Peggy, I have your book, but still have questions. I'm convinced tht I want to get a LectraSan but if I meet my desire to sail to Key West then I will need a holding tank too. Does my holding tank need to be just as big as if I did not have the LectraSan? If the tank is holding the treated material, can I dsicharge the tank over the side once I leave the no-discharge zone? What is the set up for the pump to do that? Tell us about tank size and line routings. thanks, Jim
- Status
- Not open for further replies.
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
That's why I'm here...
No book can answer EVERY question. (Thanks for buying it, btw) Yes, if you go to KW, you'll have to have a holding tank too. However, it shouldn't have to be a very large one unless you're planning to stay there for a very long time. A 10-12 gal tank should be adequate to see two people through a couple of days...if you stay longer, you'll have to pump out or go out to sea beyond 3 miles a couple of times. Slightly inconvenient, maybe, but not as inconvenient as having to that everywhere. "If the tank is holding the treated material, can I dsicharge the tank over the side once I leave the no-discharge zone?" No. Once the waste goes into a tank, even if it's been treated first, it's no longer considered treated waste. Reason: although the L/S reduces bacteria count to between 0-5/100 ml, only one of the li'l buggers has to survive and multiply to increase bactera count in the tank to way over the legal limit for treated waste...which can happen in as little as an hour in hot weather. So whether waste going into the tank is treated first or not, you'll still have to either pump out or get out beyond 3 miles (6-12 miles in some parts of FL Gulf waters) to dump the tank legally. As I said above, a 10-12 gallon tank--should be adequate for your needs in addition to a L/S. Put a y-valve in the head discharge that allows you to choose between flushing overboard through the L/S or into the tank...whether you put it ahead of the L/S or after it is your choice. Or, if the boat has two heads, put the L/S on the most used toilet, put the tank on the other one. When in "no discharge" waters--which in FL are limited to the Keys and Destin Harbor--just lock the door the head that goes through the L/S and use the other one. If you spend a lot of time offshore beyond the "3 (6 or 9) mile limit," put y-valves in both toilet discharge lines so you can flush directly overboard from either one at sea.
No book can answer EVERY question. (Thanks for buying it, btw) Yes, if you go to KW, you'll have to have a holding tank too. However, it shouldn't have to be a very large one unless you're planning to stay there for a very long time. A 10-12 gal tank should be adequate to see two people through a couple of days...if you stay longer, you'll have to pump out or go out to sea beyond 3 miles a couple of times. Slightly inconvenient, maybe, but not as inconvenient as having to that everywhere. "If the tank is holding the treated material, can I dsicharge the tank over the side once I leave the no-discharge zone?" No. Once the waste goes into a tank, even if it's been treated first, it's no longer considered treated waste. Reason: although the L/S reduces bacteria count to between 0-5/100 ml, only one of the li'l buggers has to survive and multiply to increase bactera count in the tank to way over the legal limit for treated waste...which can happen in as little as an hour in hot weather. So whether waste going into the tank is treated first or not, you'll still have to either pump out or get out beyond 3 miles (6-12 miles in some parts of FL Gulf waters) to dump the tank legally. As I said above, a 10-12 gallon tank--should be adequate for your needs in addition to a L/S. Put a y-valve in the head discharge that allows you to choose between flushing overboard through the L/S or into the tank...whether you put it ahead of the L/S or after it is your choice. Or, if the boat has two heads, put the L/S on the most used toilet, put the tank on the other one. When in "no discharge" waters--which in FL are limited to the Keys and Destin Harbor--just lock the door the head that goes through the L/S and use the other one. If you spend a lot of time offshore beyond the "3 (6 or 9) mile limit," put y-valves in both toilet discharge lines so you can flush directly overboard from either one at sea.
J
Jim
thanks, and ...
it seems that a Y after the LectraSan makes the most sense for a single head boat. You don't have to hold except in non-discharge zones or if your are in a marina where you would be a good neighbor to pump out anyway.
it seems that a Y after the LectraSan makes the most sense for a single head boat. You don't have to hold except in non-discharge zones or if your are in a marina where you would be a good neighbor to pump out anyway.
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
No need to hold/pumpout in a marina to be a
"good neighbor." The discharge from the L/S is not only odorless and visually unnoticeable to anyone who isn't diving under the boat right next to the thru-hull (in fact, odor or any noticeable color is an indication that the L/S isn't working). It's also MUCH cleaner than the water in any marina because of pollution due to runoff, water fowl and bilge pump discharge. So there's absolutely no need to use a tank anywhere except in "no discharge" waters.
"good neighbor." The discharge from the L/S is not only odorless and visually unnoticeable to anyone who isn't diving under the boat right next to the thru-hull (in fact, odor or any noticeable color is an indication that the L/S isn't working). It's also MUCH cleaner than the water in any marina because of pollution due to runoff, water fowl and bilge pump discharge. So there's absolutely no need to use a tank anywhere except in "no discharge" waters.
S
scott wilson
Peggie, FYI re marina treated discharge
The largest Seattle area marina owned by the port authority just gave notice no more treated discharge within the marina (Shilshole Bay Marina) and no more topping up of fuel tanks w/jerry cans at the slip. Scott
The largest Seattle area marina owned by the port authority just gave notice no more treated discharge within the marina (Shilshole Bay Marina) and no more topping up of fuel tanks w/jerry cans at the slip. Scott
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Ah geeeze...
Would you please send me a copy of the notice for my files? I'd really appreciate it! My email address is in the directory. I can understand banning fuel filling from jerry cans...too easy to spill and gas is unquestionably a pollutant. But banning treated waste makes no sense at all, even if there's little or no tidal cleansing in the marina. I find it fascinating that the mere word "sewage" sends politicians and environmental extremists into spasm attacks, but they don't even give passing thought to bilges discharging oily water, or the highly toxic chemicals in teak cleaners, or a whole bunch of things going into the water that actually DO pollute!
Would you please send me a copy of the notice for my files? I'd really appreciate it! My email address is in the directory. I can understand banning fuel filling from jerry cans...too easy to spill and gas is unquestionably a pollutant. But banning treated waste makes no sense at all, even if there's little or no tidal cleansing in the marina. I find it fascinating that the mere word "sewage" sends politicians and environmental extremists into spasm attacks, but they don't even give passing thought to bilges discharging oily water, or the highly toxic chemicals in teak cleaners, or a whole bunch of things going into the water that actually DO pollute!
R
RonD
No Discharge Areas
Be advised that the rules are that any through-hull valve connected to your MSD must be secured to prevent accidental discharge while in any designated "No Discharge Area." Generally, the USCG interprets that as the valve handle removed or safety wired in the "closed" position.
Be advised that the rules are that any through-hull valve connected to your MSD must be secured to prevent accidental discharge while in any designated "No Discharge Area." Generally, the USCG interprets that as the valve handle removed or safety wired in the "closed" position.
P
Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Acceptable ways to secure the system
33 CFR 159.7 lists the following acceptable methods: If your toilet is connected to a Type I or II MSD (treatment device), acceptable methods of securing the device are: (1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position; (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or (4) Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock. If your toilet is connected to a holding tank, acceptable methods of securing are: (1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position.
33 CFR 159.7 lists the following acceptable methods: If your toilet is connected to a Type I or II MSD (treatment device), acceptable methods of securing the device are: (1) Closing the seacock and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking the seacock in the closed position; (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold the seacock in the closed position; or (4) Locking the door to the space enclosing the toilets with a padlock or door handle key lock. If your toilet is connected to a holding tank, acceptable methods of securing are: (1) Closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge and removing the handle; (2) Padlocking each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position; or (3) Using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position.
S
scott wilson
- Status
- Not open for further replies.