Raritan Electroscan

Has anyone ran into problems with the Coast Guard regarding the use of this USCG Type 1 waste treatment system? We use ours extensively and have trusted Raritan's declaration that, with the exceptions of a few marine zones, post treated waste can be dumped in most waters.

Thanks

Request a copy of the regulation and their interpretation regarding your system.

They are not legal in Rhode Island at all.

http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/water/shellfsh/pump/pdfs/nodschrg.pdf

I was under the impression they were not legal anywhere there is a no discharge zone (as dictated by either the State or Federal Government).

https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/marine-sanitation-devices-msds

Are there certain waters where the discharge of treated sewage is prohibited?

Yes. Under the CWA and the implementing regulations, vessels are prohibited from discharging any sewage, whether treated by an MSD or not, into the following types of water bodies:

A water body that has been designated as a no-discharge zone.

https://www.epa.gov/vessels-marinas-and-ports/no-discharge-zones-ndzs-state

The discharge of treated waste from a USCG certified Type I or II (your ElectroScan is a Type I) in all US waters except those specifically designated as No Discharge Zones (NDZ), which only the EPA can establish. You can download a list that the EPA maintains and keeps up to date from here: EPA NDZ list

--Peggie

Agree on not usable within a NDZ so you need to know if you're in an NDZ. We replaced the SanX in our trawler last year to:

1. Comply with the new NDZ regulations in Puget Sound
2. Increase our holding tank capacity (13 gallons to 40 gallons)
3. Replace the aging hoses and remove the decommissioned (failed) SS holding tank.

Our system currently has no discharge capability other than the pump out. We'll likely add a macerator and re-commission the discharge thru-hull circuit as we plan to travel further up the coast where pump outs are far and few between when you're outside of NDZs.

I just noticed your phrase "post treated waste." To be legal the waste must be discharged directly from the treatment device. It is NOT legal to dump a tank into which waste was treated first. Reasons: 1. although the ElectroScan and PuraSan reduce bacteria count to <10/100 mililiter, that's not -0-. Only one of the li'l buggers has to survive to quickly multiply into a zillion in a tank. 2. treatment devices are certified in prototype and every production unit must be an exact match for the test unit. It's impossible know the bacteria count and/or degree of maceration in waste that's been sitting in a tank.


Raritan does have a system they call "hold 'n' treat" that provides a means of using the treatment device to empty a tank. The controls can be retrofitted to work with existing holding tanks and ElectroScans/PuraSans. Raritan HoldnTreat controls If you've been dumping a "post treated" tank thinking it was legal, this may be the solution you need.


--Peggie