It's The Law: On The Water with Your Vessel

Discharge of Sewage and Waste

• All boats, including houseboats and floating cabins, equipped with a galley or toilet must have a waste-water holding system to prevent the discharge of waste products into surrounding waters.
• If you have a recreational boat with installed toilet facilities, it must have an operable marine sanitation device (MSD) on board.
• All installed devices must be U.S. Coast Guard—certified.

Types of MSDs There are three types of MSDs. Types I and II MSDs are usually found on large vessels. Waste is treated with special chemicals to kill bacteria before the waste is discharged. Types I and II MSDs with "Y" valves that would direct the waste overboard must be secured so that the valve cannot be opened. This can be done by placing a lock or non-reusable seal on the "Y" valve or by taking the handle off the "Y" valve in a closed position. Type III MSDs provide no treatment and are either holding tanks or portable toilets. Collected waste should be taken ashore and disposed of in a pump-out station or onshore toilet.

Discharge of Oil and Other Hazardous Substances

• You are not allowed to discharge oil or hazardous substances into the water.
• You are not allowed to dump oil into the bilge of the vessel without means for proper disposal.
• You must dispose of oil waste at an approved reception facility. On recreational vessels, a bucket or bailer is adequate for temporary storage prior to disposing of the oil waste at an approved facility.
• If boating on federally controlled waters and your vessel is 26 feet or longer, you must display a 5 x 8-inch placard made of durable material, fixed in a conspicuous place in the machinery spaces or at the bilge pump control station, stating the Federal Water Pollution Control Act's law.
• You also must call the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission within 24 hours of a discharge.

Discharge of Trash

It is illegal to dump garbage and plastics into federally controlled or state waters.

• You must store trash in a container while on board and place it in a proper receptacle after returning to shore.
• If on federally controlled waters and your vessel is 26 feet or longer, you must display a Garbage Disposal Placard, at least 4 x 9 inches, that states discharge restrictions.