pump-out free / dry toilet system?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by ijason, Jan 26, 2009.

  1. apex1

    apex1 Guest


    .........and to hefty penalties when you enter European waters!
     
  2. tonyr
    Joined: Oct 2003
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    Location: Gagetown, N.B., Canada

    tonyr Junior Member

    I have had a Sun-Mar composting toilet for the past four seasons. Works fine, because I also have an 84 watt solar panel which lets me run a fan 24/7. The key to the marine "no discharge" unit is to connect it to either 110 or 12 volts, and so let the built in coil heater help to evaporate surplus liquid. I don't cruise for more than 3 nights (typically) and connecting to 100 v at the dock keeps things competantly controlled. Flowing air without using the bottom heat did not work well enough. Regards, Tony.
     
  3. rasorinc
    Joined: Nov 2007
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    Location: OREGON

    rasorinc Senior Member

    Sun-Mar has, I believe, the only US coast guard approved composting toilet. It is also used in motor homes as it is designed for rough water--no spills. I'm going to use it in my power cat. Here is a link http://www.sun-mar.com/prod.html It has a 12 volt power vent. /stan
     
  4. alan white
    Joined: Mar 2007
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    Location: maine

    alan white Senior Member

    I have had the recent pleasure of replacing a section of roof above a Swedish dry septic system. It uses a constant running fan to create a flow of air into the seat so that no oders can be noticed when in its vicinity.
    Unfortunately, on most days the air coming out of it gets wafted down into the yard... and here's the thing: the stink is horrible, much worse than normal methane. Hence the tongue in cheek mention of the pleasant experience on the roof, which was near the vent stack.
    I can't imagine how the stink could be led high enough, unless a pipe was run up the mast (inside the mast would work, since it's a small pipe, but any normal mast would be full of all kinds of ropes and exit holes, and so...?)
     
  5. Guest62110524

    Guest62110524 Previous Member

    no thats why the 2 way whale valves are padlocked
    there are no rules on the french waterways either, disgusting, but I for one do not tip my muck out
     
  6. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    The French still allow to sh.t in their canals? In northern Europe you pay, whether you like it or not, when there is a outlet overboard existing! A padlock makes no difference.
     
  7. Guest62110524

    Guest62110524 Previous Member

    yes they do, but my boats comply with most USA rules, that why did it that way
    so what are the regs in De?
    nobody is fighting paying
     
  8. apex1

    apex1 Guest

    Benelux, DE, Scandinavia (and I was sure all EU but may be wrong), do not permit "a fixed construct to allow discharge overboard even when not in use"

    Regards
    Richard

    I had to edit this: the rule given above applies on commercial vessels only! The yacht may have such construct! But almost all European countries do not allow blackwater discharge, many do not allow greywater too. All the states adjacent to the Baltic sea (incl. Russia) belong to the latter! (Helsinki Convention)
     

  9. Stumble
    Joined: Oct 2008
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    Location: New Orleans

    Stumble Senior Member

    In the US there are two sets of regulations that would apply to this.

    For grey water, there is no Federal regulation preventing the discharge overboard anywhere in territorial waters. Even in Federal No Discharge zones grey water can be pumped dirrectly overboard. HOWEVER there are some states that regulate the discharge of greywater, so you need to confirm the state by state regulations.
    Outside the US, there are currently no regulations I am aware of that restrict the discharge of greywater directly overboard. This includes a survey done of the EU, Asia, South America, and Australia. The only exception to this is the Australian River Murray regiond which does have some restrictions but I couldn't find them.

    For blackwater

    World wide there is a much larger variation on blackwater discharge, spanning the range from no regulations at all to some countries banning the practice within 12 miles of shore. Importantly this is NOT regulated by the EU as a body, but instead each member nation can have its own regulations. Meaning that it is critically important to be aware of the laws of the individual countries you are traveling to.

    In the US there are three designations of sewage tratment systems which may be instaled depending on boat size and documentation status.

    Type 1 Systems are basically a chemical sanitizer with a macerator. For boats under 65' waste processed by a type 1 system can then be discharged inside of the 3 mile limit

    Type 2 Systems are similar to Type 1, but do a better job of it. They also allow direct discharge overboard once trated

    Type 3 are holding tanks and do not require certification if they simply hold the sewage at ambient temprature and pressure.

    Past 3 miles untreated waste can be dicharged unless you are in a no discharge zone.


    With the proliferation of no discharge zones however the best practice these days is probably to have a type 1 or 2 depending on ship size attached downstream of a holding tank. This would allow holding when necessary and discharge when possible. Though if you can easily make a run out to the 3 mile limit to discharge this is also an option.

    Note that composting toilets like the SunMar and others like it are classed as Type 3 units. Meaning that while you may have reduced the smell you still have to dispose of the waste onshore. They either have not applied for or not recieved Type 1 or 2 certification. So while it may be nice that SunMar sought out certification under 33 CFR 159.12(a) there was no need or reason to other than advertizing. Since technically every holding tank ever made has an automatic certification, heck your trashcan meets this requirement, as does a trashbag (I would only recommend plastic for this application though).
     
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