Black tank overboard discharge....

[jssailem]

It seems disjointed.
You cannot pee in a bucket and "discharge it" (empty the bucket) into the water.
You can stand on the bow and discharge all you want (have or can muster).

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

A study of a few years ago reported that the chief source of enteric bacteria in Southern California coastal waters was bird (suspect gulls) poop.

They were wrong. Sewer pipes from land are the principal source. Among other things they're too short, leaking, in total disrepair...etc. Although Catalina Island is too far from the mainland ("26 miles across the sea") to be coastal waters, Avalon was designated "dirtiest harbor in the US" a couple of years ago because 99% of the island's sewage lands in it untreated. But it's not the only one on either coast to have land based sewer system issues. 100+ municipal sewer systems on the east coast in such disrepair or so antiquated or have been made so inadequate by population growth that they've been allowed to continue operating via a waiver from EPA.
But let one li'l ol' boat dump a 10 gallon holding tank, or worse yet flush a marine toilet directly overboard, and the enviro-zealots go berzerk!

Probably okay. I don't think there are any coast guard regs about direct discharge.

True. There is none.

If you're referring to "direct deposit" from a human into the water from above it or while in it, that's correct: there are none. But put it into, or let it pass through ANY container--even a coffee cup--on its way into the water, and you can run afoul of a whole bunch of USCG regs...iow, "bucket and chuck it"
ain't legal.

Hope all of you are enjoying great Thanksgiving holiday!

--Peggie

 

[Richard19068]

Correct, I have no Y valve at all. The hose goes directly from the head to the tank. Then the tank has two discharge fittings. One goes to the macerator and the other to the deck pump out.
But yeah, the bottom line is everything goes to the tank.

That's how my boat is set up. No y valve to shift or seacock to close. The discharge from the tank is either the deck pump out or via the macerating pump through an above water line through hull fitting.

The macerating pump is activated by a breaker switch on the electrical panel. I had a coast guard auxiliary courtesy exam a few years ago (okay, several years ago). The setup threw off the inspector a bit until he said to put a piece of duct tape on the breaker switch. After I did he said "okay" and gave me the sticker. I always thought that was funny.

I've never had a problem with this at Avalon where they are so strict they sometimes board the boat to put a dye tab in the toilet to disclose any discharge.

 

[Rick Webb]

That's how my boat is set up. No y valve to shift or seacock to close. The discharge from the tank is either the deck pump out or via the macerating pump through an above water line through hull fitting.

The macerating pump is activated by a breaker switch on the electrical panel. I had a coast guard auxiliary courtesy exam a few years ago (okay, several years ago). The setup threw off the inspector a bit until he said to put a piece of duct tape on the breaker switch. After I did he said "okay" and gave me the sticker. I always thought that was funny.

I've never had a problem with this at Avalon where they are so strict they sometimes board the boat to put a dye tab in the toilet to disclose any discharge.

If you were to "lock out" your system, two quick ways I've seen. First is to safety wire the switch in the off position. Second would be to add a key switch.


If you've had no issues, you may not ever but...

 

[Mika1]

Correct, I have no Y valve at all. The hose goes directly from the head to the tank. Then the tank (which is plastic, indicating a previous owner replaced it) has two discharge fittings. One goes to the macerator and the other to the deck pumpout. Oh yeah, the tank has a vent fitting also.
But yeah, the bottom line is everything goes to the tank.

Right. So you need to disable the maceration discharge so that it cannot be accidentally used in NDZ waters. If there is a shutoff valve, I think securing it in the closed position with a zip tie would be acceptable. Otherwise you would probably need to disconnect the wires or add in a safety interlock switch that can be secured against someone simply turning it on.

Overboard discharge from my tank goes through the macerator and out through the seacock. The seacock is zip-tied closed when not being used and to operate the macerator requires turning the breaker on at the distribution panel and then also activating a toggle switch I've wired in next to the pump. There's no potential for an 'accidental' discharge, and that's what I imagine the Coast Guard wants to see.

 

[jssailem]

The seacock is zip-tied closed when not being used and to operate the macerator requires turning the breaker on at the distribution panel and then also activating a toggle switch I've wired in next to the pump...... that's I imagine the Coast Guard wants to see.

Close... Not sure you will get a cigar during all inspections. The CG Reg is explained here:

No discharge zone.While operating a vessel in an EPA designated no discharge zone, flow-through devices are only permitted if adequately secured to prevent discharges of all treated and untreated sewage. For example, closing the seacock and padlocking, using a non-releasable wire tie, or removing the seacock handle are considered to be sufficient in most cases. For short voyages, locking the door to the head with a padlock or a door handle key lock is another acceptable method. For vessels that routinely operate in no discharge zones a Type III MSD is recommended. For more information see 33 CFR 159.7 and 40 CFR Part 140.​

Y valve. Type III MSDs having a through hull Y valve must only be opened when the vessel is offshore, beyond the limit of U.S. territorial waters. At all other times, the valve must be positively secured in a way that presents a physical barrier to valve use and prevents all discharges. Adequate means include the use of padlock, non-releasable wire-tie, or removal of the valve handle. For more information see 33 CFR 159.7.​