Boats with waste systems have a Y-valve which can allow you to choose whether it gets pumped overboard - where allowed - or stored in a waste tank which has to be pumped out at a pump station.
Only place allowed to pump out, is three miles out in the ocean.
I know it happens here, and many think because there are no pumpout stations in the pittsburgh pool, that its legal or ok. Its not legal. Fox chapel and i think aspinwall are the closest to the pgh pool.
There are systems that can be installed to treat waste before it is discharged. Raritan Engineering makes many different models: http://www.raritaneng.com/products/w...ent/index.html We have installed the Purasan model, it cost about $800.00.
Last edited by MikeyJ; 06-29-2009 at 08:58 AM.
Reason: fixed link
M/V The 69 Queen
1969 River Queen 40'
and a 24' Pontoon "Red Solo Cup"
Port of Fulton, MS
There are systems that can be installed to treat waste before it is discharged. Raritan Engineering makes many different models: http://www.raritaneng.com/products/w...ent/index.html We have installed the Purasan model, it cost about $800.00.
Having said that, be careful if you entertain guests that you acquaint them with the unique features of your MSD. The old rule used to be that if it didn't go in your mouth, it doesn't get flushed down, but that would include gum which can cause real problems with macerators.
Make sure that you provide adequate alternatives to the disposal of things that people typically flush down the toilet.
Also, legally, you cannot discharge even treated waste in inland waterways (including the rivers) which are considered No Discharge Zones. Only Type III MSDs (holding tanks), may be used although you may want to use a Type I or Type II MSD to disinfect the sewage before putting it into the holding tank.
Many people think that this restriction is unjust (Alcosan discharges untreated waste into the Ohio everytime we have a rainfall of greater than 1/4 inch/hour), but it is the law. Having a Type I or II MSD does not allow you to discharge treated waste in No Discharge Zones.
I can certainly understand the law being there and agree with it.. but man is it hard to accept/follow when everytime the CSO flag goes up (11 alerts on average per year, in duration from a single day to 45 days according to the ACHD web site), regular sewage is discharged into the river due to overflowing waste/storm systems.
I can certainly understand the law being there and agree with it.. but man is it hard to accept/follow when everytime the CSO flag goes up (11 alerts on average per year, in duration from a single day to 45 days according to the ACHD web site), regular sewage is discharged into the river due to overflowing waste/storm systems.
I don't disagree. The Type I MSD is practically equivalent to what Alcosan puts out after they have treated the sewage. The Type II is even more stringent and the effluent is more sanitary than Alcosan's output.
Unfortunately, the Clean Water Act was written by people who had a political rather than scientific agenda. In fact, portable toilets are not considered MSDs and, legally, you can dump them out whenever you want. But when the Act was passed it was in reaction to such things as the Cuyahoga River fires and the public perception that ANY waste in the rivers is too much. Too bad it doesn't account for agricultural run-off which is one of the greatest sources of freshwater coliform contamination.
Also, legally, you cannot discharge even treated waste in inland waterways (including the rivers) which are considered No Discharge Zones. Only Type III MSDs (holding tanks), may be used although you may want to use a Type I or Type II MSD to disinfect the sewage before putting it into the holding tank.
Many people think that this restriction is unjust (Alcosan discharges untreated waste into the Ohio everytime we have a rainfall of greater than 1/4 inch/hour), but it is the law. Having a Type I or II MSD does not allow you to discharge treated waste in No Discharge Zones.
The link below is to the EPA showing "No-Discharge Zones" for vessel sewage:
[URL="http://http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html"]
The Ohio River is not considered a "No-Discharge Zone",
Sewage Treatment Device Vessel Length Standard
Type I- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) equal to or less than 65 feet in length The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 1000 per 100 milliliters and have no visible floating solids.
Type II- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) greater than 65 feet in length The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter .
Type III- Holding tank any length This MSD is designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage.
Type I MSDs rely on maceration and disinfection for treatment of the waste prior to its discharge into the water.
Type II MSDs are similar to the Type I; however, the Type II devices provide an advanced form of the same type of treatment and discharge wastes with lower fecal coliform counts and reduced suspended solids.
Type III MSDs are commonly called holding tanks because the sewage flushed from the marine head is deposited into a tank containing deodorizers and other chemicals. The contents of the holding tank are stored until it can be properly disposed of at a shore-side pumpout facility. (Type III MSDs can be equipped with a discharge option, usually called a Y-valve, which allows the boater to direct the sewage from the head either into the holding tank or directly overboard. Discharging the contents directly overboard is legal only outside the U.S. territorial waters which is 3 or more miles from shore.)
I don't know about PA. I do know that Ohio has designated the entire Ohio River along its border to be a NDZ and neither Type I or II MSDs are permitted.
Please inform us where you found the information that Ohio has designated the Ohio River a no discharge zone.
Originally Posted by JoeLeaphorn
I don't know about PA. I do know that Ohio has designated the entire Ohio River along its border to be a NDZ and neither Type I or II MSDs are permitted.
This is a cc from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources:
Vessel Sanitary Systems
(ORC 1547.33)
Except on Lake Erie, the Muskingum River and the Ohio River, no person shall launch, moor, dock, operate or permit to be operated any vessel with a sink, toilet, or sanitary system capable of discharging urine, fecal matter, contents of a chemical commode, kitchen wastes, laundry wastes, slop sink drainage, or other household wastes into the waters in this state. Such a sink, toilet, or sanitary system shall be removed, sealed or made to drain into a tank or reservoir that can be carried or pumped ashore for disposal in an approved sewage treatment works.
Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) On Lake Erie, the Muskingum River and the Ohio River
All recreational vessels with installed toilet facilities must have an operable MSD on board. Vessels 65 feet and under may use a U.S.Coast Guard certified Type I, II or III MSD. Vessels over 65 feet must install a U.S.Coast Guard certified Type II or III MSD. Coast Guard certified devices are so labeled except for some holding tanks, which are certified by definition under federal regulations.
My understanding is that "Federal Waterways", which are a main source of interstate commerce, are under very different regulations than unnavigable, tributary, and waterbodies that are NDZs by their geographical nature ie: freshwater lakes, freshwater reservoirs, or other freshwater impoundments whose entrance points and exit points are too shallow to support traffic by the regulated vessels.
M/V The 69 Queen
1969 River Queen 40'
and a 24' Pontoon "Red Solo Cup"
Port of Fulton, MS
Litter Laws On the Water
It is the responsibility of every boat owner to familiarize themselves with federal, state, and local regulations concerning litter and pollution and to comply with them. The following are state and federal regulations regarding littering and polluting from a boat.
State Regulations
OHIO REVISED CODE 1547.49: LITTERING FROM A VESSEL
(A) As used in this section, "litter" means garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, vessel parts, vehicle parts, furniture, glass, or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature.
(B) No operator or occupant of a vessel shall, regardless of intent, throw, drop, discard, or deposit litter from any vessel in operation or control upon or in any waters in this state, except into a litter receptacle in a manner that prevents its being carried away or deposited by the elements.
(C) No operator of a vessel in operation upon any waters in this state shall allow litter to be thrown, dropped, discarded, or deposited from the vessel, except into a litter receptacle in a manner that prevents its being carried away or deposited by the elements.
Although each person is responsible for his or her own behavior, the law clearly places responsibility on the operator of the boat to make sure passengers comply. Proper placement into litter receptacles includes making sure it will not be carried off by wind, water, or other elements.
OHIO REVISED CODE 6111.04--ACTS OF POLLUTION PROHIBITED; EXCEPTIONS
No person shall cause pollution or place or cause to be placed any sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes in a location where they cause pollution of any waters of the state, and any such action is hereby declared to be public nuisance.
OHIO REVISED CODE 1547.33--VESSEL SANITARY SYSTEMS PROHIBITED; EXCEPTION
Except on the waters of Lake Erie, the Muskingum River, or the Ohio River, no person shall launch, moor, dock, use, or operate on any of the waters in this state any vessel that contains a sink, toilet, or sanitary system that is capable of discharging urine, fecal matter, contents of a chemical commode, kitchen wastes, laundry wastes, slop sink drainage, or other household wastes into the waters in this state. Such sink, toilet, or sanitary system shall be removed or sealed or made to drain into a tank or reservoir that can be carried or pumped ashore for disposal in a sewage treatment works approved by the director of environmental protection.
MSDs on Lake Erie, the Muskingum River, and the Ohio River
An MSD (Marine Sanitation Device) is a special kind of toilet for boats. Toilets that discharge raw sewage directly over the side are illegal in state as well as federal waters.
Type III MSDs are certified to a no-discharge standard. This is the only type that is allowed on Ohio's waters. Type III devices include recirculating and incinerating MSDs and holding tanks. Holding tanks are probably the most common kind of Type III MSD found on recreational boats. Sewage is stored in the holding tank until it can be pumped out to a reception facility on shore. Reception facilities (sometimes called pump out stations) are required by Coast Guard regulations. Their availability at marinas or other locations is largely a function of local boater demand. Most cruising guides and boating almanacs list the availability of pump out stations.
Federal Regulations
SECTION 312 OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT
The direct discharge of sewage from a vessel is not permitted in the Great Lakes or any inland bodies of water. If a vessel has a toilet or head installed, it must be equipped with an operable MSD.
Type I and II MSDs are not allowed in Ohio. These types of MSDs are used primarily three miles from shore in ocean water. If your boat has this type of MSD onboard, the "Y" valve or discharge valve that directs treated sewage overboard must be disabled or sealed.
Vessels 65 feet in length and under operating 3 nautical miles from shore in ocean water may install a Type I, II, or III MSD.
Vessels over 65 feet in length operating 3 nautical miles from shore in ocean water must install a Type II or III MSD.
The Clean Water Act gives states jurisdiction over those bodies of water which border the state in that states are allowed to implement more stringent regulations than the Federal government.
For example, Michigan has declared NDZs for the part of Lake Erie under its jurisdiction and Ohio is planning to or has done the same. I don't see exemptions for the Ohio River though it may be that there are.
Call me crazy, but why are we so concerned about this? We all know what happens to the waste on the boats. Everyone that I know just pumps it overboard. There are not any pump out stations on the river in the Pittsburgh pool. It is what it is. Heck, Penn Hills dumps millions of gallons of raw sewage every night from their treatment plant in the Allegheny River. When I stay the night at the marina that I dock at, you wake up every morning with sewage floating on top of the water. It is all nice and foamy from being stirred up when it flows over the Highland Park Dam. Elizabeth Township dumps on average 8 million gallons of sewage a day in the Yough at Boston, PA which then flows into the Mon. We can post the regulations all we want, but it isn't changing anything. Sorry, just my 2 cents worth.
See and the orange stripes are worried about if your Y valve is locked out and if a couple of chopped up turds are going to get into the river from a 10 gallon holding tank on a boat.
It is part of the stupid "zero tolerance" mentality that seems to be sweeping US politics. What worries about the Type I and II MSDs is that states are free to create their own more stringent policies and many seem to be moving in that direction. Never mind the fact that all sorts of stuff routinely washes up on my property that I am fairly certain did not come from boaters.
What happens to the waste from a Houseboat?
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Originally Posted by galleyslave
