I think this is a much needed forum. Thanks for putting it together. As the sanitation laws get tougher perhaps much need information and clarification will be available from an expert in subject. As a first question- is there a good source of custom tanks or tanks made to fit inland water type houseboats. I am rebuilding a houseboat and there was not a holding tank installed when it was built. I think we'll find that just about every different houseboat manufacturer around (past and present) will have a different tank shape requirement. I have been given the name of Ronco Plastics I have contacted them and they seem hesitant to build one tank to fit the only place I can locate one. Is this going to be the way it is - if a manufacturer can't build a thousand then they will build none?? There are a world of houseboats to be refitted and it is only a short matter of time before all are forced to have holding tanks. I support holding tanks and when I owned a marina I required any houseboat/liveaboard to have holding tanks (I pumped out for free). Anyway I look forward to discussions in this forum

Several issue here...

Marine sanitation laws: They're not becoming tougher...there's been no change in the federal laws since the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Act ("Clean Water Act") of 1977. Except for non-navigable inland lakes, there are very few "no discharge" waters...Type I and II MSDs (CG Certified devices that treat waste to a prescribed legal standard and discharge it) are legal on most coastal waters and inland rivers, and are a FAR more ecologically sound way to deal with waste than holding tanks. There's a bill pending in Congress (HR 3673) that would change the federal standard for Type I and II discharge for the first time since the laws were enacted and allow vessels equipped with Type I or II MSDs to use them in lieu of holding tanks in all coastal and tidal waters, including those designated "no discharge." Unfortunately, vessels on "no discharge" inland waters will still have to use holding tanks, though.

Holding tanks: 99% of plastic holding tanks mfrd using a process called rotational molding...a process in which the material is put into a mold where it's heated and melted. To build a custom tank requires making a custom mold, which is quite expensive. Ronco makes rotomolded tanks. They'll make a custom for you, but they'll also have to charge you to make the mold for it.

Tank location: During the 15 years that I was in the marine sanitation business in Atlanta, we retrofitted at least 1,000 houseboats--more than half of which were old "step down" models--with holding tanks...99% of 'em were Ronco tanks. You may THINK there's only one place to put a tank, but I can think of at least three possible choices, depending upon the configuration of your boat. If you'd like to get with me privately, I'll be glad to help you find one that 40-70 gallon (depending upon the size of your boat and your needs) Ronco tank will fit...and even help you work out how to plumb it correctly.

My experience is in the Tennessee area. Tennesse has become much more assertive in their handling of waste on it's lakes. I agree there has been no legislation at the federal levels that would toughen the current law. Any state can "regulate" to a more stringent standard. Tennessee via the Wildlife Resource Agency (TWRA) has become more involved with waste discharge on it's lakes. Lakes under the Corps of Engineers control in Tennessee are supervised by the TWRA. My last understanding with the TWRA is that any lake which is not served by a flowing ?? volume of water must have boats equipped with holding tanks, no discharge of sewerage is permitted. I've been told that lakes like Cordell Hull ( on the Cumberland can be discharged into whereas lakes like Center Hill cannot. It would appear that holding tank makes everyone happy in the regulating agencies. I have a small 34 ft Nautaline. The original water tank was in the aft cabin area under the floor between the keel and 1st starboard stringer. It would seem that the best place to put a holding tank is opposite this so as maintain balance of the boat. There is no area forward to put a tank and any area in the closet/pantry would be too far from center and create an imbalance in a boat this small. If you'd post a number where you can be reached I would be happy to give you a call and discuss solutions you may have used in the past. Thanks so much for your advice.

The Cumberland River has very few pumpouts, they would not let my old marina Anchor High hook onto the sewer, the federal bill Peggie was talking about will probably get back to its original form in the future as it did apply to all waterways. The holding tank thing is really a joke as it says anything that will hold sewage, a bucket would comply with the law. I told them in the 70s that there was no way to keep people from dumping at night or any other time as they will do it while underway. I hope after the election tomorrow we may get a break, and get things moving the boaters way.

"Any state can "regulate" to a more stringent standard."

Actually, not. The only thing a state can do is opt--or not--to enforce federal law. Federal law made all NON-NAVIGABLE inland lakes "no discharge from the get-go...it just took TN a while to decide to enforce it. Whether any lake is under the jurisdiction of the TVA, the Corps, or whoever is immaterial...the state determines which agency will be charged with enforcing the law. In GA, it's the DNR...in TN, it's TWRA...in AR, it's the Health Dept (which has created some VERY interesting problems because state laws and marine sanitation laws define "sewage" differently).

Only the feds--namely the EPA--can change the status of any body of water from "Type I and II legal" to "no discharge" only....no state, county or municipality can do it on their own. However, in navigable waters, the EPA will "rubber stamp" any application that claims there are sufficient pumpout facilities for the boat population without verifying whether it's true or not....so, on navigable rivers, almost all impoundments that are municipal water reservoirs have been designated "no discharge." However, the good news is, you CAN lock through all of those back into "Type I, II legal" waters.

"the federal bill Peggie was talking about will probably get back to its original form in the future as it did apply to all waterways."

We can only hope so, Pirate...but don't count on it. Although every municipal sewage treatment plant can discharge TREATED waste into inland lakes and rivers without ANY negative environmental impact whatever, the enviro-nazis go nuclear at the mere suggestion that boats should be allowed to use treatment devices, even though the discharge from a Type I or II is cleaner than that from any sewage treatment plant.

Joe, I got your private e-mail...I'll reply with a phone number. Talking is a LOT easier than typing.

I have recently started the re-building of a 34' Nautaline and have also been wondering how to solve the waste disposal problems here in the Connecticut River.

The boat had been severly stripped out buy the prior owner, but a holding tank was still in place with connections to nothing. It may be the original factory tank because of it's odd shape that neatly fits between the keel and the stringers.

Peg, it would be helpful to read your ideas for the alternate locations for holding tanks that you mentioned to the other poster. Also, I would be interested in your opinion of the Sea-Land Vacuflush product.

Under the cabin sole on the keel is a fine place for a water tank, but not for a holding tank, because the vent line has to be too long to keep the contents aerobic, which is necessary to prevent odor out the vent. For a detailed explanation, read the "Odor Control" section of the article at http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/phall.htm


There may also be another problem with keep that tank if it's _meta_l: urine is so corrosive that it will typically eat through a weld at a seam or a fitting within 2-5 years...and eventually will turn the bottom into a collander. I've yet to see a _meta_l holding tank last more than 10 years once it actually starts being used. Otoh, a good quality thick-walled (at least 3/8" for 40 gal or more) plastic tank will last for decades...as long as the boat lasts.

The best place for a waste holding tank on an old "step down" houseboat is under a bed, a bunk, or a settee that's within 6-8' of the toilet. Ronco has a 55 gallon tank that's only 11" high, which fits perfectly under most bunks. You may lose some drawer storage space, but that puts the tank close to the hull where the vent line (which, btw, should be at least 1" instead of the "standard" 5/8"...1.5" is even better) can be short, straight and horizontal, the head discharge hose going into the tank can be relatively short, and the pumpout line can be short AND mostly vertical.

Your boat is the same make/size as Joe's, with the head in the same location...and he's also doing some major refit. He and I spend the better part of an hour on the phone...I suggest you get with him to discuss how he's building out his boat and where we decided would be the best place for tanks.