SUMMARY OF THE NEW MARINE SEWAGE REGULATIONS

The following summary is for the purpose of simplifying and summarizing the new
regulations as they apply to BC salt water recreational boaters.
For actual legal text or the regulations one should refer to Canada Shipping Act 2!"
#egulations for the $re%ention of $ollution from Ships and for &angerous Chemicals.
For reference" the following lin' will ta'e you directly to those complete regulations.
http())laws.*ustice.gc.ca)en)S+#,2-,./)
0n the following explanations the paragraph number from the regulations is included in
brac'ets" for reference.
1. TYPES OF VESSELS
The new regulations di%ide %essels into two categories as far as the pleasure boater is
concerned.
These are 1new ship2 and 1existing ship2
A new ship is one that is built after 3ay" 2- 4!!-.!5
An existing ship is one that is built before that date.4!!-.!5
2. DATE TO COMPLY
A new ship shall comply with these regs after 3ay" 2-
An existing ship shall comply with these regs within 6 years after 3ay" 2-" with the
following exception. 4!!-.25
Effective immei!te"# $% &'i( &'!"" i&c'!)*e &e+!*e i$ ! e&i*$!te &e+!*e
!)e!, -$"e&& it i& t')%-*' ! M!)i$e S!$it!ti%$ Device .MSD/ +it' !$ %-t(-t
c%-$t %f "e&& t'!$ 101122 mL
4!!. 4B55
See below for more on 3S&7s" and refer to Annex ! for a list of designated sewage areas
on the west coast.
3. E4UIPMENT
3inimum e8uipment re8uirements(
A ship that has a toilet facility shall ha%e an 3S& or a holding tan'. 4!!9.!5
A ship operating in a designated sewage area that is fitted with an 3S&" must also
be fitted with a holding tan'" unless the 3S& has an output count of !:)!m; or
less. 4!!9.25
A sewage comminuting and disinfecting de%ice" although an 3S&" does not meet the
minimum re8uirements abo%e 4!!9.<5
For details of holding tan' technical re8uiments" refer to 4!2!5 of the regulations.
3arine sanitation de%ices 43S&7s5 can be of the four following categories(
!. A sewage treatment plant 4not realistic for pleasure boat5 4!2:.! 4a55
2. An 3S& with an output count of !:)!m; or less. 4!2:.! 4b55
<. A T=$> !! 3S& as defined by the ?.S.A regulations 4!2:.! 4c55
:. A sewage comminuting and disinfectant system . 4!2:.! 4d55
@ote that this 3S& does not meet minimum e8uipment re8uirements
abo%e.
0. DOCUMENTATION
0f a ship is fitted with a 3S& then it shall carry aboard a certifying certificate 4!2/.!5
5. SEWAGE DISCHARGES
@o sewage discharges can be made with the following exceptions(
! 0f outside a designated sewage area"
the discharge is passed thru an 3S& ha%ing a fecal coliform count less
than 26)!m;. 4!29.! 4a55" or
the discharge is comminuted and disinfected using an 3S&" and the
discharge is at least one nautical mile from shore" or 4!29.!4e54i55"or
the discharge is made at least < nautical miles from shore while the ship is
at its fastest practical speed" or 4!29.!4e54ii55" or
if in waters less than / miles from shore to shore" the discharge is made
while the ship is enroute at a speed of at least : 'nots" or as fast as is
practical" into the deepest waters located farthest from shore during an ebb
tide" or into the deepest fastest mo%ing waters that are the farthest from
shore. This does not apply if a reception facility is a%ailable. 4!29.!4e5
4iii55
2 0f inside a designated sewage area" the discharge is passed thru an 3S&
ha%ing a fecal coliform count less than !:)!m;. 4!29.! 4b55
ANNE6 1
DESGNATED SEWAGE AREAS .7C C%!&t/
! Carrington Bay 4Cortes 0sland5
2 Cortes Bay
< 3anson7s ;anding
: 3ontague Aarbour
6 $ilot Bay 4Babriola 0sland5
/ $rideaux Aa%en
- #oscoe Bay
. Smuggler Co%e
9 S8uirrel Co%e