Peggy, I've got a ten year old Jabsco Toilet that's got to go. My wife would really like to 'just push a button' to flush. I think the SeaEra is the best solution, rather than the PHII-E (if I recall your earlier posts correctly), but I'm wondering if I should install the fresh or sea water version. Also, I only have a 15 gallon holding tank ... which is a pain with a family of four. So, I am considering adding a Lectrasan later on (next winter?). Does it care if I've got fresh or sea water for flushing? Thanks! Brian
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Go with the fresh water version
It uses less power, is much quieter and uses less flush water than the sea water version. When you're ready to add a treatment device, go with a PuraSan http://www.raritaneng.com/products/waste_treatment/purasan.html which is the version of the Lectra/San designed for use on boats in fresh water and for use with pressurized flush water toilets. Btw...if your Jabsco bowl, seat and lid are still in good condition, you can save some money by buying the SeaEra "conversion"...which includes everything BUT the bowl, seat and lid.
It uses less power, is much quieter and uses less flush water than the sea water version. When you're ready to add a treatment device, go with a PuraSan http://www.raritaneng.com/products/waste_treatment/purasan.html which is the version of the Lectra/San designed for use on boats in fresh water and for use with pressurized flush water toilets. Btw...if your Jabsco bowl, seat and lid are still in good condition, you can save some money by buying the SeaEra "conversion"...which includes everything BUT the bowl, seat and lid.
Purasan
With a toilet that flushes with pressurized fresh water, get the Purasan Model PST1203, nothing else. Most of the sales people in the marine stores don't know one version from the other. The PST1203 is the only one that will work together with a toilet that flushes with pressurized fresh water. No other versionof the Purasan will work.
With a toilet that flushes with pressurized fresh water, get the Purasan Model PST1203, nothing else. Most of the sales people in the marine stores don't know one version from the other. The PST1203 is the only one that will work together with a toilet that flushes with pressurized fresh water. No other versionof the Purasan will work.
Someone correct me if I am wrong
But I am under the impression that there are many "no discharge zones" and in those zones even a Lectrasan or PuraSan has to discharge to a holding tank. Is that not correct? Joe S
But I am under the impression that there are many "no discharge zones" and in those zones even a Lectrasan or PuraSan has to discharge to a holding tank. Is that not correct? Joe S
That's correct, Joseph...
"No discharge" means NO discharge (toilet waste only), treated or untreated. However, most of the NDZs are inland waters...the discharge of treated waste from a CG Certified Type I or II MSD is legal in most coastal waters. On the west coast, SoCal's coastal waters are almost all ND, but except for a few marinas, from around Santa Barbara north, there's only one very small NDZ--a small harbor off SF Bay--on the whole west coast. There aren't any in WA. The EPA publishes a list of NDZs...it's on the web at http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html
"No discharge" means NO discharge (toilet waste only), treated or untreated. However, most of the NDZs are inland waters...the discharge of treated waste from a CG Certified Type I or II MSD is legal in most coastal waters. On the west coast, SoCal's coastal waters are almost all ND, but except for a few marinas, from around Santa Barbara north, there's only one very small NDZ--a small harbor off SF Bay--on the whole west coast. There aren't any in WA. The EPA publishes a list of NDZs...it's on the web at http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html
Thanks Bonnie, especially for the reference
I had been told by someone that all of Washington's Puget Sound was a NDZ, but I couldn't find anything on it when I looked. Thanks again Joe S
I had been told by someone that all of Washington's Puget Sound was a NDZ, but I couldn't find anything on it when I looked. Thanks again Joe S
Terry, those rules apply to ALL US waters
For nearly 30 years (since 1980), it's been illegal to flush untreated toilet waste direcly overboard or dump a holding tank in ALL inland waters and in any coastal waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole coastline or any island. Which, btw makes it illegal to do either one everywhere in the San Juans except the middle of the Strait.
For nearly 30 years (since 1980), it's been illegal to flush untreated toilet waste direcly overboard or dump a holding tank in ALL inland waters and in any coastal waters within 3 miles of the nearest point on the whole coastline or any island. Which, btw makes it illegal to do either one everywhere in the San Juans except the middle of the Strait.
Thanks Terry. I did know about the raw sewage discharge rules.
I had been thinking of replacing my holding tank with a Lectra/San type MSD, when I was told that they didn't comply with WA discharge laws. I was also told that all Puget Sound was a NDZ and I would still need my holding tank and thats why I asked. So now I know. Thanks anyway Joe S
I had been thinking of replacing my holding tank with a Lectra/San type MSD, when I was told that they didn't comply with WA discharge laws. I was also told that all Puget Sound was a NDZ and I would still need my holding tank and thats why I asked. So now I know. Thanks anyway Joe S
Joseph, I wouldn't eliminate a tank entirely
You can definitely downsize the the tank, but you still need to be able to hold enough to last you a night or two...'cuz there are some ND marinas (marinas are private property and can make their own rules as long they aren't more lax than federal law) in your area, and most of the Provincial Park anchorages in BC are ND. A lot of the confusion about whether certain waters are ND or not is due to the fact that a majority of boat owners, especially owners of smaller (
You can definitely downsize the the tank, but you still need to be able to hold enough to last you a night or two...'cuz there are some ND marinas (marinas are private property and can make their own rules as long they aren't more lax than federal law) in your area, and most of the Provincial Park anchorages in BC are ND. A lot of the confusion about whether certain waters are ND or not is due to the fact that a majority of boat owners, especially owners of smaller (
Peggie, I think for the time being,
I'm just going to stay with the tank, at least in one head (I have two). Thanks Joe S
I'm just going to stay with the tank, at least in one head (I have two). Thanks Joe S
NDZ's
Looks like this misunderstanding and the misinformation on this topic is going to go on forever.... In the U.S., the use of the term No Discharge Zone means that you cannot discharge toilet waste into the water in that area, whether it's been treated or not. Period. the end. In those areas, ONLY a holding tank is acceptable. But in all other areas, treated waste from a coast guard certified treatment unit, may be discharged into the water. The first thing you need to ask when someone mentions that an area is No Discharge, is a definition of what they're actually saying - assuming that they actually know what they're saying. Along both U.S. coastlines and the Gulf, there are relatively few actual No Discharge Zones. Inland rivers also permit the use of certified treatment systems as long as those rivers are navigable all the way out to the ocean or the Gulf (Ohio River, as an example). Just about all landlocked lakes in the U.S. are No Discharge. At the present time, Lake Cumberland in Kentucky DOES allow the use of treatment systems, although they've been making some noises in the opposite direction. Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay and Chesapeake Bay are NOT No Discharge Zones, and treatment systems may be used there. Herring Bay (Deale, MD) is the one and only No Discharge Zone on the entire Chesapeake - and that is a fairly small area when considering the size of the Bay as a whole. Untreated waste from either a toilet or a holding tank is another issue completely. It has been illegal to discharge untreated waste ANYWHERE in the U.S., inside the 3 mile limit since 1980. So yes, if you're talking about direct discharge from a marine toilet, the entire U.S. is "No Discharge." But discharge from waste that has been treated is only disallowed in certain areas. Here's the list of No Discharge Zones, by state, from the EPA website (the EPA makes the restrictions, and the Coast Guard enforces them) http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html
Looks like this misunderstanding and the misinformation on this topic is going to go on forever.... In the U.S., the use of the term No Discharge Zone means that you cannot discharge toilet waste into the water in that area, whether it's been treated or not. Period. the end. In those areas, ONLY a holding tank is acceptable. But in all other areas, treated waste from a coast guard certified treatment unit, may be discharged into the water. The first thing you need to ask when someone mentions that an area is No Discharge, is a definition of what they're actually saying - assuming that they actually know what they're saying. Along both U.S. coastlines and the Gulf, there are relatively few actual No Discharge Zones. Inland rivers also permit the use of certified treatment systems as long as those rivers are navigable all the way out to the ocean or the Gulf (Ohio River, as an example). Just about all landlocked lakes in the U.S. are No Discharge. At the present time, Lake Cumberland in Kentucky DOES allow the use of treatment systems, although they've been making some noises in the opposite direction. Puget Sound, San Francisco Bay and Chesapeake Bay are NOT No Discharge Zones, and treatment systems may be used there. Herring Bay (Deale, MD) is the one and only No Discharge Zone on the entire Chesapeake - and that is a fairly small area when considering the size of the Bay as a whole. Untreated waste from either a toilet or a holding tank is another issue completely. It has been illegal to discharge untreated waste ANYWHERE in the U.S., inside the 3 mile limit since 1980. So yes, if you're talking about direct discharge from a marine toilet, the entire U.S. is "No Discharge." But discharge from waste that has been treated is only disallowed in certain areas. Here's the list of No Discharge Zones, by state, from the EPA website (the EPA makes the restrictions, and the Coast Guard enforces them) http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/vessel_sewage/vsdnozone.html
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