Can untreated sewage be discharged from vessels (with installed toilets) into rivers, lakes, estuaries, or coastal waters?
No, unless the boat is more than 3 miles from shore in coastal waters. Vessels with installed toilets may not discharge treated or untreated sewage into freshwater lakes, freshwater reservoirs, or other freshwater impoundments whose entrance point(s) and exit point(s) are too shallow to allow these vessels to enter or leave. These waters are no-discharge zones for vessel sewage under 40 CFR 140.3(a)(1). That prohibition also includes freshwater lakes bordering two or more states whose entrance point(s) and exit point(s) are too shallow to allow vessels subject to these regulations to enter or leave. Rivers that do not support interstate traffic by vessels subject to this regulation are no-discharge zones under 40 CFR 140.3(a)(1). In contrast, under 40 CFR 140.3(a)(2) the waters where a Coast Guard approved marine sanitation device permitting discharge of sewage is allowed (unless the waters have been designated as a no-discharge zone for vessel sewage) include: coastal waters and estua
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