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I am sure there are people on our dock with older boats that discharge their toilets directly into the water. I dont want to create any enemies but would like it to stop. any thoughts on how to go about it without becoming the dock a**hole?

I wouldn't recommend going to the marina manager...it could get back to the dock that you were the fink.

I recomend you call the local office of the state agency charged with law enforcement on the water and suggest they conduct a surprise inspection of all the boats on your dock at a time when most owners will be there.

Which agency is something you'll have to find out for yourself...in some states, it the Dept of Natural Resources...some it's Fish and Wildlife...in TN it's the TWRA...

But are you sure they're discharging? And if so, that they haven't installed treatment devices...which are legal unless you're on a "no discharge" lake? And if it's treated waste, it's very sanitary and shouldn't stink. So unless you are on a "no discharge" lake and/or have more to go on than your suspicion that "some people with older boats" are doing anything illegal, you might be better off leaving well enough alone until/unless you have some proof of who's doing it.

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I didnt mean to sound like I am picking on anyone with an old boat, I myself have an old one. No one has ever seen them get pumped, I am 99.99% sure they have a holding tank. A while back they had problem with a valve that leaked while on a short cruise and somehow pumped raw waste into their hull (instead of out of the boat) . I am not the only one that is sure, we just didnt know how to go about making it stop. I guesss I will make some phone calls.

I do not think I would make any phone calls, I believe I would find out the straight scoop and try and handle it locally. When the potty Police show up there are going to be some very unhappy folks out there. The Marina is not going to be happy that there is a rat in the pack and you will be found out. Some States a boat at dock cannot be boarded to check the sanitation system. Which State is this in? I know if you proceed and are found out to be the snitch you could well be asked to leave as well as be shunned by most of the boaters. Marina owners to not take kindly to their slip holders being harassed due to a phone call. I would weigh the consequenses before I dialed. There were some type I MSDS that had holding tanks, the sewage was treated in them and then discharged. Mansfield TDX was one.
pirate38244.8009027778

To give a straight answer to your question. No, forget it.

I'm sure there is more than one on your dock.

I know of no state in which law enforcement cannot board a boat, on the
water or at the dock, provided the owner is aboard. And it's not
unusual for 'em to walk the docks checking every boat on which the
owner is aboard 'cuz it's faster and easier than stopping 'em all on
the water. They don't only check for "potty" violations, but do a
complete safety check that also includes the sanitation system.



As for potential "social" problems...if every boat is checked--none
singled out--there shouldn't be any. Nor should there be any reason for
the law enforcement personnel to explain why they're doing a dock
inspection...it's not at all unusual for a dock to be chosen for a
random inspection...happens all the time--whether at someone's request
or just as the next randomly selected dock, no one ever knows.

In Al. they cannot board a boat at dock unless it is the Coast Guard. It has to be a suspected crime. Al sanitation law does not permit boarding for checking Sanitation devices. In fact they no longer even issue stickers as they do not know a MSD from a watermelon. The former Director of marine Police is now the porta- potti man, he got demoted in the shakeup. There are States that do as Peggie said walk docks. One Marina in Tenn. barred them from the docks so they had to check them going out. I had a war with the Sgt. of Marine Police here in Al. They will not be coming to my place to check anything unless it is a felony offense. We do not have Gestapo types walking the Docks here to see if you owe personal property tax or you have been here over 60 days. Kentucky sent me a bill for personal property tax when I just left my boat there for 45 days. Peggie is right, it is that way some places but not in Al., they have better things to do with their time here. We do not have a personal property tax. I wish to reiterate the fact that people who turn in their fellow boaters in some States will be found out and shunned and possibly asked to move. They, the TVA asked me to check boats etc. I told them I was not boarding boats to check anything, I make the law on all watercraft known, sanitation included and that is as far as I am going unless there is a flagrant violation. I doubt half the boats in Al. are 100% legal. Most have a type III and I imagine they just dump it as my pump out does not get much use. I do stress type I and II MSD units to be in compliance. I think if you are that concerned you may save yourself a lot of greif especially if they have not been on the docks prior to this by asking the Marina manager what position they take on the sewage thing and if they are aware of any in non compliance. That takes the bear off you. I know I would certainly rather have it that way. I am not going to have people walking my docks looking for some reason to harrass some poor guy. I do not allow any dumping in the Harbor. I also do not allow the Police to walk docks checking stickers for registration of vessels. I think if he is not doing anything to bother you personnaly I would leave it be. All hhe has to do is put a lock on the door and he is in compliance as it cannot be used. There are many ways to get around the sanitation thing. Put a bucket on the deck and that is your device for holding sewage. Boats are not the problem anyway, it is sewage plants malfunctioning and cattle all kinds of things. You can put anything from the human body stright into the water as long as it is not contained first. Good luck with your problem.