California Commercial Dive Boat Discharge

[ekoast]

I was on a dive boat this weekend and witnessed someting that collectively turned our stomachs. Without mentioning the operator, I am curious about boating laws in relation to discharging human waste into the ocean from the heads.

To make matters worse, the discharge was directly under the gate where everyone entered the water off the deck. The reason it became obvious was from the toilet paper swirling around in the water after someone used the head.

Part of our trip was in a marine reserve and it just seems so counter intuitive to:

A. Pollute the waters and endanger marine life with human excrement. (although maybe that's why the lobsters are so big)
B. Put the divers [clients] directly into the path of this mess.

I reviewed some Calfiornia Boating regulations, but is speaks mostly to fresh water boating and boats within harbors and marinas.

Is this a legal practice off the coast of California? In the age of protecting the environment, the Green movement and public awareness, I was shocked and disgusted to see this happening.

I'm just curious if this is a legal practice and if so, I will choose to patronize the dive operators that do not freely discharge human waste into the ocean. (unless this is common practice, if so, it's just wrong on so many levels.)

 

[Jim Ernst]

I Don't Know the answer to any of this, But it will be interesting to see the outcome of what someone that knows has to say!!

I know In the Philippines it is comon Practice, But they do not allow Paper to be put in the Discharge!

 

[DennisS]

How far offshore was the boat, what type of MSD did it have.

 

[seaducer]

It is not legal on the East Coast, but more likely than not something that still occurs...

 

[cmburch]

It is not allowed within 3 miles of shore (Clean Water Act). This 3 mile limit applies to all states not just California.

http://www.coastal.ca.gov/ccbn/sewage.html

I have seen sea lions swimming through the toilet paper mess and picking up the poop at the Channel Islands.

Coastal Cities that may be considered deep water dischargers have a large discharge pipe that pumps millions of gallons each day into the ocean and may perform less sewage treatment on their effluent compared to a shallow water discharger such as Sacramento.

 

[ekoast]

It is not allowed within 3 miles of shore (Clean Water Act). This 3 mile limit applies to all states not just California.

Sewage, Clean Boating Program (California Coastal Commission and California. Dept. of Boating and Waterways.

I have seen sea lions swimming through the toilet paper mess and picking up the poop at the Channel Islands.

Coastal Cities that may be considered deep water dischargers have a large discharge pipe that pumps millions of gallons each day into the ocean and may perform less sewage treatment on their effluent compared to a shallow water discharger such as Sacramento.

It was definately more than 3 miles off shore as we were in the channel islands. The practice is unbelievable in relation to providing a service to divers to experience the "pristine" waters of the islands. So not only is the sea life exposed to the mess, a diver's health is jeapordized by swimming through it getting on and off the boat.

It blows me away that California of all states allows this, considering that you can't stick a shovel in the ground without an environmental impact report (EIR).

 

[Mtbr]

That blows!
I was just at the Channel Islands. I hope it was not one the boats I have been on.

 

[cmburch]

A multi-day trip may not have the option of pumping at a dock.

Why could it have not been planned better, so not to dump while divers in water.

Ask the Captain or e-mail a suggestion with the company.

 

[emoreira]

I have experience with the coast of South Brazil.
It's not a matter of regulations, is a matter of respect to fellow divers.
The boat master stated that we can use the toilet for "Number 2" only during journey to/from the dive site. Upon arriving to the dive site, toilet can only be used for "Number 1".
No toilet paper can be used for "Number 1" on the dive site.
On board toilet discharge system triturates and dilutes human waste with lots of sea water.
Human waste is like any animal waste in the nature. If we worry for our waste, we should also be worried for what a sea lion (for example) does in the water after eating.
Remember that any animal produces waste after eating.

 

[Teamcasa]

The Regulation is:

Never discharge untreated sewage within 3 Miles from shore and within the navigable waters of the U.S.

Unless the boat was outside of the 3 mile limit (from any shore, island or otherwise) and/or not in navigable waters, it should not have dumped.

My understanding of navigable waters = harbors, bays, lakes, rivers ect.