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§
sewagi
Our coastal resources are a national treasure, providing recre-
ation, income and beauty. We all know that the health of our
coastal waters is constantly threatened by pollution from indus-
try, agriculture, and urbanization.
you
can put the same
into the water as
sewage from -one
of bacterial poSlution
a
impacts of improper vessel sewage discharge increase in high traffic areas.
f^thi)geris;;found[iw "untreated sewage^ cainVca;use extreme --
/.illness, and .eyemdeath. jwheri; ingested:'by humans./ :
Untreated vessel: sewage dischatge is capable of suffocating
$nj'm'afe.a'hd-pla^
coral .reef commu.nities arid;shellfish: beds are particularly sensi-
tive totherJmpactsfrom:Untreated;sewage, : ..- ,: , '
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Improper discharge can cause illness
of income to others!
Over 33,000 square miles (24 million acres) of U.S.
coastal and estuarme waters are classified as shellfish
(clam, mussel, and oyster) growing waters. Annual
commercial
harvests
yield about
77 million
pounds of
shellfish,
worth an
estimated
200 million
dollars.
'Shellfish
often
-accumulate
contaminants,
from the
environment^
Eating
contami-
nated shell-
fish, espe-
cially when ra^ or partially o
. health risk to J|
humans *|f
Since the earIO920%
been monitoringJhe nabsnjs s
Fewer shellfish bed closures result in safer and
more abundant harvests for consumers.
poses-considerabie
-Services; has
lor bacterial
L V*
shellfish due fd^poor wat^r qualify Untreated sewage
discharge from floats was-found |o account for approxi-
mately 13% of|hose restrictions. *
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can
resources on
Vessel sewage discharges increase bioerosion of coral reeds
making them susceptible to collapse.
Cora! reefs are one of the most spectacular and diverse
ecosystems on earth. U.S. coral reef communities can be
found in the Florida Keys, the Southern Atlantic, the Gulf of
Mexico,
the
Carib-
bean, and.
the
Western .
Pacific. V
Cora! reef-
tourism
provides
significant
income to
Florida,
Hawaii, . ^
and the U*.S. Virgin isands. Home to over 1 million species,
coral reefs also support valuable commercial and recre-
ational fisheries.
Coral reefs-protect nearby coastal areas by reducing shore-
line erosion arid providing storm protection by acting as
natural stoitn surge barriers. They are also believed to be
important ^untapped sources ;of medicines and
bjomedicals.; Coral reefs are extremely sensitive to sewage
discharge and often1 act as indicators that the.ocean waters
in which they: live are -polluted; Unlike shellfish beds,
-,-howeve^.-0nee they.are;gone, they, are .gone- forever....
Sadly, it is Estimated that .10% of all coral, reefs worldwide
have been damaged beyond repair, and another 30% are in
critical condition and likely to die within 10-20 years. The;
impact fromJsewage plays a role in the decline of,coral ;
reefs. * ;.' . ' ';-Vl; '
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Federal State Agencies Doing Their Part!
The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 was established to
protect and restore our natural aquatic resources. Section
312 of the CWA mandates the use of marine sanitation
devices (MSDs) on all vessels equipped with installed toilets.
There are three type of MSDs. Type i and Type II MSDs (for
vessels less than 65 feet and those equal to or greater than 65
feet, respectively) disinfect and treat sewage to reduce bacte-
ria and solids. Treated sewage from Type I and Type II MSDs
may be discharged at any location except within designated
no-discharge zones (NDZs). Type ill MSDs are holding tanks.
that provide minimal sewage treatment and can be installed
on vessels of any size. Therefore,,It is illegal to discharge the:
contents of Type III MSDs in any U.S. territorial waters
(within 3 nautical miles of shore). Type III MSDs can only
be emptied at designated on-shore pumpout and dump
facilities or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore.
* t
f >
With the approval of EPA, States can designate a portion or
all of their waters as NDZs, making .all vessel sewage dis-
charges illegal. States often establish NDZs if they can
demonstrate to EPA that safe and adequate pumpout and
dump facilities are available. . :
NDZ designations are also issued as EPA regulations follow- ;
ing State applications to EPA for NDZs:
« if prohibiting vessel sewage discharge is needed
to protect environmentaly sensitive areas such as
shellfish beds, coral reefs, and/or fish spawning
areas
© if the water body is a.drinking water source.
To initiate the NDZ process, an interested party, group, or
local government can discuss its concerns with the appropri-
ate State agency that addresses vessel sewage discharges.
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Know the Law (http:/wwWoepa.gov.owow/
oceans/regs/vsdmsdl.html)
Know what type of marine sanitation device
'(MSD) is installed on your boat.
Use
Use pumpout facilities. Look for
symbol.
Do not discharge waste from any type of MSD
In a designated no-discharge zone (NDZ). . - .
-.*'. Report vessel'.sewage discharge violations to;
the local Coast Guard.
' Encourage marina owners and operators to pro-
vide clean and safe onshore restrooms and t
Support your local estuary program (hftp://
www.epa.gov/owow/estuarles/nep=htmt)o
Did You Know that there is a National Estuary
Program that assists in addressing the impact
';of se'wage on'.-ihe.- aquatic environment? ' .'..,,;.'.'
The/National Estuary Program (NEP), established in
1987 under the Clean Water Act, is a collection of18
community-bassed paratnerships taking responsibility
: for managing their estuaries, the NEPs have played a
significant role in establishing.NDZs, increasing
awareness:about clean boating, and establishing
pumpout and dump facilities. For example:
; « San Francisco 'Estuary Program assisted in the-
a a .** ___'.
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