Crappy news today, Florida Keys Pumpout stops Jan 31

[Captain Bill]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Umm... where do you think the vast majority of the CVA grant fund funds have gone since the law was passed? To the installation of shoreside pumpout stations. You act like these don't exist.

I think he was referring to self service pump out facilities. One time I was in Melbourne Florida where there are only three pumpout stations and all three were broken, or at least their attendants said so. One marina owner is a well known sailboat hater and I suspect he was lying but can't prove it. The nearest pumpout was in Cocoa, some 20 miles away. Sometimes the effectively don't exist. There certainly aren't enough of them and they are often out of service or at least I have been told this when my low fuel usage sailboat only needs a pumpout.

[fstbttms]

BTW- In my previous post I meant to write "CWA (Clean Water Act) funds", not CVA (Clean Vessel Act) funds.

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by rwidman

Of course it doesn't but faced with a $20 charge (plus tip) to discharge twenty gallons of sewage, many boaters will simply wait for nightfall and take care of it themselves.

My suggestion though was to install self service pumpout stations on land, connected to city sewer systems. On marina or public docks. No attendant, only equipment and maintenance costs. I remember one at Sandy Point State Park just off the Chesapeake Bay in MD.

I think this would be a great system. There was a DIY pumpout at the town dock in Bristol RI when I was moored there.

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

You are correct sir!


"...the discharge of graywater from boats into the sea around Florida is currently not prohibited."

Florida FDEP Wastewater - Vessel Discharge

You're right, I'm wrong. (but I'm still looking)

[nimblemotors]

Could you have a mini sewage treatment floating pumpout station?
Doesn't just macerating make it ok to discharge? There is a lot of water in the ocean for treating it...Kevin Costner could figure it out.

[Niagara Les]

Speaking as a cruiser that has paid 15 years worth of pumpout fees, you have choices.

-Pay pumpout fees to dispose of the waste that you created in a place that you choose to spend your time.
-Equip your boat with porta potty
-Composting head

Gotta pay to play!

[DumnMad]

Int. Maritime Org regulations state:

The discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibited, except when the ship has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant or when the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an approved system at a distance of more than three nautical miles from the nearest land. Sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected has to be discharged at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

The MEPC also adopted a standard for the maximum rate of discharge of untreated sewage from holding tanks when at a distance equal or greater than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land (see resolution MEPC.157(55)).

Comminuted = mascerated. Holding tanks result in putrification so have to be dumped 4 times further from land than the mascerated & disinfected.

[Cthoops]

Geez. Reading through the posts that talk about closed pump out stations, waiting in long lines, paying to pump out, etc. makes me really glad that we put in a composting head - not that I wasn't thrilled with the decision already!

[Pegu Club]

Originally Posted by smj

I think you hit the nail on the head, composting heads are the future.

Yes i think you are correct. We installed a composting head at the beginning of this past season, has worked great, and we never ever have to fix a clog, replace a hose, etc, etc.

[skipmac]

Obviously lots of composting head owners love their composting head but they are not for me.

I can replace the joker valve ever couple of years or so and possibly clear a clog once in a very great while OR dump urine every couple of days and dump the compost every couple of weeks.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Obviously lots of composting head owners love their composting head but they are not for me.

I can replace the joker valve ever couple of years or so and possibly clear a clog once in a very great while OR dump urine every couple of days and dump the compost every couple of weeks.

You neglected to tell us what you do with your sewage.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by DumnMad

Int. Maritime Org regulations state:

The discharge of sewage into the sea is prohibited, except when the ship has in operation an approved sewage treatment plant or when the ship is discharging comminuted and disinfected sewage using an approved system at a distance of more than three nautical miles from the nearest land. Sewage which is not comminuted or disinfected has to be discharged at a distance of more than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land.

The MEPC also adopted a standard for the maximum rate of discharge of untreated sewage from holding tanks when at a distance equal or greater than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land (see resolution MEPC.157(55)).

Comminuted = mascerated. Holding tanks result in putrification so have to be dumped 4 times further from land than the mascerated & disinfected.

I think the key phrase here is "--and disinfected--".
Obviously just using a macerator is not enough to satisfy the law.

[pete33458]

What's the best anchor to use when using a formerly free pump-out station?

pete

[smj]

Originally Posted by pete33458

What's the best anchor to use when using a formerly free pump-out station?

pete

Obviously a Rocna, but make sure you have a good double pump shot gun at hand if you plan on shooting craps.

[pete33458]

Originally Posted by smj

Obviously a Rocna, but make sure you have a good double pump shot gun at hand if you plan on shooting craps.

Ha! I was going to ask whether it would be free again if you had a gun on board, but I thought it might get too complicated.