Human Waste Disposal
Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs)
Anyone that spends a day on a boat with a head has the dubious pleasure of using the “onboard facilities.” Whether you are on a 16’ outboard or a 40’ ketch, the "call of nature" is a regular part of our boating experience. So what's the big deal about using the water as a big bathroom?
The primary environmental concern with your sewage is not the urine (which is basically sterile) , but the feces. Human feces contains bacteria, pathogens, and nutrients. The idea behind federal regulations concerning sewage on boats is to keep untreated sewage out of our inland and coastal waters, so we don’t have to swim in it or drink it. Read on for the regulatory details.
Sanitation Regulations
In most inland and coastal waters, boats with installed toilets are required to have a sanitation system on board in order to control pollution. Standards have been set by the Environmental Protection Agency, and regulations have been Issued by the Coast Guard, covering the certification and use of Marine Sanitation Devices. Sanitation systems consist of an installed head (toilet), a waste-treating device (MSD), and/or a holding tank.
As with most Coast Guard Certified equipment, there are different classifications to cover most every marine application.
Sewage System Options
Options for your Boat's Sewage System
| Type/Cost | Inland Lakes and No Discharge Areas* | Rivers, Bays, Sounds, Etc. | Coastal and offshore areas (3 miles or more) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed toilet w/USCG Certified Type I MSD Cost: $1200+ | Not Legal. Type I + II MSD's treat the waste and discharge it overboard. | Legal Option. Reduces bacteria, but not nutrients, in waste before discharging overboard. | Good option for boats < 65'. Not dependent on finding onshore pumpout stations. Treats waste before discharging overboard. |
| Installed toilet w/USCG Certified Type II MSD Cost: $4000+ | Good option for larger boats. Not dependent on onshore pumpout stations. Treats waste more effectively than Type I and discharges is overboard. | ||
| Installed toilet with a USCG Certified Type I or II MSD and a Type III holding tank Cost: $1400-4200 | Offers the most flexibility for use anywhere. Requires more space & more equipment. While in No Discharge Areas or inland, can treat waste and keep in holding tank for onshore pumpout. In coastal areas, can use pumpout if onshore facilities are available or discharge treated waste overboard. While offshore, can treat waste and discharge overboard. | ||
| Installed toilet w/Type III MSD. Cost: $500+ | Good option. Keeps waste out of water. Relies on having adequate onshore pumpout facilities. | Not practical for offshore without "Y" valve as a way to divert waste from holding tank. | |
| Installed toilet w/Type III MSD and "Y" valve Cost: $500+ | Good option. Keeps waste out of water. Relies on having adequate onshore pumpout facilities. While offshore, "Y" valve can be open to legally discharge directly overboard (3 miles or more offshore--oceans only). While not offshore, "Y" valve must be closed. | ||
| Portable toilet Cost: $70+ | Good option. Keeps waste out of water. Can use available onshore dump stations or dump in onshore toilet. | Need more capacity to be a practical option. | *States with lakes capable of interstate navigation may allow the use of Type I or II's. |
Pumpout Services
This national symbol is used to show boaters where onshore pumpout services are located. You’ll need to know this symbol if you use a portable toilet or Type III MSD (holding tank) on your boat.
Federal law says that untreated sewage (even if it's been dosed with a deodorant product) can NOT be discharged in inland or coastal waters. This means the sewage from a portable toilet or a Type III holding tank can not be discharged unless you are in the ocean more than 3 miles offshore.
Federal law also states that if you have a holding tank with a "Y" valve allowing direct overboard discharge of untreated waste, it must be secured in the closed position while operating in all inland and coastal waters. Using a non-releasable wire tie, padlock, or removing the valve handle is considered adequate securing of the device.
Operating in a federally designated “No Discharge Area” further restricts what sewage you can discharge overboard. In these areas, there is no treated sewage discharge allowed from boats. That means if you have a Type I or II MSD, you are not allowed to discharge it while in those waters. There is a trend towards more local waters being designated as No Discharge Areas, so if you rely on using your Type I or II MSD, check a cruising guide before venturing into new waters.
Grey Water
Grey water is the water discharging from your sink and shower, while black water is the sewage/water discharging from a toilet. In the United States, there are no federal requirements for the containment of grey water. However, in Canada, and in some inland lakes, there may be additional restrictions. Please check your local cruising guide or with your local state boating agency for more details.
| Equipment on Boat | Legal? | Restrictions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Installed toilet without MSD | No | None | |
| Installed toilet with macerator | No | USCG regulations require that all installed toilets have an attached MSD. Macerator does not count. | |
| Installed toilet with Type I MSD* | Yes (But not ok in No Discharge Areas) | Ok on boats < 65'. Discharge is < 1000 per 100 milliliters of fecal coliform bacteria with no visibly identifiable floating solids. | |
| Installed toilet with Type II MSD** | Yes (But not ok in No Discharge Areas) | Ok on any size boat. found on larger boats because of electricity and space requirements. Discharge is < 200 per 100 milliliters of fecal coliform bacteria with < 150 milligrams of suspended solids per liter. | |
| Installed toilet with Type III MSD** | Yes | Keeps waste out of water by using a holding tank. Discharge at onshore pumpout facility or via "Y" valve while more than 3 miles offshore in the ocean. | |
| Portable toilet | Legal on any boat.* | Does not fall under USCG regulations of MSDs. | |
| No installed toilet | Yes | Remember No Discharge Area rules. | |
| Note: Some states have additional restrictions. | |||
| For example, in Florida, houseboats may only have a Type III MSD or a permanent sewer line to shore. Check on your state's laws. | |||
| ** Must be USCG certified | |||
| * Not legal in the province of Ontario | |||