Visit our Popular Forums

frank_f · 28-04-2011, 16:53

Hi,

Since the Great Lakes is a Zero Discharge Zone, how is every one handling human waste on small boats (<30')?

What about older boats that came with a 'porta-potty'? Do they have to be removed and have an MSD with pump out connections put in or do you have to go with a full fledged toilet and holding tank?

What about 'wag-bags' or double doodie bags in a bucket?

Everyone I've talked to seems to have a different take on the Canadian laws (that includes the Coast Guard and the OPP's).

Thanks

**Pblais** · 28-04-2011, 17:12

Quote:

how is every one handling human waste on small boats (<30')?

Legally they are pumping out. Anything else is not legal.

zeehag · 28-04-2011, 18:03

SIZE DONT MATTER HERE-- GO TO THE PUMPOUT OR BE IN TROUBLES.
folks i know remove the holder for the porta potty and empty it in an approved fashion. smooth sailing.

kenny chaos · 28-04-2011, 18:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pblais

Legally they are pumping out. Anything else is not legal.

Even composting?

**sarafina** · 28-04-2011, 18:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pblais

Legally they are pumping out. Anything else is not legal.

That's not accurate Paul. They are also using composting heads and wag bags...

; -)

kenny chaos · 28-04-2011, 19:00

[QUOTE=sarafina;676680]That's not accurate Paul. They are also using composting heads and wag bags...

; -)[/QUOTE

It's okay. Sometimes I guess also.

**boatman61** · 28-04-2011, 19:01

EEEUUWWWW
Not sailing up there....
You gotta HANDLE your waste.....

**Pblais** · 28-04-2011, 20:57

Quote:

Even composting?

Hauling it around is not a discharge.

Kalinka1 · 28-04-2011, 21:52

pump outs and there are a lot of them around. If boat equipped with a y valve it must be locked in the holding tank position. Otherwise bucket and chuck it or composter.

frank_f · 29-04-2011, 03:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalinka1

pump outs and there are a lot of them around. If boat equipped with a y valve it must be locked in the holding tank position. Otherwise bucket and chuck it or composter.

See? This is what I'm getting from the Coasties and the OPP's. Everybody agrees that you can't just ship it over the side, but nobody can agree on what type of containment is required.

One Coastie says it has to be a full fledged plastic holding tank with pumpout and no Y-valve. Another says bucket and chuck-it with double doodie bags is fine. An OPP water cop says as long as the bottom is securely fastened to the boat, an MDS is OK and yet another says it has to be a holding tank with a locked Y valve.

If you ask them about a different method to the one they just told you, you get,"I don't think I'd go that way."

They all fit the description of a "holding tank" but with fines being the way they are on the Great Lakes, I don't want to have an inspection done by one person who believes the other folks are wrong.

The only thing they seem to agree on is that they will lighten my wallet if I guess wrong.

**Pblais** · 29-04-2011, 03:56

Quote:

The only thing they seem to agree on is that they will lighten my wallet if I guess wrong.

It's true. It's all your problem and always your fault.

knottygurl · 04-05-2011, 10:47

the tank must be in a black water waste approved tank, fastened to the hull, in the great lakes for the most part we do not see open blue water so this is why they have a sour look on Y valves. All tanks must be pumped out at approved stations and costs range is around 20.00 per pump, regardless of size. This is where the mistake is and should modify it, for porta pottys which the holding tank (bottom of crapper) can be removed you could take this tank and dump it in an outhouse or slowly flush it down. Some people just dump it over the side when onroute and here is where the issue is because the tank only hold 1 to 2 gals only, if they charged 5 or 10 dollars for the smaller tanks more people would be using the service.
fixed systems hold 15 to 45+ gals and they can only be pumped.
Bluewater boats which summer in the north have the ability to discharge on there own and some probly do. I had a chat with one Coastie and he said they would like to tag the Yvalves so they can not be opened in the great lakes. If they inspect you , then your in the system and can easily say they tagged your Y shut so it should have the tag, if its missing or opened then you have discharged in the lake.
fwiw

Nicholson58 · 22-05-2011, 20:16

We have two heads. I designed a device to maintain my Y valve in the tank position and my direct head's valve shut. This is a bar fixed to the valve handle using the serial numbered locking pins used for sealing the doors on overland trucks. The tag numbers are recorded in my log book and were noted at my courtesy CG Aux inspection. They were happy with the hardware. We have added an AirHead for this season as well (3rd head) We sail from Muskegon Michigan. Pump out is 5 to 7 bucks at various marinas. If you sail in Canada make sure you keep records and receits of your pump-outs; log in the book. If you can't proove you used a pump out they assume you dumped (no pun intended).

frank_f · 23-05-2011, 04:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicholson58

We sail from Muskegon Michigan. Pump out is 5 to 7 bucks at various marinas. If you sail in Canada make sure you keep records and receits of your pump-outs; log in the book. If you can't proove you used a pump out they assume you dumped (no pun intended).

Wow, 5-7 bucks for a pump out? It's worth crossing the border just for that! $28 (no, there's no dash between the 2 and the 8) per pump out in Port Stanley, Ont. regardless of tank size. With all the chemicals they put in our food over here, it must cost more to dispose of the toxic waste.

That's a great idea about the log. Thanks.