Gray Water?

[WanderingStar]

How do you deal with it? More harbors are becoming "no discharge zones". Originally my boat was plumbed to drain the galley sink right overboard and pump the shower over. I cut the shower line so it drains into the bilge (plenty of room there). I'm reluctant to do the same with the galley sink for fear the water will contain food particles that rot and stink. In spite of the deep bilge, it would be hard to add tanks around existing structure and systems. I do have room by the engine for a 5 gallon can to hold galley water. How do you deal with it? Am I too worried about no discharge?

[SlowButSteady]

"No Discharge" refers to MSDs only, so far as I know. Grey water, engine cooling water, wash-down water, et cetera, are except (so long as no visible oil sheen is left on the water).

[WanderingStar]

Thanks SBS. I thought I'd read of somewhere (Cuttyhunk?) checking for gray water tanks.

[Minnewaska]

Nantucket harbor forbids discharge of gray water. Otherwise, it's uncommon the forbid discharge of other than black water....... So far.

This is a current EPA initiative to disallow gray water too.

[mitiempo]

Shower water in the bilge can turn into a bit of a science project but not as bad as the galley sink drain. As long as there is not a law against grey water discharge I would drain it overboard. If (when) there is a law against grey water discharge in harbors the proper way is a tank that can be pumped out when out of harbor.

[celenoglu]

Grey water is more harmful to marine environment than black. Try to fit a holding tank for your grey water. Also try to discharge it to land facilities if possible.

[Omatako]

Originally Posted by celenoglu

Grey water is more harmful to marine environment than black. Try to fit a holding tank for your grey water. Also try to discharge it to land facilities if possible.

Geez, that's enough to make several million yachtsmen nervous.

I can't recall ever seeing a boat with gray water tanks. I suppose they exist.

[SlowButSteady]

Originally Posted by celenoglu

Grey water is more harmful to marine environment than black...

How so? As long as one uses bio-degradable (phosphate-free) soap, grey water is pretty innocuous, environmentally speaking.

[Minnewaska]

Originally Posted by celenoglu

Grey water is more harmful to marine environment than black. Try to fit a holding tank for your grey water. Also try to discharge it to land facilities if possible.

That's is far too general a statement to be serious. If you had chemicals in your gray water, perhaps. If I rinse a vegetable in my galley sink, that discharge is not more harmful.

I understand that some bio-D soaps are not a bio-D as advertised, but I strongly believe that most boaters would use the best stuff if educated. The environment can manage the rinse water i use after swimming, as easily as it can having me swim in the first place. It is naturally full of marine life waste, half eaten carcasses and decaying matter already. Holding gray water is unnecessary in most locations. There may be some still water exceptions.

[kd3pc]

Originally Posted by celenoglu

Grey water is more harmful to marine environment than black. Try to fit a holding tank for your grey water. Also try to discharge it to land facilities if possible.

Please enlighten us...especially how discharging it to a shore based system is going to make it any better.

The facts don't support your statement on either count.