GL: OVERBOARD DISCHARGE OF BLACK WATER

[John & Judy Gill]

OVERBOARD DISCHARGE OF BLACK WATER

It seems that every year there is much discussion about the
requirement to dismantle the overboard discharge capability of
vessels traveling into Lake Champlain, Canadian waters, the Great
Lakes, Chicago and many other waters.

My family had a cottage in the Georgian Bay, near Sans Souci, Ontario
for many years.  Our drinking water was taken directly out of the bay
in front of our cottage, with only a 2 inch plastic hose running
about 75 feet from the shore and with a check valve on the end (we
did have a screen cage at the end to keep the seaweed out of the
check valve).  Water was pumped into a pressure tank and from there
it went up to the cottage.  There was only a sediment filter to take
out any sand, but there was no need for an expensive purification
system, reverse osmosis or chemical treatment.  This is also true in
the North Channel of Lake Huron where we boated this past Summer.

Our water supply was exactly the same as everyone else's and today
the systems remain the same.  So you can see why local residents are
sensitive about boaters who think it is their right to dump their raw
sewage into the lakes, rivers, and bays where they swim and take
their water for drinking, cooking and bathing.

For those who have an Electrasan system, study up a bit on how they
work.  Not properly maintained they are worse than useless because
you are discharging raw sewage and dont even know it!

We now keep our boat on the Sassafras river on the Chesapeake Bay.
We are proud to be in a clean and green marina, but even so, we
sometimes have to put up with sewage drifting by our boat with the
changing tide.  Not because there are not enough pump out stations
(we even have mobile dock side pump out service available for a
nominal fee), but because they are inconsiderate slobs who simply
dont care about others or the environment, and/or are too cheap to
do what is right!  We would hope that those who make the commitment
to go on the Americas Great Loop Cruise or other long range cruise
would also commit to the cost of pumping out their holding tanks once
or twice a week!

Were not tree huggers, just responsible mariners.  Unfortunately if
you give some people the means to cheat they will do just that to
save a few bucks.

John and Judy Gill
Two Js V
AGLCA Loopers