Maryland Clean Boating Lesson Plan

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Maryland Clean Boating Lesson Plan

• Section 2
• VESSEL SEWAGE

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Vessel Sewage Environmental Concerns

• Harmful to human health
• Diseases may be passed to swimmers or to people
  who eat contaminated shellfish
• Harmful to water quality
• Excess nutrients cause algal blooms
• Bacteria that decompose algae reduce dissolved
  oxygen

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Vessel Sewage Legal Basics

• Discharging raw sewage is against State and
  Federal laws
• All vessels with installed toilets must have a
  Marine Sanitation Device (MSD), There are 3 types
  of MSDs.
• Types I and II treat and release the waste.
• Type III is a holding tank.
• Portable toilets Use a pumpout station to empty

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Sewage Marine Sanitation Devices

• Type I and II MSDs
• Establish a regular maintenance schedule
• Do not discharge in a marina, swimming area, over
  an oyster bar or in a poorly flushed area
• Do not discharge in federally designated No
  Discharge Zones
• Holding Tanks (Type III)
• Use enzyme-based products to control odor
• Avoid quaternary ammonium compounds
• (QAC) and formaldehyde

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Vessel SewageNo Discharge Zones

• 2 NDZs in Maryland Herring Bay and the Northern
  Coastal Bays.
• EPA designates No Discharge Zones (NDZ) upon
  application by the State.
• In a NDZ boaters may not use Type I or II MSDs
  (that treat and release waste).
• Must use holding tanks and pump-out.

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Vessel SewageResources

• For more information visit DNRs website
  www.dnr.maryland.gov/boating/pumpout
• www.boatus.com/foundation
• Know the laws and how they apply to you.