I believe the regulation is within 3 miles of land
I believe that the regulation is with 3 miles of land.
I believe that the regulation is with 3 miles of land.
Hunter 28.5 holding tank
- Thread starter Theheff
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A dry head
I was just wondering, has anybody out there ever used a composting toilet? I've done a little research into the matter and it sounds like it might just be a sterling idea to use one on a boat.
I was just wondering, has anybody out there ever used a composting toilet? I've done a little research into the matter and it sounds like it might just be a sterling idea to use one on a boat.
3 mile limit is not just 3 miles from land...
you must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline to dump a tank or flush a toilet directly overboard legally. That includes portapotties and any containers that only contain urine. So Piseas, that means that you CAN legally dump a tank in 21 of the 26 miles between the SoCal mainland and Catalina Island. On the west coast of FL, the 3 mile limit has been extended to 6 miles, btw. There is nowhere in the Great Lakes where it's legal to dump a tank or flush overboard.
you must be in open ocean at least 3 miles from the nearest point on the whole US coastline to dump a tank or flush a toilet directly overboard legally. That includes portapotties and any containers that only contain urine. So Piseas, that means that you CAN legally dump a tank in 21 of the 26 miles between the SoCal mainland and Catalina Island. On the west coast of FL, the 3 mile limit has been extended to 6 miles, btw. There is nowhere in the Great Lakes where it's legal to dump a tank or flush overboard.
Rick, my thought on the size
of the tank is to locate it and measure it. Then compare the measurements with a five gallon fuel can. A two gallon holding tank would be a waste of time to install. Perhaps the pumpout pipe dosen't reach the bottom of the tank.
of the tank is to locate it and measure it. Then compare the measurements with a five gallon fuel can. A two gallon holding tank would be a waste of time to install. Perhaps the pumpout pipe dosen't reach the bottom of the tank.
Peggy re "Treated Waste"
It may be legal to dump "treated waste" in some places in Chesapeake Bay, other than the NDZs, but that is one, among many other, reasons I no longer will swim in the Bay. To me,"treated waste" is an oxymoron.
It may be legal to dump "treated waste" in some places in Chesapeake Bay, other than the NDZs, but that is one, among many other, reasons I no longer will swim in the Bay. To me,"treated waste" is an oxymoron.
Then you don't know anything about treated waste
Not surprising from someone who doesn't even know how many times a day he has to pee.
Not surprising from someone who doesn't even know how many times a day he has to pee.
Peggy....
You have my blessing to swim to your heart's content in all the treated waste you like. Enjoy yourself. Keep your immunizations, and medical insurance, up to date. As to peeing, I don't eat yellow snow (nor swallow treated waste while swimming) and know precisely how many times a day I pee, haven't you been reading my posts about crew training and bladder control? I presume you plot your cruises by figuring out how to get from one pump-out station to the next. Not my idea of fun. I choose to just go out with family and friends and enjoy ourselves. If a pump out is available where we put in for the night, great. If not, we make do with the facilities aboard and human ingenuity when those fill up..... (As a parenthetical note, I understand that most "affordable" systems that would allow "treated waste" to be discharged into bays (not their NDZs however)and coastal water, but not inland lakes, reduce, but do not eliminate bacteria and fecal matter so that it is not visible. The PPM of bacteria, et al, that is still in so-called "treated waste" is not something my fragile, infrequently peeing, system would seem to thrive on. So if wallowing in treated waste is your thing, have at it Sweetie).
You have my blessing to swim to your heart's content in all the treated waste you like. Enjoy yourself. Keep your immunizations, and medical insurance, up to date. As to peeing, I don't eat yellow snow (nor swallow treated waste while swimming) and know precisely how many times a day I pee, haven't you been reading my posts about crew training and bladder control? I presume you plot your cruises by figuring out how to get from one pump-out station to the next. Not my idea of fun. I choose to just go out with family and friends and enjoy ourselves. If a pump out is available where we put in for the night, great. If not, we make do with the facilities aboard and human ingenuity when those fill up..... (As a parenthetical note, I understand that most "affordable" systems that would allow "treated waste" to be discharged into bays (not their NDZs however)and coastal water, but not inland lakes, reduce, but do not eliminate bacteria and fecal matter so that it is not visible. The PPM of bacteria, et al, that is still in so-called "treated waste" is not something my fragile, infrequently peeing, system would seem to thrive on. So if wallowing in treated waste is your thing, have at it Sweetie).
Treated waste
I think Pete's point-- be wary of advertently or inadvertently -- "consuming" treated waste of any kind is right on target. IMHO, the "good" systems that produce this "product" are too expensive(>$4,000) for the average boater. The ones we can afford do not produce a "product" that I would wash a dish in, no less let get inside my body by any means. This whole thread brings new meaning to the term "life is a crap shoot."
I think Pete's point-- be wary of advertently or inadvertently -- "consuming" treated waste of any kind is right on target. IMHO, the "good" systems that produce this "product" are too expensive(>$4,000) for the average boater. The ones we can afford do not produce a "product" that I would wash a dish in, no less let get inside my body by any means. This whole thread brings new meaning to the term "life is a crap shoot."
Back Pressure
As the toilet is pumping into the holding tank, the air that is inside the tank must be able to escape. If it can't, as you keep adding more and more to the tank, the air will pressurize, and it will become increasingly difficult to pump the effluent into the tank. Eventually, you could see dirty water backing up into the toilet, as that accumulated pressure must "go somewhere." Conversely, as the tank is being pumped out, air must be able to come into the tank to replace what you're pumping out of the tank. If air cannot come into the tank, you won't be able to pump very much out of the tank; you certainly won't be able to empty it. So this is where a clear tank vent is crucial - so that you can have a free exchange of air coming into, and going out of the tank - depending on whether you're trying to fill it, or trying to empty it. If the tank vent becomes clogged, you don't get this necessary free exchange of air, and problems will develop.
As the toilet is pumping into the holding tank, the air that is inside the tank must be able to escape. If it can't, as you keep adding more and more to the tank, the air will pressurize, and it will become increasingly difficult to pump the effluent into the tank. Eventually, you could see dirty water backing up into the toilet, as that accumulated pressure must "go somewhere." Conversely, as the tank is being pumped out, air must be able to come into the tank to replace what you're pumping out of the tank. If air cannot come into the tank, you won't be able to pump very much out of the tank; you certainly won't be able to empty it. So this is where a clear tank vent is crucial - so that you can have a free exchange of air coming into, and going out of the tank - depending on whether you're trying to fill it, or trying to empty it. If the tank vent becomes clogged, you don't get this necessary free exchange of air, and problems will develop.
A few facts y'all may not know...
Federal water quality standards for swimming is a max bacteria count of 200/100 ml. The waters of the beaches in Milwaukee fail to meet that standard 44% of the time. 100+ municipal sewage treatment plants on the east coast alone are exempt from meeting federal water quality standards because their systems are too small or two old to do so and they cannot afford the cost of upgrading 'em. The bacteria count in the discharge from a Lectra/San or PuraSan is <10/100 ml. Just ONE illegally dumped tank has more negative impact on the surrounding waters than 1000 boats, all equipped with Lectra/Sans or PuraSans, in the same area for 24 hours.
Federal water quality standards for swimming is a max bacteria count of 200/100 ml. The waters of the beaches in Milwaukee fail to meet that standard 44% of the time. 100+ municipal sewage treatment plants on the east coast alone are exempt from meeting federal water quality standards because their systems are too small or two old to do so and they cannot afford the cost of upgrading 'em. The bacteria count in the discharge from a Lectra/San or PuraSan is <10/100 ml. Just ONE illegally dumped tank has more negative impact on the surrounding waters than 1000 boats, all equipped with Lectra/Sans or PuraSans, in the same area for 24 hours.
Head holding tank vent
I have just purchased a 1988 Hunter 30 which has been sitting at a dock for at least six years, uncared for. I just discovered (surveryor missed it)that the vent on the head holding tank is hanging loose, the end of the line completely plugged with the corroded former connection. The head was bypassed at some point and I now have a boat that is illegal. Getting at the old connection will require removing the aft bulkhead to get at it and once there, what method can be used to reattach a vent connection? I am thinking it would have to be welded. It gets even more trickey since I am guessing the holding tank is not exactly empty. Thanks for any help. Marti
I have just purchased a 1988 Hunter 30 which has been sitting at a dock for at least six years, uncared for. I just discovered (surveryor missed it)that the vent on the head holding tank is hanging loose, the end of the line completely plugged with the corroded former connection. The head was bypassed at some point and I now have a boat that is illegal. Getting at the old connection will require removing the aft bulkhead to get at it and once there, what method can be used to reattach a vent connection? I am thinking it would have to be welded. It gets even more trickey since I am guessing the holding tank is not exactly empty. Thanks for any help. Marti
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