WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS
Camping & Boating Tips for Healthier Waterways
Summer is in full swing, and so are some of our favorite summer activities like camping and boating! But, did you know those very activities can contribute harmful pollutants to our water bodies too? If we’re not careful pollutants such as RV and boat wastewater (blackwater and graywater), boat oil & fuel, fishing lines, and marine trash can enter our waterways untreated via the storm drain system. This can degrade our water quality and harm aquatic life. Blackwater and graywater can pose further risk to human health due to bacteria, parasites and pathogens found in these pollutants. Thankfully there are actions we can take to help campers and boaters prevent water pollution.
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Camping and Boating Pollution Prevention Tips
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Keep Graywater and Sewage out of Water – Water from onboard sinks, washers, and showers is called graywater. Because boats are not connected to a permanent sanitary sewer system, graywater is discharged directly into the water without treatment. Graywater may contain nutrients such as phosphates, metals, and other toxins that can cause excessive unwanted algae and vegetation growth. This contributes to a decline in water quality and the aquatic ecosystem. Additionally, boat sewage that’s discharged overboard contains bacteria and parasites further affecting our drinking water quality and recreational activities. Use pump-out stations and shore-side facilities (showers, sinks, toilets) whenever possible. Remember to Dump at the Pump! Follow these additional tips to keep sewage and graywater out of the water.
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Properly Dispose of RV Wastewater – RV wastewater can include sewage, bacteria, food waste, and soaps. These drain from RV toilets, sinks, and showers. If not properly disposed of, RV blackwater (toilet waste) and graywater (shower and sink waste) can flow through our watersheds, contaminate our waterways, and get us and our neighbors sick.
- The County of San Diego’s Watershed Protection Program has developed this handy RV User Guide. Here are tips for safe dumping:
- Secure both ends of the hose before opening the tank valve.
- Keep an eye on the hose while dumping to make sure it stays connected.
- Close valves when the tanks aren’t being emptied.
- Rinse any residue or spills toward the dump station inlet pipe (connected to the sewer or septic system).
- Have spill response materials like absorbents (kitty litter, sweeping compound) ready to apply and sweep up.
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Other Camping and Boating Pollution Prevention Tips – In addition to managing the disposal of wastewater and sewage, it’s important to be mindful of other recreational pollutants that can cause harm to our creeks, rivers, and ocean. Properly dispose of camping and boating trash, including pet waste, in their appropriate dumpsters or designated pet waste disposal containers. Place fishing line onboard in containers to prevent it from being blown overboard and take used fishing line back to recycling bins at your marina or tackle shop. Prevent oil and fuel spills and have absorbents handy to contain spills if they occur. Use safer alternatives to chemical and toxic boat cleaning and maintenance products whenever possible. Properly dispose of hazardous boating waste like antifreeze, batteries, used oil, and filters at a household hazardous waste (HHW) disposal facility. To find one near you, check San Diego County’s HHW Collection Center locations or review the Earth911.com webpage.
Pump-Out and Sanitary Stations Locations
Properly disposing of recreational wastewater and sewage at appropriate pump-out or sanitary stations can help protect our waterways. This also ensures more recreational enjoyment for years to come. Check out the following interactive pump-out and sanitary stations’ maps to find a station near you:
The County thanks its campers, boaters, and residents alike for doing your part to protect our waterways not only while enjoying summer activities, but all year long! Continue to play a key role in ensuring the beauty, safety and health of our waterways and ocean by reporting pollution. Report marine pollution or oil spills at the Port of San Diego’s Mariner Resources Page.
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