Marine sewage in our waters has a devastating impact on water quality. Due to the bacteria from untreated sewage results in;

• Closed public beaches due to high counts of coliform
• Spreading of diseases and bacteria in our water supply
• Creation of "dead zones" in our waters
• Shellfish carrying hepatitis, typhoid, and cholera
• Unsightly and odorous destinations
• Rashes from swimming in high concentrates of bacteria
• Vessel Discharge Regulations from EPA
• Clean Water Act

Chemicals due NOT treat sewage, they don't even assist in the breakdown of organic matter, they only cover the odor. When you add chemicals to your holding tank, then pumping out your sewage to the water, you are putting chemicals and raw sewage into our waterways. There are other options.

Using Your Head to Help Protect Our Aquatic Resources

What are?

In our waters, areas of low oxygen are called Dead Zones. They are usually in coastal area near high concentrations of people. Due to the lack of oxygen, algae forms and the area cannot support marine life. Wikipedia definition.

Google Earth shows Dead Zones in your area. Install Google Earth. Under Ocean/State of the Ocean/Dead Zones

Use Google Maps to view large Dead Zones.

Is a type of E. Coli bacteria indicative of food and water quality. It comes from fecal matter and can cause illness and even death if ingested.

Shellfish and the waters they inhabit are good indicators of the bacteriological health of the marine environment. Coliform in waters indicate the presence of animal or human wastes and of disease-causing organisms. Since Shellfish are filters of a sort, their health can dictate if an area is closed for shellfish harvesting and eating.

What the Clean Water Act means to boaters? Click here.