April 2008

Greywater update

AMTA is working with Norm Dyck and Jane McIvor of the BC Marine Trades Association and counterparts across Canada to address the ongoing development of new greywater regulations within Sewage Pollution Prevention Regulations.
Most recent information from Paul Topping, Chair of the Environment Committee indicates that the federal government is considering the following:

- Existing vessels under 400 GRT will be exempt from holding tank requirements for grey water;

- Grey water holding tank requirements will not be applied to pleasure craft;

- Definition of grey water includes drainage from dishwashing (including dishwashers), showers, laundry, bath and washbasin drains and waste from garburators.

- Discharge of grey water (and this is a sticking point) would be subject to “some distance from shore requirements and possible further restriction in designated
sewage areas. Specific decisions have yet to be taken.”
Timing: A regulatory proposal will be presented at CMAC. It is unclear whether the regulation would be gazetted this year as there are new international regulations that are currently being developed which may affect rules for international shipping (and, because both commercial and recreational are tied to the same regulations, this would hold up the entire process).

A conference call has been scheduled with new NMMA Canada GR rep (Sara Anghel), Pat Nelder, AMTA; Al Donaldson, OMOA; Yves Paquette, AQIN and Norm Dyck and Jane McIvor (BCMTA) to discuss presenting a united position at the National CMAC meetings at the end of April.