ALBANY, NY (05/24/2011)(readMedia)-- Seeking to safeguard water quality and improve recreational opportunities, state officials announced today that they are calling for New York's portion of Lake Ontario to be designated as a "Vessel Waste No-Discharge Zone" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
A No-Discharge Zone designation means that boaters are banned from discharging their on-board sewage into the water. Boaters must instead dispose of their sewage at specially designated pump-out stations, which can be found at many marinas (see attached list).
Treated and untreated wastes can deliver pathogens and toxins to local waters and contribute to harmful nutrient loadings. Waste treated by on-board septic systems often contains chemical additives such as formaldehyde, phenyls and chlorine. These pollutants can harm water quality, pose a risk to people's health, and impair marine life and habitats.
