Vessel Sewage Discharge Program
Federal Register Document, January, 1998
Marine Sanitation Device Standard--Establishment of Drinking Water Inake No Discharge Zone(s) Under Section 312(f)(4)(B) of the Clean Water Act; Final Rule.
As of January 30, 1980, if a vessel has an installed toilet (technically referred to as a marine sanitation device (MSD)), it must be equipped with one
of three types of MSDs (http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/33/1322.html
 ). The MSDs (Type I, Type II, Type III) are designed to meet different
needs and effluent level requirements. Since portable toilets can be moved on and off a vessel, they are not considered installed toilets; therefore,
vessels that have portable toilets are not subject to the MSD regulations.
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Types of Marine Sanitation Devices |
| Sewage Treatment Device |
Vessel Length |
Standard |
| Type I- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) |
equal to or less than 65 feet in length |
The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 1000 per 100 milliliters and have no visible floating solids. |
| Type II- Flow-through device (maceration and disinfection) |
greater than 65 feet in length |
The effluent produced must not have a fecal coliform bacteria count greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than
150 milligrams per liter . |
| Type III- Holding tank |
any length |
This MSD is designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage. |
- Type I MSDs rely on maceration and disinfection for treatment of the waste prior to its discharge into the water.
- Type II MSDs are similar to the Type I; however, the Type II devices provide an advanced form of the same type of treatment and discharge wastes
with lower fecal coliform counts and reduced suspended solids.
- Type III MSDs are commonly called holding tanks because the sewage flushed from the marine head is deposited into a tank containing deodorizers and
other chemicals. The contents of the holding tank are stored until it can be properly disposed of at a shore-side pumpout facility. (Type III MSDs can
be equipped with a discharge option, usually called a Y-valve, which allows the boater to direct the sewage from the head either into the holding tank
or directly overboard. Discharging the contents directly overboard is legal only outside the U.S. territorial waters which is 3 or more miles from shore.)
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