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The Scoop on Poop
The San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary offers boaters a variety of on-the-water experiences -- from exploring the Delta's secluded coves and inlets to sailing the Bay's open expanse. But pollution to the Estuary from a number of sources can spoil our opportunities for boating and water recreation. Unfortunately, recreational boaters add to the pollution problem when they don't dispose of boat sewage properly.
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
1515 Clay Street, Suite 1400
Oakland, CA 94612