Sewage Discharge regulations May 2007

The key section for pleasure boats is Holding Tanks section 121.(e) and
Authorized Discharge section 129. (e), (I) (ii) and (iii).
Do not see any mention of sewage record keeping for vessels less than 400
tons. That been said it would be prudent to enter holding tank pump offs and
ocean discharges into log book. In case there is some question about which
boat discharged illegally. Log books are legal documents and can be used in
court. Pasted sections 121 and 129 below
Rod

Vol. 141, No. 10 - May 16, 2007
Registration
SOR/2007-86 May 3, 2007
CANADA SHIPPING ACT
Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships and for Dangerous
Chemicals
P.C. 2007-699 May 3, 2007

Holding Tanks
121. A holding tank shall
(a) be constructed in a manner such that it does not compromise the
integrity of the hull;
(b) be constructed of structurally sound material that prevents the tank
contents from leaking;
(c) be constructed such that the potable water system or other systems
cannot become contaminated;
(d) be resistant to corrosion by sewage;
(e) have an adequate volume for the ship's human-rated capacity on a normal
voyage;
(f) be provided with a discharge connection and piping system for the
removal of the tank contents at a sewage reception facility;
(g) be designed so that the level of sewage in the tank may be determined
without the tank being opened and without contacting or removing any of the
tank contents or be equipped with a device that allows the determination to
be made;
(h) in the case of ships that operate solely on the Great Lakes, other than
a pleasure craft, be equipped with an alarm that indicates when the tank is
75% full by volume; and
(i) be equipped with ventilation device that
(i) has its outlet located on the exterior of the ship and in a safe
location away from ignition sources and areas usually occupied by people,
(ii) prevents the build-up within the tank of pressure that could cause
damage to the tank,
(iii) is designed to minimize clogging by either the contents of the tank or
climatic conditions such as snow or ice,
(iv) is constructed of material that cannot be corroded by sewage, and
(v) has a flame screen of non-corrosive material fitted to the vent outlet.

Authorized Discharge - Sewage
129. (1) The discharge of sewage from a ship is authorized if
(a) in the case of a ship in an area other than a designated sewage area,
the discharge is passed through a marine sanitation device and the effluent
has a fecal coliform count that is equal to or less than 250/100 mL;
(b) in the case of a ship in a designated sewage area, the discharge is
passed through a marine sanitation device and the effluent has a fecal
coliform count that is equal to or less than 14/100 mL;
(c) in the case of a ship in Section I or Section II waters, but not in
inland waters of Canada or a designated sewage area, that is of 400 tons
gross tonnage or more or that is certified to carry more than 15 persons,
(i) the discharge is made at a distance of at least 12 nautical miles from
shore,
(ii) the discharge is made from a holding tank or from facilities for the
temporary storage of sewage and
(A) the discharge is made at a distance of at least 12 nautical miles from
shore,
(B) the ship is en route at a speed of at least 4 knots, and
(C) the sewage is discharged at a moderate rate, or
(iii) the sewage is comminuted and disinfected using a marine sanitation
device and the discharge is made at a distance of at least 3 nautical miles
from shore;
(d) in the case of a Canadian ship in waters seaward of the outermost limits
of Section II waters that is of 400 tons gross tonnage or more or that is
certified to carry more than 15 persons,
(i) the discharge is made at a distance of at least 12 nautical miles from
the nearest land,
(ii) the discharge is made from a holding tank or from facilities for the
temporary storage of sewage and
(A) the discharge is made at a distance of at least 12 nautical miles from
the nearest land,
(B) the ship is en route at a speed of at least 4 knots, and
(C) the sewage is discharged at a moderate rate, or
(iii) the sewage is comminuted and disinfected using a marine sanitation
device and the discharge is made at a distance of at least 3 nautical miles
from the nearest land; or
(e) in the case of a ship in Section I or Section II waters, but not in
inland waters of Canada or a designated sewage area, that is less than 400
tons gross tonnage and is not certified to carry more than 15 persons,
(i) the sewage is comminuted and disinfected using a marine sanitation
device and the discharge is made at a distance of at least 1 nautical mile
from shore,
(ii) the discharge is made at a distance of at least 3 nautical miles from
shore while the ship is en route at the fastest practicable speed, or
(iii) if it is not practicable to comply with subparagraph (ii) because the
ship is located in waters that are less than 6 nautical miles from shore to
shore, the discharge is made while the ship is en route at a speed of at
least 4 knots or, if it is not practicable at that speed, at the fastest
practicable speed
(A) into the deepest waters that are located the farthest from shore during
an ebb tide, or
(B) into the deepest and fastest moving waters that are located the farthest
from shore.
(2) The discharge of sewage authorized in accordance with paragraphs (1)(a)
and (b) and subparagraphs (1)(c)(iii), (d)(iii) and (e)(i) shall not
(a) cause a film or sheen to develop on or cause a discoloration of the
water or its adjoining shorelines;
(b) cause sewage sludge or an emulsion to be deposited beneath the surface
of the water or upon its adjoining shorelines; and
(c) be such that the sewage contains any visible solids.
(3) The discharge of sewage authorized in accordance with subparagraphs
(1)(c)(i) and (ii), (d)(i) and (ii) and (e)(ii) and (iii) shall not cause
visible solids to be deposited upon the shoreline.
(4) In the case of a ship referred to in subparagraph 1(e)(iii), the
discharge is not authorized if a reception facility is available to receive
the sewage.
Subdivision 5
Operational Testing
130. The Board may require testing of effluent from a marine sanitation
device to ensure that the effluent meets the following standards, as
determined by Standard Methods:
(a) in the case of a ship in an area other than a designated sewage area,
the fecal coliform count of the samples of effluent is equal to or less than
250/100 mL;
(b) in the case of a ship in a designated sewage area, the fecal coliform
count of the samples of effluent is equal to or less than 14/100 mL;
(c) the total suspended solids content of the samples of effluent is equal
to or less than 50 mg/L;
(d) the 5-day biochemical oxygen demand of the samples of effluent is equal
to or less than 50 mg/L; and
(e) in the case of chlorine used as a disinfectant, the total residual
chlorine content of the samples of effluent is equal to or less than 0.5
mg/L.