RI Law

[Passin Thru]

Rhode Island recently applied to the US Government to make all the coastal waters of Rhode Island a "No Discharge Zone". The ostensible purpose was to prohibit the discharge of sewage by boats into the state's waters. However, discharge of raw sewage into the state waters was already illegal. What the "No Discharge Zone" actually did was make it illegal to discharge TREATED sewage from a boat into state waters. What now happens is that boats (whose treatment systems far outperform municipal sewage treatment plants) are now required to disable their sewage treatment systems, and carry their sewage to a shore-based facility, which then dumps the partially treated sewage back into Rhode Island's coastal waters.

Just dump it in the creeks in adjoining states I guess.

[Ike]

You're a little behind the times. All Rhode Island waters have been a No Discharge Zone for many years, since 1998. Now New York has designated waters around NYC and into Long Island Sound as no discharge. This includes Parts of Long Island Sound that are Connecticutt waters. So Essentially all coastal waters from Rhode Island to New Jersey are now no discharge. See a list of all no discharge zones in the US by state at http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/vwd/vsdnozone.cfm It won't be long until most coastal waters and most lakes and rivers will be no discharge. So sell or get rid of the MSD and install a holding tank.

[CatBuilder]

Ike nailed this. He's right.

It's time to change the way we deal with our black water systems. Personally, I would suggest a composting head to avoid all those pesky regulations, smelly plumbing and breaking head pumps.

Failing that, a holding tank would suffice.

[hoytedow]

I think these are the way to go. http://ecojohn.com/