Kristian Ferrell
When nature calls on a boat, it's important to know where your waste will end up. On small boats, it's common to use a bucket, which is then emptied over the side of the boat. However, this is not permitted on inland waters or near the coast. On larger boats, there are often on-board toilets, which use seawater for flushing and pump waste to a holding tank. The waste is then disposed of at a special facility in the harbour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What happens to the poop? | On small boats, the waste is dumped into the ocean. On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. The waste is then collected in tanks and disposed of in the harbour. |
| Toilet paper | Toilet paper may be placed in the on-board toilet on public vessels. |
| Wet or dry bowl flush? | Depends on the model of the toilet. |
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What You'll Learn
How to use a boat toilet
Using a boat toilet is not as simple as using a toilet on land. It's important to know the correct procedure to avoid any mishaps.
Firstly, it's important to note that the contents of a boat toilet do not go down a drain like they do on land. Instead, they are collected in a tank, which is then emptied at a special facility in the harbour. This is the case for public vessels and large ships, which often have a fecal treatment plant on board.
For small boats, the process is a little different. It is not uncommon for small boats to simply dump their waste overboard, especially when cruising or sailing in inland waters or near the coast. However, this is not permitted in many places and can be harmful to the environment. In some areas, such as the Florida Keys, there are strict rules about how far from shore sewage can be released, and there are shore-based facilities provided for this purpose.
When using a boat toilet, it is important to only put toilet paper and excrement into the toilet. Other items, such as feminine hygiene products, should be disposed of separately. It is also important to be mindful of how much water is used for flushing, as this can affect the weight and balance of the boat.
Finally, it is always a good idea to ask for a demonstration of how the toilet works when boarding a boat, as different models may have different procedures.
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What to do with toilet paper
When using a boat toilet, it's important to know what to do with your toilet paper. On inland waters, it is forbidden to dump waste overboard. On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. Only excrement and toilet paper may be placed in the on-board toilet. The waste is collected in tanks and disposed of in the harbour, with special facilities available for this purpose.
On larger ships, a fecal treatment plant is often available. If one is present, it is permitted to discharge the treated excreta into the waters. The solids are filtered and produce sewage sludge, which is then dried and compressed.
On small boats, the process is different. It is not uncommon for waste to be thrown overboard in buckets, although this is neither allowed nor advisable, especially on inland waters or near the coast. In some places, such as the Florida Keys, there is a required 12-mile distance for any sewage overboard from recreational boats. In these cases, there is usually access to onshore toilet or porta-potty facilities to dispose of waste properly.
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Wet or dry bowl flush
On small boats, it is typical to have a small bucket in the back of the boat. The waste is then dumped into the ocean. This is known as "wild dumping" and is not allowed on inland waters.
On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. Large and small trades are collected in the tanks of the toilet and disposed of in the harbour. There are special facilities for this purpose.
In some places, there is a 12-mile distance required for any sewage overboard from recreational boats. In these cases, there is ready access to onshore toilet or porta-potty facilities to dump your waste.
On large ships, a fecal treatment plant is often available. It is permitted to discharge the treated excreta into the waters. The solids are filtered and produce sewage sludge. This is dried and compressed.
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How to dispose of waste on inland waters
On inland waters, "wild dumping" of faeces is strictly prohibited. On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. Large and small trades are collected in the tanks of the toilet and disposed of in the harbour. There are special facilities for this purpose. Only excrement and toilet paper may be placed in the on-board toilet.
In the case of large ships, a faecal treatment plant is often available. If one is available, it is permitted to discharge the treated excreta into the waters. The solids are filtered and produce sewage sludge. This is dried and compressed.
On small cruising vessels, a bucket is typically kept in the back of the boat. After using the facilities, the waste is dumped into its final receptacle, which is the open ocean. This is neither allowed nor the right thing to do, especially on inland waters or near the coast. In places like the Florida Keys, where there's a 12-mile distance required for any sewage overboard from recreational boats, there is ready access on shore to toilet or porta-potty facilities to dump your waste.
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How to dispose of waste on small boats
Small boats are not equipped with the same facilities as large ships, which often have a fecal treatment plant. On small boats, you may find a small bucket kept in the back of the boat. After using the facilities, you will be instructed to dump the waste into its final receptacle, which is usually the open ocean. This is known as "wild dumping" and is not permitted on inland waters or near the coast.
In some places, such as the Florida Keys, there is a required 12-mile distance for any sewage overboard from recreational boats. In these cases, there is usually ready access to onshore toilet or porta-potty facilities to dispose of waste.
On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. Small and large trades are collected in the tanks of the toilet and disposed of in the harbor. There are special facilities for this purpose. Only excrement and toilet paper may be placed in the on-board toilet.
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Frequently asked questions
On small boats, waste is dumped into the ocean. On public vessels, seawater is used for flushing and pumped to the on-board toilet. Large and small trades are collected in the tanks of the toilet and disposed of in the harbour.
On inland waters, "wild dumping" of faeces is not allowed. However, in some places, such as the Florida Keys, there is a 12-mile distance required for any sewage overboard from recreational boats, so there is ready access to toilet or porta-potty facilities on shore to dump your poop.
Large and small trades are collected in the tanks of the toilet and disposed of in the harbour.
The solids are filtered and produce sewage sludge. This is dried and compressed.
