Great Lakes/Canadian Laws vs. Thru-hull grey water

[DaveC426913]

I was under the impression that, not only is there an absolute restriction on pumping grey water overboard, but that if even found with a working thru-hull on your boat, the authorities will make you remove it permanently plug it.

I think this applies at least to inland - and possibly only Canadian - waters.

This implies that my friend - who recently announced that she has punched a new thru-hull so she can do her dishes - has rendered her boat illegal.

True?

[Catigale]

Dave.

That might be the case for boats registered in ON but as a visitor my through Hull have passed inspection with a simple zip tie lockout and a note saying that this outlet shall nit be opened in Canadian waters , date, time

[DaveC426913]

OK, but am I correct that technically, my friend has zero excuse for putting a hole in her hull. Whatever she wants to do with it, it's illegal.

[pleb222]

Here is the law in Ontario. It specifically says discharging running water is fine. It's sewage that can't go overboard.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900343

[Tomfoolery]

Here is the law in Ontario. It specifically says discharging running water is fine. It's sewage that can't go overboard.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900343

4. The owner of a pleasure boat in which a toilet or toilets and storage equipment are installed shall ensure that each toilet and the storage equipment are installed so that,

(a) the toilet and equipment are connected in such a manner that the equipment receives all toilet waste from the toilet;

(b) equipment designed for the storage of human excrement is provided with a deck fitting and such connecting piping as is necessary for the removal of toilet waste by shore-based pumping equipment;

(c) no means of removal of toilet waste is provided other than the means mentioned in clause (b);

I installed a Thetford Porta Potti, but the MSD version with pumpout and vent lines to the deck and hull, respectively. I did that specifically to meet the requirements of Ontario Province so I could sail Lake Ontario near Toronto and other smaller lakes. But that last line is a tad worrisome, as it has the big cap for dumping, and being a Porta Potti, it's removable once the hoses are disconnected. If it's a problem, I'll claim ignorance. Or stupidity. And hope there isn't a giant fine.

[DaveC426913]

Here is the law in Ontario. It specifically says discharging running water is fine. It's sewage that can't go overboard.

https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/900343

Hrm, well that law has more in common with Diefenbaker* than it does with 2021. Not sure I trust it.

*Eisenhower in SI units

[1st Sail]

Regarding item C where does a composting toilet fall under this law?

[svscott]

Regarding item C where does a composting toilet fall under this law?

I sometimes sail into Canadian waters on Lake Erie and never considered this issue. Truth be told, I don't keep the porta potty in the boat because I am the only person that's going to maintain it but in 15 years of sailing, I've never gone #2 on the boat. In a worst case scenario, I keep a 5 gallon bucket and a couple camping doodie bags on board that have gel in the bottom and are designed for this purpose. I usually pee over the side -always downwind! I do occasionally use a Gatorade bottle of the water state is rough. I've learned to not make a tight seal at the bottle opening because it can pressurize and spray mist back at you.

Here's an informative website I found discussing legalities.

https://compostingtoiletscanada.ca/mari ... h%20water).

[pleb222]

Right now, if you have a composting toilet and want to follow the law, you should have a urine diverter going to a tank with a pump out port. I personally don't have one, and never had any trouble with the regulators, we just store the urine and dump in a toilet on shore.

I'm pretty sure if you get pulled, they will not check, and if so, if you explain you have a composting toilet and show them the stored urine, explaining it will go in a toilet on shore, you won't have an issue.

[pleb222]

Also, you won't find a more up to date law on the subject! It is 12 years old, but that's the way Ontario does things! The way we've always done it!

[Starscream]

I do occasionally use a Gatorade bottle of the water state is rough. I've learned to not make a tight seal at the bottle opening because it can pressurize and spray mist back at you.

Hahaha I'm filing this under "Things I Didn't Even Know That I Needed to Know." I hope I remember this detail when I first need to.

[OverEasy]

So there must be a fairly extensive black water pump out infrastructure in Canada given how many nice medium sized trailer able cabin boats there are in Canadian waters that must have toilets on board. Where do they all go for pump out given the considerable distances between full function marinas?

So every marina offers pump out services for free or is it fee based?

How does that work for a 2 to 5 gallon portapotty sized system?

Given the considerable coastlines, even just the freshwater ones, this must be a huge issue.
What about all those vessels at private docks and moorings?
Do they have to have their own pump out systems instead of simply carrying the sealed canister to the fuel dock or home toilet?

What about vessels visiting that are not registered in Canada?
Converting a vessel designed for a removable portapotty to a fixed pump out system is a considerable undertaking.

Not kidding......

[pitchpolehobie]

So there must be a fairly extensive black water pump out infrastructure in Canada given how many nice medium sized trailer able cabin boats there are in Canadian waters that must have toilets on board. Where do they all go for pump out given the considerable distances between full function marinas?

So every marina offers pump out services for free or is it fee based?

How does that work for a 2 to 5 gallon portapotty sized system?

Given the considerable coastlines, even just the freshwater ones, this must be a huge issue.
What about all those vessels at private docks and moorings?
Do they have to have their own pump out systems instead of simply carrying the sealed canister to the fuel dock or home toilet?

What about vessels visiting that are not registered in Canada?
Converting a vessel designed for a removable portapotty to a fixed pump out system is a considerable undertaking.

Not kidding......

I expect a lot of bow pulpits function as an open air head.

[Tomfoolery]

What about vessels visiting that are not registered in Canada?
Converting a vessel designed for a removable portapotty to a fixed pump out system is a considerable undertaking.

Not kidding......

See my post above. MSD versions of Porta Potties: Dometic 965 MSD, and Thetford 550P MSD (Amazon links aren't showing up, but you can get them by hitting the 'quote' button).





The Thetford doesn't show the fittings in the back, but they both have 1-1/2" ports for the pump-out hose and a 5/8" port for the vent. I have the Dometic, which was a drop-in replacement for the original (but shot) unit, and all I had to add was a standard pump-out deck fitting and a vent in the side. Hoses I already had.

[OverEasy]

Hi Pitchpolephobie and Tomfoolery

The breezy images that come to mind doubled us over! The barebum water wash aspect on a choppy day provided a good case of the giggles .

We’ll take a look at the two portapotty units you pointed us to... it may be that the unit we have is one of those which would be a good starting point for when we get to that portion of our travel plans. (If not, it might be possible to adapt our current one.)

It still seems odd that the Canadians just don’t require sewage effluent sea cocked to be locked off for those vessels capable of dumping when in restricted waters and allow on-shore carry and proper septic disposal with portapotties. Seem someone had an interest in the makeabuckmarine sewersuckingbusiness.

The intent should be to keep effluent out of the water not artificially restrict an known common valid means of accomplishing that objective.

But if those be the rules, those be the rules.