TWL: Discharge in the Keys
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Bryett" rbryett@mail.com
I don't see how effluent quality assessment could be made all that quick
or
easy.
Hi Robert,
It occurs to me that there might be a simpler strategy.
Why couldn't there be a program of annual or semi-annual fee based
inspections to determine if a given boat has an approved MSD in working
order? If it passes the boat gets a sticker similar to a registration or CG
Safety Inspection sticker.
The poop police could then bypass those boats and concentrate their
attentions on the folks who don't have an MSD or didn't bother to keep
theirs running.
The inspection itself could be fairly simple:
- Is an approved device present?
- Does the device energize when you push the button? (the device itself,
not just the control panel) - If needed (Fresh water flush) is the salt injector present and working?
NOTE: There isn't any effluent testing involved and the only tool needed is
a voltage meter. That should keep the "eeeuw" factor under control.
In our area there is precedent for this type of system in the automotive
world. If you live in a populous part of Washington State you are required
to pay for an exhaust emissions test in order to license your vehicle. If
you live in a more sparsely populated area the test isn't required.
Similarly, under the system outlined above, if you don't go into NDZ's you
don't need to be inspected. If you DO go to NDZ's without a sticker you can
expect to have someone knocking at your transom with a dye tablet for your
holding tank.
This isn't a perfect system in that it won't catch every violator and some
folks may find themselves paying for an inspection that they may not 'use'.
OTOH: It is a pretty low overhead solution. It might also be feasible to
turn the inspection duties over to non-profits like the CGAux, Power
Squadron, or similar organizations in other parts of the world. That way the
testing fees could be kept low, volunteer organizations get a bit of added
revenue, People with MSD's can cruise in peace, and the water gets a little
cleaner: Everybody wins!
Optimistically yours,
Alex
You'll be unhappy if you plan to spend any time on the Chesapeake. In my
experience, there are pumpouts everywhere on the Chesapeake Bay. I've NEVER
had a problem--virtually every marina has a working pump out facility. It's
a long way to the 3 mile limit from here.
Frank
At 12:37 PM 6/29/02 -0400, Bob Richards wrote:
Hi All:
I have been following this thread keenly. Tamara B is in the yard having
major re-fit work done. We have intentionally NOT addressed the heads
(2) situation because of the uncertainty about the future regulations.
Tamara B currently has 2 X 40g holding tanks, one for each head. There
is NO pumpout facility as such, there are 2 "pump out" pumps which
discharge the holding tanks to the sea. The current plan is to just pass
the 3 mile line once a week, and clear the tanks (we will be full-time
live-aboards, and on-the-go almost constantly).
Frank,
I'd sure like to know why you guys have working pumpout stations out the
yang and some locales can't have just one. I would say on the Ohio river
there's probably two in 400 miles. Go figure
Dick Schroder
Pan Handler Gulfstar '43
You'll be unhappy if you plan to spend any time on the Chesapeake. In my
experience, there are pumpouts everywhere on the Chesapeake Bay. I've
NEVER
had a problem--virtually every marina has a working pump out facility.
It's
a long way to the 3 mile limit from here.
Frank
Ohio's just more government-compliant than most states. :-)
Spent my university years in Ohio, so I'm entitled to a shot or two.
Doug Hoople
M/V Bomar
1963 Stephens Bros. 50 FDMY
Sausalito, CA
Dick Schroder wrote:
Frank,
I'd sure like to know why you guys have working pumpout stations out the
yang and some locales can't have just one. I would say on the Ohio river
there's probably two in 400 miles. Go figure
Dougie,
Get out your Atlas buddie, the expanse of river I'm talking about covers
alot more than the little ole buckeye state. And they're real compliant with
no recep agreements with any other state around. So as you might surmise
that state is real popular. Don't know how much juristiction they have on
the Ohio river but Im sure they share it with Kentucky and West Virginia.
Then a little further down we have Indiana and Illinois. Maybe if we all
write letters we can get all these state governments that can't agree on
squat to get our potty pumps going. Not trying to be funny Doug, but I don't
think so.
Open to all new ideas!
Cheers,
Dick
Dick Schroder
Pan Handler Gulfstar '43
----- Original Message -----
From: "Doug Hoople" doughoople@earthlink.net
To: "Dick Schroder" oilpans@thepoint.net
Cc: "Bob Richards" bob@tamara-b.org; "Trawler World List"
trawler-world-list@samurai.com; "Frank Timpano" ftimpano@infi.net
Sent: Saturday, June 29, 2002 11:00 PM
Subject: Re: TWL: RE: Marine sewage and NDZ/MSD enforcement (was Discharge
in the Keys).
Ohio's just more government-compliant than most states. :-)
Spent my university years in Ohio, so I'm entitled to a shot or two.
Doug Hoople
M/V Bomar
1963 Stephens Bros. 50 FDMY
Sausalito, CA
Dick Schroder wrote:
Frank,
I'd sure like to know why you guys have working pumpout stations out the
yang and some locales can't have just one. I would say on the Ohio river
there's probably two in 400 miles. Go figure
Robert Bryett wrote
I don't see how effluent quality assessment could be made all that quick or
easy. How would the Poo Patrol take a sample (eeeew!), especially if the MSD
outlet was underwater? Then, how would they test it? I'm not a bacteriologist so
I don't know - mobile lab maybe?
REPLY
There is a fairly simple test for coliform which consist of a liquid substance
which is introduced into the water. The presence of coliform in any quantity
above a low threshold causes the substance to turn blue.
If the blue colour is evident then a sample bottel is filled and a proper lab test
is then carried out.
Municipal health authorities use this simple test to detect sewage leaking
from septic tanks and tile beds as well as sewage effluent getting into natural
water courses from waste treatment facilities.
The procedure is pretty straight forward with virtually no Yeeww! factor.
Sorry I do not know the trade name of the substance, have only seen it used
by the local health inspector while investigating complaints about sewage
leaking from a bad tile bed.
Arild