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While it\u2019s a rather indelicate topic, properly disposing of human waste while on a boat is no laughing matter.\u00a0 Okay, you can giggle a little bit.<\/p>\n
Back when I was a boy on our sailboat, the marine toilet discharged directly overboard \u2013 gross and bad for the Sound!\u00a0 Today, we are much smarter and better at protecting our marine environment.\u00a0 All of Puget Sound is now a \u201cno discharge zone,\u201d so marine toilets flush their \u201cblack water\u201d into an onboard holding tank.<\/p>\n
But when the tank is full, how do you empty it?\u00a0 Many big urban marinas have \u201cpumpout\u201d facilities on a dock that suck the contents of the blackwater tank and pump it into the local sewer system.\u00a0 Other large marinas have small pumpout boats that come directly to their customers in their marina to collect the waste.\u00a0 These small boats often have creative names.\u00a0 \u201cThe Fecal Freak\u201d services a marina in the San Juan Islands with the motto \u201cWe\u2019ll take crap from anyone!\u201d<\/p>\n
But what about the small marinas and pristine anchorages throughout Pierce County?\u00a0 Our Planning & Public Works team knew the best way to protect our waters was to go to where the boats are and offer the service for free!\u00a0 That idea was the start of our mobile \u201cpumpout\u201d program.\u00a0 With a grant to buy a pumpout boat, we were underway.<\/p>\n
When I\u2019m invited to spend time on the water, you only have to ask once \u2013 especially when it means helping keep our water clean!\u00a0 My thanks to Paul Weyn for the opportunity to ride along and learn more about the pumpout program.<\/p>\n
Take a look at this video to see how the day went!<\/p>\n