One More Harbor Dropping Dye Markers in Holding Tanks

[David M]

I would like to dump some dye in the local sewage treatment facilities during a large storm event and watch the entire SF Bay turn dark blue. What some inconsiderate boaters put in the water is infinitesimally small by comparison.

That same money would be better spent modernizing municipal waste treatment plants than harassing boaters...most of which know better anyway.

Going after the small fish is truly a waste of our tax money.

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by David M

I would like to dump some dye in the local sewage treatment facilities during a large storm event and watch the entire SF Bay turn dark blue. What some inconsiderate boaters put in the water is infinitesimally small by comparison.

That same money would be better spent modernizing municipal waste treatment plants than harassing boaters...most of which know better anyway.

AMEN!!!!!

[sailorboy1]

How much extra taxes are you willing to pay so that the major cities can split out the sewer and storm runoff piping?

Most of the water that bypasses the treatment plant is after the start of the storm and most (I didn't say all) sewage in the lines went to the WWTP prior to the by-pass.

The big difference is that during a storm most people aren't out in the bay to see anything. Meanwhile boats are very visable.

[foggysail]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

How much extra taxes are you willing to pay so that the major cities can split out the sewer and storm runoff piping?

Most of the water that bypasses the treatment plant is after the start of the storm and most (I didn't say all) sewage in the lines went to the WWTP prior to the by-pass.

The big difference is that during a storm most people aren't out in the bay to see anything. Meanwhile boats are very visable.

Lets not bang the "how much tax" drum again. There is more poop added to our water every day by birds, BIG BIRDS than the total from boats. And then we have the municipalities!

FOGGY

[YOG]

Foggy,
What did people do to you to make you sound so aggressive in your posts?!
The tone seems very unpleasant, here on the forum - including sneaking in some personal politics ....!
Let's be friendly and tolerant. Thanks!

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

How much extra taxes are you willing to pay so that the major cities can split out the sewer and storm runoff piping?

Most of the water that bypasses the treatment plant is after the start of the storm and most (I didn't say all) sewage in the lines went to the WWTP prior to the by-pass.

The storm and sewer lines in most cities are separate. The problem is a lot of residences tied their roof and footing drains into the sewer line. Saved on spending to dig another trench out to the street, lay pipe and make the connection to the storm line.

Although some residences predate the existance of storm lines or rules regarding their use (it costs cities to process sewage, not so mch runoff, so rules about tying drain lines to sewer lines appeared pretty quickly after sewage treatment started lo those many decades ago), most do not. Thus municipalities would have good grounds to force most homeowners to reroute their drains, but it wouldn't wash well with voters since in many instances the incorrect installation was done prior to the current owner's occupancy or by builders who did not tell the owner. So mostly the rules get enforced during rebuilds, and major upgrades and of course new construction in areas where the inspectors are paying attention.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by David M

I would like to dump some dye in the local sewage treatment facilities during a large storm event and watch the entire SF Bay turn dark blue. What some inconsiderate boaters put in the water is infinitesimally small by comparison.

Originally Posted by foggysail

There is more poop added to our water every day by birds, BIG BIRDS than the total from boats. And then we have the municipalities!

Sooooo tired of hearing the same old worn-out arguments attempting to deflect responsibility away from boaters. Don't pump your head overboard. It ain't cool, one boat can pollute an entire marina and people have to work in the water. If you don't like municipalities releasing sewage into our waterways, do something about it. But justifying boating pollution by saying the cities and marine animals can do it so we should be able to as well is just really dumb.

[David M]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Sooooo tired of hearing the same old worn-out arguments attempting to deflect responsibility away from boaters. Don't pump your head overboard. It ain't cool, one boat can pollute an entire marina and people have to work in the water. If you don't like municipalities releasing sewage into our waterways, do something about it. But justifying boating pollution by saying the cities and marine animals can do it so we should be able to as well is just really dumb.

I am not justifying boaters pumping their poop overboard. In fact I called those boaters who do so as "inconsiderate".

My point is that if money is going to be spent, then go after what is going to give you the most bang for the buck and that is to get sewage municipalities to modernize their treatment facilities. Until this is done it's a waste of money to go after boaters.

[Healer52]

Perhaps. But government feels it must always be SEEN 'doing something', even (especially) when what they are doing is pointless.

Discharges into Newport or Avalon harbors are very visible. Discharge from a pipe that runs a mile offshore isn't. And I recall being in Cat Harbor (for example) and watching the tide bring in all manner of ejecta from the head.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by YOG

Foggy,
What did people do to you to make you sound so aggressive in your posts?!
The tone seems very unpleasant, here on the forum - including sneaking in some personal politics ....!
Let's be friendly and tolerant. Thanks!

Amen.

[Butler]

I refuse to have a holding tank. When in a populated harbor I use 100%compostable garbage bags (made with corn starch I believe) with a rock in it and pine kitty litter. These go into the trash ashore or overboard when we get offshore. When out away from folks I flush overboard. I was a bit startled chartering in the Virgins... no swim in the morning or after dinner for us. I agree in some basic consideration for other boaters or for the pressure on a crowded anchorage where the locals might not appreciate yachtie poop on the beach but beyond that could give a... well ya know.

[rebel heart]

Butler, I'm going out on a limb and saying your're not a scuba diver or at least you don't dive in harbors. As is normal, people generally don't care about a problem when it doesn't affect them.

I used to be pretty "whatever" about discharging overboard, but the more time I spend in the water the more my wife and daughter don't want me to catch some nasty water borne disease.

[Redcoat]

The harbor will run yellow in Newport.

[Ex-Calif]

Last year we were in Malaysia on a weekender in a marina.

My son and I were up early on the finger dock. We were looking at the fish and the crabs and the things you look at.

The couple next door woke up, one of them took a dump and discharged it right in front of us.

I mean, come on! We were in a marina with a full shower and toilet 100 meters away!

I think the 12 mile rule (or whatever it is) is over the top. Once in the river or the bay the amount of discharge from a boat is negligible. I do request guests bag the paper.

But for Pete's sake - when tied up at a dock - that's just wrong!

[sarafina]

yep. one miserable experience I remember is when we had guests aboard on of the old woodies... no holding tank on that puppy. You held it or bagged it if it was solid... We explained VERY clearly to our guests about marine toilets, placement of paper in the covered container, that the head was only for liquid use. That bags must be used for solid waste.

The husband somehow just *didn't* get it. So we are tied up to the dock at a friend's delta island. Right where everyone is sunbathing, skidooing, watersurfing etc. When our friend goes into the head and takes a nice sit... and lets nature take it's course. And then flushes. Straight into the very stagnant delta water we are sitting in. Within minutes the screaming begins as people scramble outta the water. Man. I never been so embarrassed. Or so mad. And the guy was like *what? what'd I do?*

Until we drug him out to the side of the dock and, as if her were a bad puppy, rubbed his nose in the mess he had set floating and made him fish it out and bag it... Of course no one swam again until the tide had cycled thru... and he was persona no grata the rest of the weekend. We left early, no surprise...