I just embarked on a month long cruise and decided to bring along my cat. I was just about to pump a poop out of the litter box into the holding tank with a Jabsco manual when I stopped to wonder if this will cause a pump rebuild on the second day. Will the litter damage the o-rings on the pump or sink to the bottom and just push out on the down stroke?
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I wouldn't do that
If it doesn't get caught in the pump, it'll scratch and score the pump housing. It'll also destroy the impeller in an electric toilet or discharge macerator pump.
If it doesn't get caught in the pump, it'll scratch and score the pump housing. It'll also destroy the impeller in an electric toilet or discharge macerator pump.
I've seen it done
I was on a trip on the ICW with a buddy and his cat. After 2 days of kitty litter down the head we had complete stoppage. Every hose was completely clogged. After being flushed the litter continued to absorb h2o and expand. My buddy spent the better part of a day taking every hose and fitting off and chipping it out with a screw driver. I gave him no assistance whatsoever as I couldn't fathom any one being so foolish as to flush this down a head (no insult intended Tim).
I was on a trip on the ICW with a buddy and his cat. After 2 days of kitty litter down the head we had complete stoppage. Every hose was completely clogged. After being flushed the litter continued to absorb h2o and expand. My buddy spent the better part of a day taking every hose and fitting off and chipping it out with a screw driver. I gave him no assistance whatsoever as I couldn't fathom any one being so foolish as to flush this down a head (no insult intended Tim).
That's what I'd do. It's not illegal
Nor is it any more environmentally unfriendly that all the animal poop that runs off into the water every time it rains.
Nor is it any more environmentally unfriendly that all the animal poop that runs off into the water every time it rains.
actually it is illegal
It is a violation of the Fed Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, and likely many state statutues as well. Having said that, it's also illegal to discharge fresh water into salt water, e.g., from a hose. May be dumb to most of us but both are techically violations - whether any regulatory agency would care to do something about it is doubtful... I suspect if the env cops saw anyone dumping anything, they'd get suspicious at the least.
It is a violation of the Fed Water Pollution Control Act, as amended, and likely many state statutues as well. Having said that, it's also illegal to discharge fresh water into salt water, e.g., from a hose. May be dumb to most of us but both are techically violations - whether any regulatory agency would care to do something about it is doubtful... I suspect if the env cops saw anyone dumping anything, they'd get suspicious at the least.
Got a link to that amendment, Don?
'Cuz I keep up with this stuff and I haven't seen any of the changes you describe. ...and I think I'd have heard about any that change marine sanitation laws. If it's now illegal to discharge fresh water into salt water, I guess that would make rain illegal...???
'Cuz I keep up with this stuff and I haven't seen any of the changes you describe. ...and I think I'd have heard about any that change marine sanitation laws. If it's now illegal to discharge fresh water into salt water, I guess that would make rain illegal...???
Peggie
I didn't say it makes sense; only that it's true. The FWPCA, as amended in 1986, isn't new. I'm sure you can find it online. Look up the section which addresses "point source discharges". A garden hose is a point source discharge (as opposed to rain, agricultural runoff, etc... I worked for EPA for 30+ years and one of the (few) things I learned is there is a big difference between illegal and enforceable - when it comes to us boaters, only a very lonely or bored enf cop would bother with such issues but there is currently an environmental initiative by EPA as well as many states to enhance marina env compliance (as well as overall compliance) and one of the criteria being applied is controlling fresh water discharges to estuaries and bays.
I didn't say it makes sense; only that it's true. The FWPCA, as amended in 1986, isn't new. I'm sure you can find it online. Look up the section which addresses "point source discharges". A garden hose is a point source discharge (as opposed to rain, agricultural runoff, etc... I worked for EPA for 30+ years and one of the (few) things I learned is there is a big difference between illegal and enforceable - when it comes to us boaters, only a very lonely or bored enf cop would bother with such issues but there is currently an environmental initiative by EPA as well as many states to enhance marina env compliance (as well as overall compliance) and one of the criteria being applied is controlling fresh water discharges to estuaries and bays.
I know what you're referring to now, Don...
It applies only to sources on land. If it applied to vessels, the CFR marine sanitation laws would have been amended, but they haven't been. If they had, it would have become illegal to wash a boat in coastal waters...and not only gray water, but bilge water too, holding would have been required. But none of that has happened. Perry, I'm a cat lover too. My pal Buckley, whom I've had since he was a 9 week old kitten turned 20 (!) in February. To say he's still going strong is a bit of an overstatement, but he's doing pretty well for a guy who'd be 104 if he were human.
It applies only to sources on land. If it applied to vessels, the CFR marine sanitation laws would have been amended, but they haven't been. If they had, it would have become illegal to wash a boat in coastal waters...and not only gray water, but bilge water too, holding would have been required. But none of that has happened. Perry, I'm a cat lover too. My pal Buckley, whom I've had since he was a 9 week old kitten turned 20 (!) in February. To say he's still going strong is a bit of an overstatement, but he's doing pretty well for a guy who'd be 104 if he were human.
Thanks
Thanks Peggy, I'll take care of it at night. I don't understand how that can be legal, but discharging human waste is not - especially in environmentally sensitive areas where pump outs are required.
Thanks Peggy, I'll take care of it at night. I don't understand how that can be legal, but discharging human waste is not - especially in environmentally sensitive areas where pump outs are required.
It's legal because marine sanitation laws
Only apply to "HUMAN (emphasis mine) body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body waste." Quite a few dog owners carry outdoor carpeting that they toss over the side (attached to a line of course) to wash off after their pet uses it. That's not illegal either.
Only apply to "HUMAN (emphasis mine) body wastes and the wastes from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body waste." Quite a few dog owners carry outdoor carpeting that they toss over the side (attached to a line of course) to wash off after their pet uses it. That's not illegal either.
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