Holding Tank? CB31

[NEDBETTY]

Can someone explain what the Holding Tank switch does on 12 v panel?
Thanks

 

[Kaptajnen]

It starts a pump to evacuate the holding tank, but we have never used it. Unlawful to dump within U.S. waters.

 

[Gin]

Ditto Kaptajnen’s answer.

One thing worth adding . . . To discharge using that pump (technically, a macerater, so it both grinds up and pumps), you first must open a valve in the line near the discharge point. On my RT 31s, the valve is behind a panel at the foot of the mid-berth (more or less under the passenger seat). The valve handle is likely fixed in the closed position by a large zip tie or wired securely. It is deliberately inconvenient to get to and open. So much so that, on each of my coast guard aux safety inspections, the inspectors have taken my word for where it is and the fact that it is closed and secured without them feeling a need to inspect it (if they did, they would find it ship shape). It is worth checking out, just so that you know what a coast guard inspection would discover, if you ever have an inspector who wants to see it.

Gini

 

[FlyMeAway]

That's a painfully inconvenient location for cruising north of the border!

And for those wondering: I'm very pro-environment and never discharge in US waters, but in Canada there is literally no benefit to getting a pump out: Victoria's sewage, and much of the sewage from Van Isle and the Gulf Islands, is discharged raw into the strait / other waters (although supposedly with Victoria that is changing later this year), so pump-outs have no benefit beyond just discharging yourself unless you need to discharge in the middle of the harbor...

 

[Grey25]

Your attitude is as shameful as is your ignorance!
When I was working and travelling around the world we were expected to obey the laws of the country we were in, whether we agreed with them or not.
Shame on you for saying it is okay for me to dump in a foreign country. I'll just do what I want. I'm above the law.
If you were as pro-environmental as you claim then you should be setting an example and understand that every bit makes a difference to the environment, instead of encouraging mass dumping. You probably claim that some of your best friends are environmentalists.
Learn the facts;
Greater Victoria is the last coastal region in Canada to stop dumping raw sewage into the ocean.

The plant and supporting infrastructure has been under construction for the past four years. The Canadian government has mandated that all sewage in the country be treated by end of 2020.

Again shame on you

 

[Wildcats]

Good job British Columbia. Glad to hear about the mandate that will be in effect by the end of the year. I think all of us could agree that our black water is best dealt with by running it through a municipal sewerage treatment plant rather than dumping it overboard. After all, these waters are the ones we boat in, fish in, swim in, and catch shrimp in.

 

[FlyMeAway]

Your attitude is as shameful as is your ignorance!
When I was working and travelling around the world we were expected to obey the laws of the country we were in, whether we agreed with them or not.
Shame on you for saying it is okay for me to dump in a foreign country. I'll just do what I want. I'm above the law.
If you were as pro-environmental as you claim then you should be setting an example and understand that every bit makes a difference to the environment, instead of encouraging mass dumping. You probably claim that some of your best friends are environmentalists.
Learn the facts;
Greater Victoria is the last coastal region in Canada to stop dumping raw sewage into the ocean.

The plant and supporting infrastructure has been under construction for the past four years. The Canadian government has mandated that all sewage in the country be treated by end of 2020.

Again shame on you

Where's the shame on me? I think you totally misunderstood my post.

I have always complied with local environmental laws. In BC, we were *told* for years by the BC authorities to dump in the strait rather than using marina pump-outs, because the pump-outs had higher environmental risk and cost than if you were going out to sea. I even got *yelled* at for pumping out in Ganges when the marina operator knew I was headed across the strait later that day ("don't leave your sewage here, leave it in the strait!"). Same thing in Victoria Harbor; they used to tell you when checking in at the marina office that they preferred you not to pump out and to dump when leaving.

I didn't know the extent of changes to recent environmental rules, just that they have been delayed so many times -- the change (and associated sewage treatment facilities). We've been hearing since 2012 that the changes were coming, the changes were coming -- are they finally going to be here?

Again, until the sewage treatment plant comes online, if you're leaving coastal Victoria, the *reason* you dump in the strait is that it is *MORE* environmentally friendly than pumping out in the marina. Sewage pumped in the marina in Victoria travels through overland pipes (with risks of leaks) and gets concentrated at the outlets where it gets dumped. Sewage from your holding tank gets naturally dispersed.

Of course, the best thing is to wait until you're back in the US where pump out sewage is properly treated. But if I'm going from Victoria Harbor up to Sydney and don't want to clear customs, what are the options?

 

[shawnpb]

I'm second owner of my R25 and I have a Holding Tank Pump and a Macerator Pump on my DC panel. I understand that a Macerator can chop up waste so I'm assuming both work in tandem; run the macerator pump then the Holding tank pump all while making sure the "Y" valve is in the correct position?? If that's the case I wont be utilizing either since I'll pump out at a dock station. I'm just looking for clarification on how to use both pumps, the macerator and the holding tank pumps. Thanks
11

 

[Bruce Moore]

The macerator is only used when you pump empty overboard. It's not used when vacuum pumping the tank. Local regulations apply.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[shawnpb]

The macerator is only used when you pump empty overboard. It's not used when vacuum pumping the tank. Local regulations apply.

Cheers,

Bruce

Thanks for the response, but what is the Holding Tank pump for?

 

[Chimo]

Good job British Columbia. Glad to hear about the mandate that will be in effect by the end of the year. I think all of us could agree that our black water is best dealt with by running it through a municipal sewerage treatment plant rather than dumping it overboard. After all, these waters are the ones we boat in, fish in, swim in, and catch shrimp in.

You are absolutely correct.

With regard to Victoria's discharge, it is true that discharge at present is only primary. That should be fixed shortly as discussed, hopefully by the end of this month if commissioning and testing is complete. See: https://www.crd.bc.ca/project/wastewate ... nt-project It will be then as good as it can be anywhere.

I hope it was some time since anyone was "yelled at" for pumping out at a marina. In any case discharge within less than 3 miles of shore would be illegal. https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transpor ... ety/sewage