDs are typically found on larger
boats.
- Type III MSDs or holding tanks retain sewage for shore-based disposal at a pumpout station or for discharge beyond the three-mile limit.
Boats 65 feet or less in length may install a Type I, II or III MSD. Vessels over 65 feet must install a Type II or III MSD.
Connecting your marine toilet to an MSD is usually a fairly straightforward process that doesn't require you to pull your boat from the water. For more specific information, ask your marine retailer, consult recent boating magazines or call the American Boat and Yacht Association at (410)974-2818 for the detailed booklet, Sewage Holding Tank Systems for Recreational Boats.
An easy way to deal with vessel sewage on small boats is to keep a portable toilet on board. Portable toilets require minimal space and have the added advantages of being inexpensive, reliable and simple to operate.
Environmentally speaking, a Type III MSD or a portable toilet may be best -- sewage is conveyed to a treatment plant and onboard chemical use is minimized.
The Law
- It's illegal to discharge untreated sewage anywhere within the
three-mile territorial limit -- a region that includes the entire
Bay-Delta Estuary. It is not legal to dump just outside the Golden
Gate.
- You can be fined up to $2,000 by the Coast Guard if you illegally
dump sewage.
- You are not required to have an installed marine toilet on your boat. If there is one, it must be connected to a Coast Guard-approved Marine Sanitation Device (MSD).
The "Y" Valve
"Y" valves are used as part of the MSD system
to direct waste overboard, into the holding tank or to a deck pumpout
fitting. If your holding tank (Type III) is plumbed with a Y valve
for overboard discharge and you're operating within the three-mile
limit, you must secure the Y valve in the closed position with a padlock
or non-releasable wire tie or remove the handle entirely to prevent
the possibility of a discharge overboard.
Additive advice
The chemical disinfectants and deodorizers used in many
MSDs can contain chlorine, quaternary ammonia and formaldehyde --
all harmful to aquatic life. Read labels carefully and take advantage
of the many environmentally friendly products now available without
these ingredients. Use the amount recommended to ensure adequate treatment.
No-discharge Areas
In most cases, it's legal to discharge treated wastes from
Types I and II MSDs directly overboard. Avoid discharging near sensitive
shellfish beds, in shallow coves and marinas or around swimming, surfing
or wading areas.
But in Marin County's Richardson Bay -- a federally designated No-Discharge Area -- it's illegal to release even treated wastes. If you operate in these waters, your Type I or II MSD must be connected to a holding tank or secured to prevent all sewage discharges.
Places to pump and dump
When it's time to empty your holding tank, look for the
new national pumpout symbol -- it will guide you to one of the 80
Bay-Delta marinas with pumpout facilities. It only takes a few minutes
to pump the wastes out of your holding tank. Follow posted instructions
or ask the marina operator for help. Call a mobile pumpout service
if you don't want to pump the tank yourself. Empty your portable toilet
at one of 13 local dump stations or in your toilet at home. For a
free color map showing pumpout and dump station locations, contact
Liz Blair or call (510)622-2465.
If your marina doesn't have a pumpout station, your marina operator may be eligible for a grant under the Clean Vessel Act. Funds are available to construct or renovate a pumpout or dump facility. For more information and grant guidelines, contact the California Department of Boating and Waterways at (916)445-9657 or at 1629 S Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Pumpout Pointers
- Use public toilets on shore whenever possible.
- Keep your MSD in good operating condition. Make sure all fittings,
hoses and other pump mechanisms stay clean and lubricated. Keep
a complete repair kit for your particular type of head on board.
Look for rapid dissolving marine toilet tissue specifically designed
for MSDs.
- Rinse water through the system for one minute once you've finished
to prevent expensive pumpout breakdowns.
- Pump only your holding tank wastes. Pumpouts are not designed
to handle bilge water or solid objects.
- Turn off the pump when you're finished so it will work for the next boater.
Clean Waterways
Keeping California waterways clean and healthy has never
been more important. By properly disposing of human sewage from your
boat, you make a real water quality difference and you help protect
the resource we all enjoy so much -- the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary.
This fact sheet was produced by the San Francisco Estuary Project in cooperation with the California Department of Boating and Waterways under a grant from the Clean Vessel Act. The San Francisco Estuary Project is a cooperative federal/state program whose primary goal is to restore and protect water quality and natural resources while promoting effective management of the Bay and Delta. The Estuary Project has developed and published a variety of publications, including boater education materials, pumpout maps, technical reports, information sheets, pollution prevention guides and other materials that are available free or for a nominal charge by calling (510)622-2465.
San Francisco Estuary
Project
c/o San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board
2101 Webster Street, Suite 500
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 622-2465
January 1996
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Site created and hosted by ABAG
Last updated July 7, 2004
Michael Smith, Regional Planner