Holding tank for the toilet

RichH · Jan 11, 2015

Check with local regulations for the ports/harbors that you plan to visit ... many are increasingly prohibiting the discharge of 'grey' water in these harbors and require separate holding tanks OR simply all domestic (non-engine) water discharge goes into the holding tank while in port.

Grey water is water from wash sinks, showers, etc.

Jackdaw · Jan 11, 2015

The 361 holding tank mounted above and behind the head on wall. It has a plastic cover for it to make it look nicer. The Y diverter was under the sink near the seacock. The tank fill went over the top, and the deck drain was also on top via a dip tube.

BTW, med MSD regs:

Spain
Spain has holding tank requirements which together with their pollution legislation, essentially mean that vessels cannot discharge untreated sewage within Spanish territorial waters (12 nautical miles). The Spanish legislation is ORDEN FOM/1144/2003, 28 April which for anyone who speaks Spanish can be found at www.fomento.es and an unofficial translation of the legislation is also available.
Greece
In Greece the regulations relating to discharges and pollution make a holding tank a practical necessity although we are not aware of them being a legal requirement as yet. Caution should also be exerted with grey water in Greece.
Turkey
Discharge of any kind may be considered illegal. A black water tank has therefore been a practical necessity in Turkey for many years. New rules have been coming into force in some areas of Turkey (such as the Mugla District) over the last few years which require vessels to carry a Blue Card. If the rules are enforced to the full all black and grey water will need to be collected and pumped out ashore; the Blue Card will be used to monitor the amount of waste water deposited ashore to ensure holding tanks are pumped out rather than emptied into the sea.

France
French law requires that as of 1 January 2008 new vessels, whether French or foreign flagged, are fitted with a treatment system or retention tank for black water if they wish to have access to French ports, moorings and anchorages.
Users of older vessels which are not equipped with treatment systems or holding tanks for black water are, like all other pleasure yacht users, required to comply with the rules which prohibit discharge in ports and designated anchoring spots. They must therefore use shore toilets.
How these rules are to be applied or enforced is not very clear but it is anticipated that guidelines or a further law defining the extent and manner of application and any sanctions will be issued in the future.
In principal it is forbidden to flush toilets into canals and rivers, but as pump out facilities are few and far between until now discreet overboard discharging has been tolerated, this may of course change.

Philip_Oceanis 361 · Jan 12, 2015

Jackdaw said:
The 361 holding tank mounted above and behind the head on wall. It has a plastic cover for it to make it look nicer. The Y diverter was under the sink near the seacock. The tank fill went over the top, and the deck drain was also on top via a dip tube.

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They say a picture is equivalent to 1000 words!! This is a picture of the Beneteau 361 holding tank after you remove the cover in front of it.

Jackdaw · Jan 12, 2015

Philip_Oceanis 361 said:
They say a picture is equivalent to 1000 words!! This is a picture of the Beneteau 361 holding tank after you remove the cover in front of it.

Yea. Like that! Glad my memory still works.

Jackdaw · Jan 12, 2015

clausjepsen said:
Fine picture. When I compare it to this drawing:

http://www.ronco-plastics.com/newRonco/installation.php

where there is a hose for in, out and ventilation.

What is the 4. th hose in the picture for?

Guess you use the old hole in the hull for emptying the tank off shore. How do you empty it into another tank in the harbour?

Thanks all for your help.

The tank in the boat has TWO exits, a dip tube on the top going to the deck fitting, and a exit to the sea on the bottom.

In the harbor your only choice is to get pumped out via the deck fitting. I assume that is what you were asking.

Ron20324 · Jan 12, 2015

FWIW, on my B323 the bottom tube goes to the deck fitting. I do not have a macerator, though.

thinwater · Jan 12, 2015

With those restrictions, that tank aint' nearly big enough. And remember, if you try to restrict the flushing to stretch life, you are asking for pump-out troubles. I think most folks figure ~ 1/2 gallon per use. That is probably only a few days.

Jackdaw · Jan 12, 2015

thinwater said:
With those restrictions, that tank aint' nearly big enough. And remember, if you try to restrict the flushing to stretch life, you are asking for pump-out troubles. I think most folks figure ~ 1/2 gallon per use. That is probably only a few days.

True... But unlike the US, on the Med it is almost impossible to not get into 'dumping zone' waters while on a multi-day sail. In 95% of the places, once you leave harbor you are going to sea.

Philip_Oceanis 361 · Jan 12, 2015

clausjepsen said:
where there is a hose for in, out and ventilation.

What is the 4. th hose in the picture for?

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Hose for in.
Hose for ventilation.
Hose for out (bottom).
Hose going to the deck (I only use it to flash the holding tank; I guess with proper facilities at the dock you could use that to empty the tank too).

Holding tank for the toilet

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