Senate Bill 513...No Discharge in the Chesapeake
 

For those of you who have boats large enough to accommodate a head that is equipped with a Type One discharge system, Senate Bill 513 and the accompanying House Bill 1257 will make those units illegal to use in Maryland's portion of the Chesapeake Bay.

Type I and Type II Marine Sanitation Devices do a much better job of treating waste than most municipal waste treatment plants located on the Chesapeake.

For those of you who have smaller boats that have no head, use the bucket method and then a casual empty overboard, the maximum fine will be the same, Increased to $10,000.

I urge all to email your senator or delegate and express your opposition to these bills.

This link will show you your legislator.
http://www.ksconline.net/

Reds, can you expand on this. I'm interested.
Cheers,
Bob

I say execute them :D I dont need to catch a brown trout :eek:

http://home.comcast.net/~mdshutes/IMG_6714.jpg

GOOD LORD! Even I think it's unnecessary to put the picture of that guy making a Martin up on the website :D

Isn't the Bay already a designated no discharge zone requiring no discharge and a CG approved holding tank?

OMG ....... Lol:eek: That is hilarious

The Bay is a no discharge zone for untreated waste (including dumping your 5 gal bucket or hanging "junior" over the side). The Type I & II units treat the waste PRIOR to discharge, which is currently legal. This Bill changes all of that.

Type I and Type II units are really miniature treatment plants that are used in larger boats. The proposed Senate and House Bills would make these units illegal and the only legal method would then be a holding tank that would have to be pumped out. One of the big problems would be trying to install a 20 or 25 gal holding tank in an existing vessel.

The bills are a feel good for the legislature and not a legitimate way to help the bay.

OK, but I'd really like to know how they are better than treatment plants. Are solids broken down, by bacterial digestion for example? What about fecal coliform or chemical contaminants? Nitrogen removal?
Thanks,
Bob

The units are and have been certified by the Coast Guard since 1975

Basically they work this way.

The Waste Treatment System macerates sewage and then uses electrically charged saltwater to kill bacteria.

After neutralizing bacteria, treated waste water turns back into salt water, with no unnatural or harmful chemicals entering the environment. Raritan designed the treatment tank to force bactericide and bacteria into direct contact, effectively killing viruses and bacteria.

Sorta off topic but related.

When I was shopping for boats - it surprised me how many larger boats only had a 10 to 15 gallon holding tank. Same size as 20 footers.

I'm not talking 25 footers - some were 35 feet long.

Now common sense would tell you that a 30 to 35 foot boat out all day with 5-6 people needs more then a 10 gallon tank. Since most will draw in a quart or so of bay water to rinse the bowl - it does not take long to overflow.
The same boat out overnight - figure some drinking going on - that tank is way undersized.

Other snag is how few and far between pump out stations are.

I used to take a small boat along the docks in Annapolis in early morning to dip crabs off the pilings. Was not uncommon to see turds/toilet paper near some of the huge live aboards. My guess - they pumped over during the night to empty the tank.

I would think that when you were taking a small boat along the pilings in Annapolis, it was so long ago that the laws on pumping overboard didn't exist yet. Whatever was going on was legal for the times.

No human waste should be dumped in the bay period. We are all guilty of dumping pee bottles over the side and that should stop. I know I will not do it any more. Take it home and dump it in the toilet. EVERY little bit helps.......Gary

If your house is on a municipal sewage system, where do you think the effluent is discharged?

It really doesn't matter but I am on a well. The Municipal sewer system treats water much better than a boat.When you are in a fight , you want to attack from every angle to win. This is just one angle and it helps..........Gary

Sorry to correct you, but most municipal sewer systems in the Chesapeake water shed do not treat sewage better then a type I sewage treatment system on a boat.

I can't argue on this matter as I don't have FACTS. I would have just assumed that a waste treatment plant would treat sewerage better than a boat system. Pretty sad if it doesn't and it would seem pretty hard not to let the boat systems dump IF that is the case.........Gary