Clean up after holding tank leaked when pressurized

[arthur.goldberg]

Hello

The holding tank on a friend's boat leaked a couple of pints of black water when it filled up and got briefly pressurized. It hissed a little and then leaked the black water onto the floor of the head and the bilge in the aft cabin.

Since the leak, they have taken these steps to clean up the problem:

1. Clean up the black water that leaked.
   1. Remove the black water that leaked.
   2. Sanitize the floor of the head and the bilge in the aft cabin with household bleach.
   3. Rinse the sanitized areas with fresh water.
2. Pump out the holding tank.
3. Clean out the vent line, which was clogged near its exit.
4. Replace the vent line filter.
5. Flush the pump out line with fresh water.

However, the head still smells badly. Examining the exterior of the holding tank does not indicate where the leak occurred, and all of the hoses and hose connections appear good.

They suspect that black water that ran down the inside hull below the holding tank may be causing the smell. How should this area be cleaned up? It cannot be accessed from the opening that provides access to the holding tank.

Thanks
Arthur

 

[JBP-PA]

You might try "Nature's Miracle", it's intended for pet urine, but works with enzymes that work on everything. It doesn't smell bad and is non toxic. Flood it, let it sit a while, and pump it out.

People say the original formula is better if you can find it.

https://north40.com/nature-s-miracle-original-stain-and-odor-remover-1-gal?msclkid=762c648453ff17d0c23600694b27c772

 

[jssailem]

I've heard that Baking Soda also can help.
This is a great query to ask @Peggie Hall HeadMistress .

 

[Tally Ho]

I dumped some nasty water from my holding tank and it drained under the floor and to the bilge.

I pumped out the bilge, got a bucket of hot water and ammonia, and flooded the area where I spilled the tank…it flowed in essentially the same path to the bilge. Pumped out the bilge and repeated the process several times…no more smell.

Greg

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Replace the vent line filter.

1. What is a vent line filter ?
2. Whatever it is, tell your friend to get rid of it. It can only go to block off the vent line.

I would suspect it's purpose is to cover up the smell of a non ventilated holding tank.

 

[arthur.goldberg]

Thank you @Tally Ho , my friend and I will try that.

I dumped some nasty water from my holding tank and it drained under the floor and to the bilge.

I pumped out the bilge, got a bucket of hot water and ammonia, and flooded the area where I spilled the tank…it flowed in essentially the same path to the bilge. Pumped out the bilge and repeated the process several times…no more smell.

Greg

 

[JBP-PA]

You need to be very careful with ammonia. Make sure they is no bleach left over and all the chlorine is gone. Ammonia and chlorine combine to make toxic gases. Ammonia is very pungent and irritating on its own, so you will want to get off the boat until it's gone.

 

[Tally Ho]

You need to be very careful with ammonia. Make sure they is no bleach left over and all the chlorine is gone. Ammonia and chlorine combine to make toxic gases. Ammonia is very pungent and irritating on its own, so you will want to get off the boat until it's gone.

Lots of water to rinse after the ammonia/water mix…and pump it all out.

Greg

 

[Peggie Hall HeadMistress]

1. What is a vent line filter ?
2. Whatever it is, tell your friend to get rid of it. It can only go to block off the vent line.

I would suspect it's purpose is to cover up the smell of a non ventilated holding tank.

1. It is just what the name implies: a charcoal filter in the tank vent vent line that prevents holding tank odor from escaping out the vent. They're expensive, only a last a year or two and are "toast" immediately if they get wet, which makes them a bad choice on sailboats because tank contents can spill into the vent line when the boat heels...a bad choice on any boat because they make it impossible to backflush the vent line to prevent vent blockages.

There are boats that have tanks buried so low in deep bilges that the air exchange with the gasses in the tank necessary to PREVENT odor from occurring can't work, making a filter the only solution to odor out the vent, but only as a last resort.

--Peggie