The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is reminding boaters that they are prohibited from discharging sewage – either treated or untreated – from their vessels into Long Island Sound.
Since all waters of Long Island Sound – both Connecticut and New York – are officially declared a “No Discharge Area,” boaters must use sewage holding tanks and empty them at designated pumpout stations or by calling upon the convenient services of one of the many pumpout vessel programs that are available.
DEEP Commissioner Daniel C. Esty said, “We ask all boaters to honor the requirements of the ‘No Discharge Area’ that has been established in Long Island Sound in order to help improve water quality and the public health. Discharges of sewage from boats can have adverse effects on water quality and impair popular activities such as fishing, shellfishing and swimming.”
Background
All of Long Island Sound is designated a “No Discharge Area” or “No Discharge Zone” (different terms with the same meaning). Connecticut was designated in 2007 and New York in 2011 with the approval of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Within these areas, the discharge of sewage, whether treated or untreated, from boats is prohibited.
Most boaters in Connecticut honor the goal of Connecticut’s Clean Vessel Act Program to “Keep Our Waters Clean” by using sewage holding tanks and emptying them at designated pumpout stations, or by calling upon the convenient services of one of the many available pumpout vessel programs. The prohibition of the discharge of treated boat sewage eliminates confusion and accidental discharge of untreated or poorly treated waste from poorly maintained or non-functional systems. Discharges of sewage from boats can cause localized adverse effects on water quality and significant impairments for popular activities such as fishing, shellfishing and swimming.
Since the beginning of the pumpout program in Connecticut in 1993, DEEP has been educating boaters about the impacts of boat sewage discharge to coastal waters. Boaters are an important partner in keeping Long Island Sound and its rivers and tributaries clean. Using pumpouts is essential and has already resulted in water quality improvements and public health benefits in the Sound by reducing the entry of human pathogens and anthropogenic nutrients into Long Island Sound.
For questions about the pumpout program in Connecticut, please contact Kate Hughes Brown at [email protected]. Locations of pumpout facilities and vessel programs can be found by going to the DEEP website at www.ct.gov/deep and searching “Pumpout Directory.”
