--—United States ~1_ ,„- _.:.--
Environmental Protection
Agency ,
Off ice.of Water ~
(45Q3F) ...
Nojnpoint Pointers
.-•-•' - •'•' - =/-
EPA-841-,F-96i004l :'; ~~
March 1996
Understanding and managing nonpoint source pollution in your comrnuhity
ManagingNonpoint
Source Pgliutipn from
Boat! rig and Marinas
.-Millions of people regularly enjoy recreational beating and more than
10,000 marinas dot the coastline and waterfrpht property of North America.
The growing niirriber of recreational boaters 'and;manna Managers rnust ~
take special care -to limit water pollution. '•,-.-,'-•' -• ^\
- * J ;.-_--, " *• ~ , . ' --•>•' . :v. -" , - '-— -~^_ ,. •,
Individual boats~and marinas,usually relgase only small amounts of
pollujants. Yet, when multiplied by thousands of boaters and'marinas, they
can cause distinct water quality problems in lakes, rivers, and coastal
waters. The UTS. Environmerita&rotectibn Agency hasidentified.the follow-
..- ing potential environmental impacts from boating and marinas: high-
toxicity in the water; increased"poHutant concentrations in aquatic
" . >•• "- ..- • . i -• " organisms and sediments; higher
-'-•'-— erosion rates; more nutrients,
series
of fact sheets
on jionppjnt j ^
source (NPS) pollution
Carefully fueling boat engines,
-- recycling used oil, and
- discarding worn motor parts „
.-• into proper receptacles canpre^
venLneedless petroleum spills.
- leading to an increase in algae and
a decrease iri oxygen (eutrophica-
tioin); and high levels of patiho-
geris:,In addition, construction at
marinas can destroy sensitive
ecosystems and bQttprn-dwelling
__";.'. . _; -'..'."_ aquaticcommunitiesf:
Water pollution from boating and marinas is Gauged by poorly flushed
waterways, boat maintenance, discharge of sewage from boats, storm yirater
runoff from marina parking lots, and the physical alteration of shoreline^
wetlands,"and aquatic habitat during the construction and operation 6t * _
marinas. " -— ~^ .^'- , ' / "" - ; ">"
, __ ' . - .~" • . —"- V . --"": " ' - *-' — •-- •~%vv
Proper marina planning and an informed 'boating public will limit
pollution from these sources, promote long-term econpmic benefits and
environmental health,; and help recreational boating to remain a healfliyr
"fun-filled experience. Clean boats/clean boating habits^ and clean marinas
benefit the entire boating community as well as aquaticTife.
"•"- '.'" • . ,.. " _.- ..._:_;" .; .". ^'_-':- ^ "-^ '" . ,.-~'-^ .''^ ,'•.'' ;rS~"* ;
Managing Boat Operation and Maintenance/ : -;J ;
A significant amount of solvent paint, oil/and other pollutants can seep —
info the ground water or bg-washed directly into surface water. ThFchemi-
cals and metals in antirfoulirig paint can limit bottom growth!'Manyiboat
cleaners contain cnlorine, ammonia, aiid phosphates — substances that can
-... ', „ •-:.. .,••'•- -' - -•.--••• * . - '-. /_ , ;., *,. '- -.
Did you know
that the Clean
Vessel Act
to build sewage
pumpout facilities
at marinas?
NPS pollution occurs when
water runs over--land"or through
the ground, picks up pollutants^
and deposits them ir> surface,,
waters or introduces; them into
ground water. ; -
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RELATED PUBLICATIONS
• Additional fact sheets in the
Nonpoint Pointers series
(EPA-841-F-96-004)
* Guidance Specifying
Management Measures for
Sources of Nonpoint Pollu-
tion in Coastal Waters,
Chapter 5 (EPA-840-B-92-
002)
• The Quality of Our Nation's
Water: 1994 (EPA-841-S-95-
004)
• Water Watch: What Boaters
Can Do To Be Environmen-
tally Friendly, National
Marine Manufacturers
Association, Washington,
DC
To order any of the above EPA '
documents call or fax the
National Center for Environmen-
tal Publications and Information,
-Tel (513)489-8190
Fax (513)489-8695
..FORMQRE IM,FOJMATION_
-iSSi'SiliSrganlzationfor'_'"
Boating Access/WashinglEon; DC
Tel: (202) 944-4987
Association, Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 944-4985
Sea Grant college or university
in your state
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency
Nonpoint Source Control Branch
Washington DC 20460
Internet Address:
http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/
index.html
harm plankton and fish. Small oil spills from motors and refueling activities
contain petroleum hydrocarbons that attach to waterborne sediments. These
persist in aquatic ecosystems and harm the bottom-dwelling organisms at
the base of die marine food chain. , / .--,-
To reduce pollution from boats and marinas, boaters can use nontoxic
cleaning products. Using a drop cloth, cleaning and maintaining boats away
from the water, and vacuuming up.loose paint chips and paint dust prevent
paint and other chemical substances from entering waters. Carefully fueling
boat engines, recycling used oil, arid discarding worn motor parts into
proper receptacles can prevent needless spills. Draining water out of all
waterlines and tanks during winter eliminates the possibility of burst pipes.
And perhaps most important, keeping boat motors well-tuned prevents fuel
and lubricant leaks,and boost fuel efficiency. These guidelines not only can
keep water dean, but also can keepjsoats running smoothly. '..."•
Managing Boat Sewage and Waste
Often underestimated or ignored by trie public, the discharge of sewage
and waste from boats, can degrade water quality. Improper disposal of
human waste can make water .unsightly and unsuitable for recreation,
destroy shellfishing areas, arid cause severe health problems. Sewage
discharged from boats also-stimulates algae growth, which can reduce the
available oxygen needed by fish and other'organisms. Although fish parts
are biodegradable, when many fish are gutted £nd cleaned in the same area
on the same day, water quality problems can result, including-algae growth.
Boaters should attempt to achieve zero discharge of all sewage into
recreational waters. While on die boat, fecal matter and qjher solid waste^
should be contained in a U.S. Coast Guard-approved marine sanitation
device (MSD). Upon return to shore, portable toilets should be ernptiedTinto
approved shoreside waste handling facilities, and MSDs should be dis^
charged into approved pumpout stations. , -•--
Managing Siting and Design for Marinas
Poorly planned marinas can disrupt natural water circulation and cause
shoreline soil erosion and habitat destruction. To reduce activities that cause
NFS pollution, marinas should be located and designed so that natural
flushing regularly renews marina waters. In/addition, predevelopment:
water quality and habitat assessments should be conducted to protect
ecologically valuable areas. Grass and ground cover planting or, where
necessary/structural stabilization measures can help prevent erosion during
and after marina construction. .Stormwater runoff can be controlled with
pollution prevention strategies and containing hull maintenance areas.
Marina fueling and sewage collection stations should be designed and
- maintained to make cleanup of spills easier. When completed, the final
marina design should deliver the most desirable combination of marina
capacity, services, and access, while minimizing environmental impacts and
onsite development costs. :, / •.
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