Composting head and Canada regs

[knotflying]

There is a thread running on the AGLCA website with a discussion regarding that the use of compost toilets in Canada is not compliant with discharge rules. Since we will be going up that way shortly does anyone know for sure if this is true and if not is there something written somewhere that I can print out. I have searched and read some of the regs, but they are not very definitive.

Thanks

 

[Sweet_Pea]

You're right...it is like finding a needle in a haystack!

By my read, it appears that porta potties are not allowed (possibly just in inland waters, not entirely clear). Composting toilets would meet the requirements of an approved marine sanitation device. Waste needs to be disposed of at an approved pump-out facility in Desolation Sound.

Here's some info and links that should help you.

Holding Tanks

Pleasure craft in Canada now must comply with Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals regulations. As of May 2012, these regulations require that all boats fitted with toilets be equipped with either a holding tank or a marine sanitation device.

Discharge of untreated sewage is now prohibited in Canadian inland waters and in coastal waters within 3 nautical miles of land. Pleasure craft holding tanks must be emptied at approved pump-out facilities. Treated discharge from Marine Sanitation Devices must meet strict coliform counts.

In coastal waters where pump-out facilities are not available, and where compliance with the prohibition for untreated discharge within 3 nautical miles of land is not feasible, sewage may be discharged while the vessel is en route if certain practices are followed to minimize pollution. Consult the Transport Canada website (see link in the Links box at right) for the full text of regulations.

There are a number of designated sewage areas on the BC coast where discharge is strictly prohibited. These currently include:

Carrington Bay Cortes Island
Cortes Bay Cortes Island
Manson’s Landing & Gorge Harbour Cortes Island
Montague Harbour Galiano Island
Pilot Bay Gabriola Island
Prideaux Haven Desolation Sound
Roscoe Bay West Redonda Island
Smuggler Cove Smuggler Cove Marine Park
Squirrel Cove Cortes Island

http://saltspringsailing.ca/club-cruising/safety-afloat/

Preventing Pollution in our Waterways

The Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous Chemicals address major risks to the health of our waterways and shorelines such as sewage, garbage and hydrocarbons. Sewage contains, among other things, human or animal body waste, drainage and other waste from toilets.

These regulations prohibit the use of freestanding portable toilets. They also require that boats fitted with toilets be equipped with either a holding tank or a marine sanitation device. If your boat was built before May 3, 2007, you must comply with these regulations by May 3, 2012. Boats built on or after May 3, 2007, must comply immediately.


Holding Tanks and Marine Sanitation Devices

Choose a holding tank or a marine sanitation device that works for you. A holding tank is only used to collect and store sewage or sewage sludge and must be emptied at approved pump-out facilities on dry land only. Be sure to follow pumping instructions and avoid using disinfectants, as they may harm the environment.

A marine sanitation device is designed to receive and treat sewage on board. Only sewage treated with a marine sanitation device that meets the standards set out in the regulations may be discharged in inland waters.

When planning your trip, check with local authorities for pump-out facility locations.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafet...-431.htm#respect_and_protect_canada_waterways

Division 3

Marine Pollutants

Marginal note😀ischarge prohibited

82. (1) A person or vessel must not discharge a marine pollutant that is not carried in bulk except in accordance with subsection (2) or in the circumstances set out in section 5 that apply in respect of the discharge.


Marginal note:Authorized discharge

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a leakage of a marine pollutant that is not carried in bulk and is not kept as ships’ stores may be discharged if any of the spillage schedules to The EmS Guide: Emergency Response Procedures for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods, published by the IMO, sets out procedures in respect of the leakage and those procedures are followed.


Marginal note:Jettisoning

(3) A person or vessel must not jettison a marine pollutant that is carried in packaged form unless it is necessary to do so for the purpose of saving lives, securing the safety of a vessel or preventing the immediate loss of a vessel.

Marginal note:Limited application — pleasure craft

(4) This section applies in respect of pleasure craft that are not Canadian vessels only when they are in Canadian waters.

http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-2012-69/page-27.html

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for the research and as you can see it is definitely left up to interpretation. You would think that if they wanted people to comply they would publish a simple summary somewhere. Hopefully we don't wind up in poop prison!

 

[Hydraulicjump]

Would that make you a "fecal felon"?

 

[walldog]

Thanks for the research and as you can see it is definitely left up to interpretation. You would think that if they wanted people to comply they would publish a simple summary somewhere. Hopefully we don't wind up in poop prison!

Unfortunately, it is never OUR interpretation, it is always the LEO's interpretation.

 

[baz]

Mike: Is it possible for you to find a kindred spirit who has already run the gambit across the Canadian boarder into Canada with the same composting toilet to understand if they had difficulties… or better still, find a phone number to call to get some clarification on the rules… and if possible get something in writing for evidence…. just a thought or two. 😉

 

[knotflying]

I have thought of that, but I figured I would go the easy route first and ask if anyone had the pooper scoop. :lol:

 

[ngleadow]

Hi Knotflying;

We installed an Airhead composting toilet in our R25 here on the West Coast of BC. The beauty of the toilet is that there is no discharge. Once a year we empty the dry, odourless compost into a bag and spread it in the little woodland on our property. Urine goes into an attached tank which we can empty into a toilet at a local marina. So no discharge, no holding tank, and no smell...and no problem with discharge regulations.

Cheers

Norm

 

[knotflying]

Thanks, I have been using it here in the States for two years without discharge concerns, but I happened to see a thread on the Looperes site that had concern about the legality of using one in Canada. Since you have been using it without issue I feel a little better. I can't see why it wouldn't be legal, if anything it is a much safer way of dealing with human waste then a potential mistaken discharge from the holding tank.

 

[scrouse]

After reading this thread I dropped a line to a friend of mine who is cruising on Lake Ontario right now to ask him as he's in the process of installing a composting head, his response was;

"As for the marine sanitation rules and regs, they really are that much
of a hodge podge. Basically, as I understand it, a composting head is
regarded the same as a portable toilet (ie, porta-potty), and as long
as it isn't freestanding (ie, it must be permanently affixed to the
floor in the head) then it's acceptable. As I read the reg clips from
that email, and in the other regs I've read, it's the 'freestanding'
part that is the issue. Of course, as it also says in that thread,
it's always up to the LEO's interpretation of the regs. "

Still not a definitive answer but seems to make sense.


Scott