Senate Bill 513...No Discharge in the Chesapeake

[Bug Guy]

Originally Posted by reds

...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...

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

[B-Faithful]

I say execute them I dont need to catch a brown trout

Originally Posted by B-Faithful

I say execute them I dont need to catch a brown trout

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

[Conjuror]

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

[Fish Nut]

OMG ....... Lol That is hilarious

[Mikie]

Originally Posted by Conjuror

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

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.

[reds]

Originally Posted by Bug Guy

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

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.

[Bug Guy]

Originally Posted by reds

Type I and Type II units are really miniature treatment plants that are used in larger boats....

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

[reds]

Originally Posted by Bug Guy

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.

[Skip]

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.