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Maryland Clean Boating Maryland Clean Boating Lesson PlanLesson Plan

Section 2Section 2

VESSEL SEWAGEVESSEL SEWAGE

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Vessel Sewage: Vessel Sewage: Environmental Concerns Environmental Concerns

Harmful to human healthHarmful to human health Diseases may be passed Diseases may be passed

to swimmers or to people to swimmers or to people who eat contaminated who eat contaminated shellfishshellfish

Harmful to water qualityHarmful to water quality Excess nutrients cause Excess nutrients cause

algal bloomsalgal blooms Bacteria that decompose Bacteria that decompose

algae reduce dissolved algae reduce dissolved oxygenoxygen

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Vessel Sewage: Vessel Sewage: Legal BasicsLegal Basics

Discharging raw sewage is against State Discharging raw sewage is against State and Federal lawsand Federal laws

All vessels with installed toilets must have All vessels with installed toilets must have a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), There a Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), There are 3 types of MSDs.are 3 types of MSDs.

Types I and II treat and release the waste.Types I and II treat and release the waste. Type III is a holding tank.Type III is a holding tank. Portable toilets: Use a pumpout station to Portable toilets: Use a pumpout station to

emptyempty

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Sewage: Marine Sewage: Marine Sanitation DevicesSanitation Devices

Type I and II MSDsType I and II MSDs Establish a regular maintenance scheduleEstablish a regular maintenance schedule Do not discharge in a marina, swimming area, over an Do not discharge in a marina, swimming area, over an

oyster bar or in a poorly flushed areaoyster bar or in a poorly flushed area Do not discharge in federally designated “No Discharge Do not discharge in federally designated “No Discharge

Zones”Zones”Holding Tanks (Type III)Holding Tanks (Type III) Use enzyme-based products to control odorUse enzyme-based products to control odor Avoid quaternary ammonium compoundsAvoid quaternary ammonium compounds

(QAC) and formaldehyde(QAC) and formaldehyde

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Vessel SewageVessel SewageNo Discharge ZonesNo Discharge Zones 2 NDZs in Maryland: 2 NDZs in Maryland:

Herring Bay and the Herring Bay and the Northern Coastal Bays.Northern Coastal Bays.

EPA designates No EPA designates No Discharge Zones (NDZ) Discharge Zones (NDZ) upon application by the upon application by the State. State.

In a NDZ boaters may not In a NDZ boaters may not use Type I or II MSDs (that use Type I or II MSDs (that treat and release waste).treat and release waste).

Must use holding tanks and Must use holding tanks and pump-out.pump-out.

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Vessel SewageVessel SewageResources Resources

For more information visit DNR’s website For more information visit DNR’s website www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pumpoutwww.dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pumpout

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Know the laws and how they apply to you.Know the laws and how they apply to you.