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Sewage Holding Tank Systems for Recreational Boats


 System Design                                  
 Equipment Selection

Boat owners and repairers...


What is the law?


Why should you act now to comply with this law?

First of all, it is the law! All boats built since 1977 with installed toilets must have an operable approved type MSD. Since1980, all boats (including those built before 1977) with installed toilets must have an operable MSD. Nevertheless, boaters often bypass these systems and discharge untreated sewage directly overboard. If you flush your boat's toilet in violation of the law, you can assume others do too.

The basis for arguments that boat sewage is "peanuts" compared to other sources of pollution, that holding tanks "stink," that there's no place to pump out, and that the law isn't being enforced anyway, is weakening fast in these changing times. These facts are clear:

  • Growth in boating is placing an additional environmental on crowded recreational waters.
  • Advancing technology has given a wide range of "user friendly" sanitation system options.

Against this backdrop, it is not surprising that congress is considering proposals that would increase fines for flushing raw sewage and provide states with incentives for enforcing current laws. Clearly, it's time for all boaters to "do the right thing."

What can you do now to comply with the law?

Boaters share a common desire to play in and on sparkling clean waters. We can choose to pollute or not to pollute. We can do the right thing now, take action, and obey the law! Good environmental citizenship will help ensure our continued delight in clean waters. Use this information in choosing a marine sanitation device that best fits your needs.

What are your choices for compliance?





What system should you install?

If the boat is operated in waters designated for "No Discharge," you only have one must retain all sewage, treated or not, for disposal ashore. Choosing the system that works best will depend on several factors. The answer to a few questions about how the boat is used should help you narrow the choices and determine optimal holding tank capacity:

  • How many people are usually on board for a trip?
  • Are pumpout facilities located nearby?

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