Sewage Discharge and Y-Valves

[merwin10]

I was reading about some of the newer boat owners and notice many new boats are coming thru with Macerators with y valves for over board discharge. So I thought I would start this thread. Most of the east coast is a no dump zone. If fact this 2005 year when the New England Notice to mariners came, there was a small note that Y valves must be safety wired shut. Don’t know if this is true for all areas, but, during a routine CG safety inspection they did, for the first time ever in 20 years, CG actually check to see if the safety wire was there and the valve was closed. And made sure the placards were in place.

In general – But see your area for special local regs.

•Sewage  -  0-3 miles: discharge only after treatment or processing is completed  through a Coast Guard-approved marine sanitation device.  Beyond three miles: sewage discharge is permitted.

Approved marine sanitation device can be found under, basically a Type I sanitation device.

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/gm/mse/regs/33cfr159.htm

If you can understand this regulation, it is very long, I am sure you will come to the conclusion JUST DON'T DUMP!

The CG only control the coastal waters the EPA controls the inland waters. EPA takes two pages to say NO DISCHARGE period, Y valve must be wired shut.

So beware if the CG boards you and finds the Y valve not wired or open you could be sited, whether you dumped or not.

Mike -  

[statbiomed]

My limited understanding told to me by a coast guard official.

When boating within 3 mile of US shoreline your y value must me in the holding tank mode. If not you have a problem.
3 miles or greater it is ok to empty your holding tank and or have the y valve in that position.

[Talon]

You are correct. The only additon I would make is that under recent changes to USCG rules, within the 3 mile limit, the macerator/y valve must be safetywired or otherwise positvely locked in the off position.

[merwin10]

So did I make a mistake let's clear it up now! I got the reg from the USCG site. Has it been amended? I know in New England we are wired shut or else.

Don't need any confusion on this point. From what I read Type I approved sanitation is ok from 0 to 3 miles, unless there is a local reg non-pollution.

KEY WORD APPROVED

or

maybe I am confusing the new boaters with to much info, they may not know what TYPE I sanitation system is.

Sorry all!! Strive to be accurate!

Mike -

[merwin10]

Did some follow up on this subject. Discharge is allow within three mile limit with approved type I and type II sanitaion systems, unless in a EPA NDZ (No Discharge Zone) see the follow web site for specific areas.  

http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulato ... ozone.html

In the Massachusetts area here is the NDZ




You can find out if you are in a NDZ at the above site. Best thing is don't discharge if there is a question.

Mike -  

[merwin10]

RI Feilds Point sewage treatment plant overflowed several years back dumping better than 4m gallons of raw sewage in Narragansett Bay. Of course this posed a difficult and smelly situation 6 weeks later there where little to no trace that the overflow happened.

How long do suppose it would take for all the boats on the east coast to dump 4M gallons of raw sewage? You would need to fill the bay with boats so you could walk for shore to shore and they still would not equal the amount of sewage dumped in that single incident.

So I ask is the concern of a few gallons of ground up sewage really that big of a problem?

Mike -  

[merwin10]

One thing I forgot to mention once out of the NDZ you still have a 3 mile limit for Non Type I / Type II sanitation systems.

Mike -