Can you discharge sewage in state waters?
It is against federal and state law to discharge untreated sewage anywhere within the three-mile territorial limit (including lakes, rivers, reservoirs or coastal water within three miles offshore) or even treated sewage into any designated No Discharge Zone (33 CFR 140.3 and 33USC 1251 et seq.).
Do boats dump their sewage in the ocean?
U.S. law allows cruise ships to dump raw sewage in the ocean once a ship is more than three miles off U.S. shores. Ships can dump treated sewage anywhere in the ocean except in Alaskan waters, where companies must comply with higher state standards.
Can you discharge black water at sea?
Coastal Waters That said, although a visiting vessel may not have to fit a holding tank, it should respect the Coastal State’s Law and should not discharge black water directly into the sea, where a local boat would be prohibited from discharging its holding tank.
What happens to sewage dumped in ocean?
The sewage dumped into the sea teems with bacteria, heavy metals, pathogens, viruses, pharmaceuticals, and other things that can harm the health of both humans and aquatic life. If released near coasts, untreated sewage can contaminate seafood, kill marine animals, and sicken swimmers.
How are different industries discharge the same waste water?
No two industries are alike as processes and raw materials used are different. In the same type of industry, two different factories at two different places can discharge waste water of different composition. There will be diurnal, daily, and seasonal variations in the quality and quantity of wastewater discharged from an industry.
How are standards issued for waste water discharge?
The standards are issued by EPA on the basis, not of ecotoxicological impact or risk assessment, but on the application of the best available technology each type of source can achieve.
How is the discharge of sewage from a vessel controlled?
Under section 312 of the Clean Water Act, vessel sewage is generally controlled in two ways. The EPA regulates the equipment that treats or holds the sewage (marine sanitation devices) and establishes areas in which the discharge of sewage from vessels is not allowed (no-discharge zones).
How is sewage defined under the Clean Water Act?
“Sewage” is defined under the Clean Water Act as “human body wastes and the waste from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body wastes,” and includes graywater discharges from commercial vessels (as defined at 33 U.S.C. 1322 (a) (10) (10 pp, 170 K, About PDF)) operating on the Great Lakes.