Just a small point. You can hold -> treat -> discharge, but you can't treat -> hold -> discharge.
I guess I am a bit confused. Treatment, in this context, may mean incineration, chlorination, formaldehyde treatment and I am sure a few others. If formaldehyde, a la the TDX system referred to, the longer the effluent is exposed to the dosage of treatment chemical the better, or at least according to the public health data I can find. So could you help me understand why treating waste, then holding it before discharge with the e coli killing chemical sloshing around in a tank isn't allowed?
Very, very good question. I have never been able to understand that. The Raritan Electro Scan-San treatment system uses high amperage DC current to foster a chemical reaction thereby making acid to kill the germs. That is the way I understand the process anyhow. This leads back to Delfins question.
. WHY?
Here, for your reading pleasure is the core of the marine sanitation prohibition.
PART 159 - MARINE SANITATION DEVICES
Subpart A - General
Sec. 159.1 Purpose.
This part prescribes regulations governing the design and construction of marine sanitation devices and procedures for certifying that marine sanitation devices meet the regulations and the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency promulgated under section 312 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.1322), to eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage from vessels into the waters of the United States, including the territorial seas. Subpart A of this part contains regulations governing the manufacture and operation of vessels equipped with marine sanitation devices.
Sec. 159.3 Definitions.
In this part:
Discharge includes, but is not limited to, any spilling, leaking, pouring, pumping, emitting, emptying, or dumping
One day, about 5 years ago, I looked across the small basin known as Banana River Marina at 100+ manatees sunning, that is about (give or take) 100,000 pounds of warm blooded eating crapping machines and wondered if I should consider flushing my 1/3 full 12 gallon holding tank because of the possible pollution it may cause.
Good point FF.
I guess I am a bit confused. Treatment, in this context, may mean incineration, chlorination, formaldehyde treatment and I am sure a few others. If formaldehyde, a la the TDX system referred to, the longer the effluent is exposed to the dosage of treatment chemical the better, or at least according to the public health data I can find. So could you help me understand why treating waste, then holding it before discharge with the e coli killing chemical sloshing around in a tank isn't allowed?
Could be true, but I was just wondering where this concept was codified into law.As I understand it (and my understanding is often wrong) it is because the treatment systems reduce the amount of bacteria in the waste, but they don't eliminate it. Over time, since there are plenty of nutrients, the bacterial count will increase since a holding tank is a perfect breeding ground for E. coli.
Think of a carton of pasteurized milk. The pasteurization process reduces the bacterial count in the milk, but doesn't eliminate it. Leave that milk carton out on the counter and it will spoil quickly as the bacteria multiply. Leave it in the fridge and it will spoil more slowly, but the bacteria will still proliferate.
Very, very good question. I have never been able to understand that. The Raritan Electro Scan-San treatment system uses high amperage DC current to foster a chemical reaction thereby making acid to kill the germs. That is the way I understand the process anyhow. This leads back to Delfins question.
. WHY?
Sorry to be a bit pedantic, Mule, but small point of order here...the current mentioned above works like that in a salt water chlorinated swimming pool, and produces high levels of chlorine, by splitting the NaCl (salt) into Na & Chlorine, which is highly alkaline, (not acid) and that does the sanitising. However, main point is...it works. Here in Aus one can, I believe, discharge this treated effluent, in most places as long as not in anchorages, enclosed waters like marinas, close to seawater farms, and other declared NDZs.
........... All this means to me is that you have to do your own research and thinking when it comes to figuring out what the "right" thing to do is. Including how to handle Marine sanitation.