Discharge of Sewage and Waste
Signs like this one are posted at pump-out stations.
All vessels, including houseboats and floating cabins, that are equipped with a marine toilet must have a wastewater holding system to prevent the discharge of waste products into surrounding waters.
- A marine toilet is considered to be any equipment installed on board a vessel that is designed to receive, retain, treat, or discharge sewage and any process to treat such sewage. A portable toilet is not considered to be a marine toilet.
- It is illegal for a vessel to pump out sewage from a wastewater holding system, a portable toilet, or a marine sanitation device (MSD) into surrounding waters except into an approved pump-out facility or into a sewer system located on dry land.
- All vessels equipped with a marine toilet must be registered with the Georgia DNR. You will be issued a Marine Toilet Certificate decal that must be affixed to the hull adjacent to the vessel’s registration number.
- You must maintain a record, going back at least one year, of the name and location of the pump-out facilities you use to empty your holding system and the dates of such use.
