The Clean Vessel Act:
The Clean Vessel Act is a program that deals with the overboard It is important for all of us to strive and
maintain good water quality standards, which is why the Clean Vessel Act is so important!
What is the Clean Vessel Act?
discharge of sewage from boats. The US Congress established the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 to
provide states with funds to educate the public about the consequences of discharging sewage, as well
as to provide federal aid for marinas for up to 75% of the approved costs of the pumpouts.
Why worry about your waste?
Bacteria decompose the organic matter in raw and treated sewage, and in doing so use a lot of oxygen,
therefore, the dissolved oxygen levels in the water decrease, stressing fish and other aquatic animals
that need specific levels to survive.
The release of raw sewage or poorly treated sewage can transmit waterborne diseases, such as
typhoid, cholera, gastroenteritis, bacillary dysentery, and hepatitis through microorganisms from the
human digestion track. Raw sewage can also cause skin rashes. Many of the diseases mentioned can
be directly relayed to people through shellfish. Shellfish are filter feeders that ingest tiny food particles
through their gills that go directly to their stomachs. If sewage is present in the water, then the shellfish
ingest it also. People then ingest the shellfish hat are tainted with fecal contaminants and disease.
Increased sewage equal fertilizer causing excess growth of algae, which blocks out needed amounts of
sunlight for certain kinds of aquatic vegetation which provides nursery habitat for fry or young fish.
Boats with holding tanks who unload their sewage illegally and carelessly may be pouring large amounts
of harmful chemicals used as deodorizers, such as formaldehyde, chlorine, and ammonium compounds,
in the water.
Also, floating sewage tends to ruin your outdoor experience, as it is not very aesthetically pleasing
It is illegal for houseboats to discharge treated or untreated sewage into freshwater. It is also illegal to
discharge in a No Discharge Zone (NDZ).
No Discharge Zones in South Carolina:
Broad Creek (Hilton Head Island), Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee, Lake Murray, Lake Thurmond, and
Lake Wylie
To prevent the possible dangers that sewage can cause to humans and the environment, boaters
should use: portable toilets, utilize onshore restrooms, or have a Marine Sanitation Device installed on
board and use a pumpout at a local marina.
For Further Information: Contact Lorianne Riggin at RigginL@dnr.sc.gov
The Clean Vessel Act is a program that deals with the overboard It is important for all of us to strive and
maintain good water quality standards, which is why the Clean Vessel Act is so important!
What is the Clean Vessel Act?
discharge of sewage from boats. The US Congress established the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 to
provide states with funds to educate the public about the consequences of discharging sewage, as well
as to provide federal aid for marinas for up to 75% of the approved costs of the pumpouts.
Why worry about your waste?
Bacteria decompose the organic matter in raw and treated sewage, and in doing so use a lot of oxygen,
therefore, the dissolved oxygen levels in the water decrease, stressing fish and other aquatic animals
that need specific levels to survive.
The release of raw sewage or poorly treated sewage can transmit waterborne diseases, such as
typhoid, cholera, gastroenteritis, bacillary dysentery, and hepatitis through microorganisms from the
human digestion track. Raw sewage can also cause skin rashes. Many of the diseases mentioned can
be directly relayed to people through shellfish. Shellfish are filter feeders that ingest tiny food particles
through their gills that go directly to their stomachs. If sewage is present in the water, then the shellfish
ingest it also. People then ingest the shellfish hat are tainted with fecal contaminants and disease.
Increased sewage equal fertilizer causing excess growth of algae, which blocks out needed amounts of
sunlight for certain kinds of aquatic vegetation which provides nursery habitat for fry or young fish.
Boats with holding tanks who unload their sewage illegally and carelessly may be pouring large amounts
of harmful chemicals used as deodorizers, such as formaldehyde, chlorine, and ammonium compounds,
in the water.
Also, floating sewage tends to ruin your outdoor experience, as it is not very aesthetically pleasing
It is illegal for houseboats to discharge treated or untreated sewage into freshwater. It is also illegal to
discharge in a No Discharge Zone (NDZ).
No Discharge Zones in South Carolina:
Broad Creek (Hilton Head Island), Lake Hartwell, Lake Keowee, Lake Murray, Lake Thurmond, and
Lake Wylie
To prevent the possible dangers that sewage can cause to humans and the environment, boaters
should use: portable toilets, utilize onshore restrooms, or have a Marine Sanitation Device installed on
board and use a pumpout at a local marina.
For Further Information: Contact Lorianne Riggin at RigginL@dnr.sc.gov
