NDA in the News - Cape Cod Times - "Cape Sewage Ban May Expand"
NDA Facts
1. WHAT IS A NO DISCHARGE AREA?
A No Discharge Area (NDA) is a designated body of water in which the discharge of ALL boat sewage, even if it is treated, is prohibited. A body of water may become an NDA if a community or state believes that the waters are ecologically and recreationally important enough to deserve more protection.
2. HOW MANY NO DISCHARGE AREAS ARE THERE?
Nationwide, 25 states have NDAs. All six New England states have part or all of their waters designated as NDAs (Figure 1). In Massachusetts, there are eight NDAs, including six in Cape Cod waters (Figure 2).
3. WHAT AREA WOULD BE COVERED BY A CAPE COD BAY NO DISCHARGE AREA?
The proposed No Discharge Area would apply to all of Cape Cod Bay, south of a line drawn between Brant Rock in Marshfield and Race Point in Provincetown, and extending to the Mean Low Water mark offshore of each municipality on Cape Cod Bay. This coincides with the boundary of the Cape Cod Bay Ocean Sanctuary and with the boundary of Cape Cod Bay as an Estuary of National Significance.
4. DON’T MOST BOATS HAVE HEADS THAT TREAT SEWAGE?
Boats more than 16 feet in length may have Marine Sanitation Devices (MSDs). There are three types of MSDs: Type I treats sewage so that no more than 1,000 bacteria per 100 milliliters (mLs) and no visible floating solids remain. Type II treats sewage so that no more than 200 bacteria per 100 mLs and 150 milligrams of suspended solids per liter remain. Type III is a holding tank designed to hold sewage until it can be pumped out at a pumpout facility.
5. WHY ARE NO DISCHARGE AREAS IMPORTANT?
NDAs protect water quality by preventing discharge of any boat sewage. Even treated sewage can contain harmful pathogens, nutrients, and chemicals. Here are six reasons why a Cape Cod Bay No Discharge Area is important:
Protects public health. Bacteria in sewage can cause contamination of waters where people swim and fish. Bacteria can also contaminate shellfish, making them unfit for human consumption. Treated boat sewage still contains bacteria counts 5 to 70 times higher than state water quality standards.
Reduces toxic pollution. Chemical products used in treating and deodorizing boat sewage can be toxic to marine and estuarine life. Reducing chemical pollution will help to improve habitat.
Reduces nitrogen loading. Sewage contains a great deal of nitrogen. None of the MSDs available today reduces nitrogen. Our coastal waters are suffering from nitrogen loading that can lead to harmful and unsightly algal blooms and eutrophication. Reducing nitrogen loading is important for protecting our coastal waters.
Protects our coastal economy. Cape Cod’s coastal economy depends on clean water for swimming, boating, shellfishing, fishing and aesthetic values. For example, if conditions allow, designation of a Cape Cod Bay No Discharge Area may allow the Division of Marine Fisheries to reduce the size of the mandatory shellfish closure area around marinas in the NDA.
Everybody shares in protecting water quality. NDAs complement other efforts to improve our coastal water quality. Towns are managing and treating stormwater runoff. Local Boards of Health are conducting beach water quality testing. The Barnstable County Water Protection Collaborative is addressing regional wastewater management needs. The Massachusetts DEP Estuaries Project is developing nitrogen standards for our coastal waters. The Division of Marine Fisheries conducts shellfish area water quality testing. NDAs are one way in which the boating community can contribute to improving water quality.
Helps us be a good neighbor. Large areas of Massachusetts’ coastal waters are not yet designated as NDAs. Our non-NDA waters may be affecting our neighbors’ water quality. Designating our waters as NDAs will help to protect water quality throughout the Northeast. Massachusetts is working towards designating No Discharge Areas in all of our coastal communities.
6. WHAT DO BOATERS DO WITH SEWAGE IN NDA WATERS?
A No Discharge Area designation applies to both recreational and commercial boating. In NDA waters, boaters with MSDs must prevent release of sewage by preventing discharge or locking the door to the toilet. Once a boater returns to a marina or harbor, the sewage in the MSD must be pumped out, either to a pumpout facility on land or to a pumpout boat. The pumpout operator must dispose of the pumped-out sewage at an approved sewage treatment facility.
If you have a Type I or Type II MSD, you must do one of the following: 1) close the seacock and remove the handle; 2) fix the seacock in the closed position with a padlock or non-releasable wire-tie; or 3) lock the door to the space enclosing the toilet with a padlock or door handle key lock.
If you have a Type III MSD (holding tank), you must secure it and prevent discharge by: 1) closing each valve leading to an overboard discharge; or 2) padlocking each valve in the closed position; or 3) using a non-releasable wire-tie to hold each valve leading to an overboard discharge in the closed position. These methods of securing MSDs in NDA waters are approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Once you return to shore, the sewage can be discharged into a pumpout facility (shoreside or pumpout boat.)
7. ARE THERE ENOUGH PUMPOUT FACILITIES TO HANDLE BOAT SEWAGE IN NDA WATERS?
A key requirement for designation of a No Discharge Area is ensuring enough pumpout facilities are available to serve the entire boating community. If there are not enough pumpout facilities, state and federal agencies can help communities with funding to add new pumpout facilities or upgrade existing ones.
8. WHAT DOES IT COST TO USE A PUMPOUT BOAT OR PUMPOUT FACILITY?
In Massachusetts there are 54 landside pumpout stations and 53 pumpout boats that are funded by the state’s Clean Vessel Act Program and offer free pumpouts. There are also 20 privately-funded pumpout operators that may charge a small fee. Check with the pumpout facility operator.
9. WHERE CAN I FIND THE NEAREST PUMPOUT?
MA CZM has a brochure that lists locations and phone numbers of all pumpout facilities, available online at: http://www.mass.gov/czm/potoc.htm
10. WILL A NO DISCHARGE AREA DESIGNATION COST MONEY?
Unless a new or upgraded pumpout facility is needed, NDA designation should not cost more than the cost of providing outreach to boaters. If a new or upgraded pumpout is needed, state and federal agencies can assist in finding funding to help pay for improvements. Boaters may have to pay a small fee to pump their MSDs.
11. HOW IS A NO DISCHARGE AREA ENFORCED?
It is a violation of Federal law to discharge any boat sewage, treated or not, within a No Discharge Area. The Massachusetts Environmental Police, U.S. Coast Guard and local Harbormasters are authorized to enforce NDA requirements. However, the most effective enforcement is to provide good outreach to the boating community.
12. WHAT CAN I DO TO SUPPORT A NO DISCHARGE AREA DESIGNATION?
Let your elected and Town officials, marina operators, and boaters know that you want to protect your coastal waters with a No Discharge Area designation. Support proposed state legislation that will help Harbormasters to enforce NDA requirements (e.g., House bill 880, to be heard on October 15 at 1 pm at the State House).
13. WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ON NO DISCHARGE AREAS?
Coastal Zone Management (CZM) NDA Overview: http://mass.gov/czm/nda.htm
Environmental Protection Agency, NDA information: http://www.epa.gov/region01/eco/nodiscrg/index.html
Boaters' Guide to Tide and Pumpout Facilities: http://mass.gov/czm/potoc.htm
No Discharge Area Working Group Members:
- Stephen P. McKenna, MA CZM, Cape & Islands Regional Coordinator, (508) 362-1760.
- Jo Ann Muramoto, Ph.D., Massachusetts Bays Program Regional Coordinator for Cape Cod and Association to Preserve Cape Cod, (508) 362-4226.
- Theresa Barbo, Cape Cod Bay Program Coordinator, Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies, (508) 457-3622.
- Dale Saad, Ph.D., Town of Barnstable Department of Public Works, (508) 862-4084.
- Heather Rockwell, Program Officer, Nantucket Soundkeeper, (508) 775-9767.
- Todd Callaghan, MA CZM, No Discharge Area Coordinator, (617) 626-1233.
- Ann Rodney, U.S. EPA, Region 1, No Discharge Area Coordinator, (617) 918-1538.
