Story and photo by Joseph Sapia
There is a health risk and environmental risk to discharging sewage and other wastewater in Raritan Bay.
But most people do not know that recreational boats are permitted to dump only treated sewage in the bay.
“It’s causing problems,” said Debbie Mans, executive director of the Keyport-based New York-New Jersey Baykeeper. The discharging could lead to high bacteria counts, which can lead to illness or changes in the marine environment. “They shouldn’t be discharging,” she said.
For that reason, since 2009, the Baykeeper’s “Head Mistress,” a specially built, 24-foot boat, has been pumping out holding tanks in the bay for free. It is a program offered by the federal, New Jersey and New York governments to keep the bay clean.
There is a health risk and environmental risk to discharging sewage and other wastewater in Raritan Bay.
But most people do not know that recreational boats are permitted to dump only treated sewage in the bay.
“It’s causing problems,” said Debbie Mans, executive director of the Keyport-based New York-New Jersey Baykeeper. The discharging could lead to high bacteria counts, which can lead to illness or changes in the marine environment. “They shouldn’t be discharging,” she said.
For that reason, since 2009, the Baykeeper’s “Head Mistress,” a specially built, 24-foot boat, has been pumping out holding tanks in the bay for free. It is a program offered by the federal, New Jersey and New York governments to keep the bay clean.
“I’m so happy somebody’s doing that work to bring attention,” said Heather Fenyk, executive director of the New Brunswick-based Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. “Responsible boat ownership requires attention to sewage disposal, waste disposal.”
The Head Mistress began pumping this year around Memorial Day and will run until mid-September or so, when boaters “start wintering, to get that last pumpout,” Mans said. It serves the entire bay, from the Perth Amboy area to Sandy Hook, including Sandy Hook Bay.
The Head Mistress began pumping this year around Memorial Day and will run until mid-September or so, when boaters “start wintering, to get that last pumpout,” Mans said. It serves the entire bay, from the Perth Amboy area to Sandy Hook, including Sandy Hook Bay.
Under federal guidelines, only treated sewage – that is, solids broken down and treated with an anti-bacteria – can be dumped in Raritan Bay, said Michael Danko, marine recreation agent for boating and fishing with the New Jersey Sea Grant Consor tium, based at Sandy Hook.
Last year for the entire season, the Head Mistress did 136 pumpouts, or 3,970 gallons.
Without the Head Mistress, boaters with onboard treatment systems would have to either dump in bay waters or find a marina that has pumpout facilities, Mans said.
“It took something to a higher level of convenience,” Danko said. “The more convenient, people use it.”
The Head Mistress dumps its load at Atlantic Highlands, where it goes directly into the sanitary sewer system, Mans said.
“Our pumpout boat is critical in upgrading water quality in Raritan Bay,” Mans said.
It is the only pumpout boat operating on Raritan Bay.
The Baykeeper’s pumpout service began at the urging of the Keyport Yacht Club,
Last year for the entire season, the Head Mistress did 136 pumpouts, or 3,970 gallons.
Without the Head Mistress, boaters with onboard treatment systems would have to either dump in bay waters or find a marina that has pumpout facilities, Mans said.
“It took something to a higher level of convenience,” Danko said. “The more convenient, people use it.”
The Head Mistress dumps its load at Atlantic Highlands, where it goes directly into the sanitary sewer system, Mans said.
“Our pumpout boat is critical in upgrading water quality in Raritan Bay,” Mans said.
It is the only pumpout boat operating on Raritan Bay.
The Baykeeper’s pumpout service began at the urging of the Keyport Yacht Club,
Mans said. The Baykeeper received an $80,000 federal Clean Vessel Act grant.
“It’s a free (pumping) service,” Mans said. “That’s one of the requirements of the grants.”
New Jersey and New York each contribute $5,000 a year to operate the boat. The $10,000 covers such things as fuel, maintenance and the pilot’s salary, Mans said.
The Head Mistress operates on Sundays and one weekday. Pumpouts can be scheduled by telephone at 732-832-1499, online at http://nynjbaykeeper.org/pumpout/, or simply by calling the Head Mistress on VHF Channel 9.
Boaters do not have to be present to have their boats pumped, Mans said.
“It’s a free (pumping) service,” Mans said. “That’s one of the requirements of the grants.”
New Jersey and New York each contribute $5,000 a year to operate the boat. The $10,000 covers such things as fuel, maintenance and the pilot’s salary, Mans said.
The Head Mistress operates on Sundays and one weekday. Pumpouts can be scheduled by telephone at 732-832-1499, online at http://nynjbaykeeper.org/pumpout/, or simply by calling the Head Mistress on VHF Channel 9.
Boaters do not have to be present to have their boats pumped, Mans said.
“We’re trying to make it convenient,” Mans said.
The Head Mistress, which has a 400-gallon holding tank built into its hull, is based at Keyport. Olsen’s Marina provides free mooring for the boat.
The program not only provides a pumpout service, but it provides an education about a source of a “public health risk,” Mans said.
Prior to the Baykeeper operating the Head Mistress, there was no pumpout service in the bay.
This year, the Baykeeper began running Monmouth County government’s pumpout boat, the Royal Flush, on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers – both of which are federal no-discharge zones. The county owns the Royal Flush and pays for the operation of the boat.
From about Memorial Day to Independence Day, the Royal Flush provided 225 pumpouts, totaling 6,500 gallons.
The Royal Flush operates on Fridays and Saturdays. Royal Flush pumpouts can be scheduled by calling 732-890-6142 or contacting boat on VHF Channel 9. It will operate for the season until Oct 1.
Prior to the Baykeeper operating the Head Mistress, there was no pumpout service in the bay.
This year, the Baykeeper began running Monmouth County government’s pumpout boat, the Royal Flush, on the Navesink and Shrewsbury rivers – both of which are federal no-discharge zones. The county owns the Royal Flush and pays for the operation of the boat.
From about Memorial Day to Independence Day, the Royal Flush provided 225 pumpouts, totaling 6,500 gallons.
The Royal Flush operates on Fridays and Saturdays. Royal Flush pumpouts can be scheduled by calling 732-890-6142 or contacting boat on VHF Channel 9. It will operate for the season until Oct 1.
Only about 10 pumpout boats operate statewide, said Al Ivany, chief of the state Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Bureau of Information and Education.
Statewide, only about 140 marinas have pumping facilities, Ivany said. On the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers, for example, there are 12 marinas with pumping stations, Ivany said. In New Jersey waters on Raritan Bay, there are about 10 marinas with pumping stations. The sites are available at njboating.org.
The two local pumpout boats are “critical, because they make it easier and convenient for the boaters,” said Danko, who is chair of the state Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee.
“It’s about keeping water clean,” Ivany said.
Statewide, only about 140 marinas have pumping facilities, Ivany said. On the Shrewsbury and Navesink rivers, for example, there are 12 marinas with pumping stations, Ivany said. In New Jersey waters on Raritan Bay, there are about 10 marinas with pumping stations. The sites are available at njboating.org.
The two local pumpout boats are “critical, because they make it easier and convenient for the boaters,” said Danko, who is chair of the state Clean Vessel Act Steering Committee.
“It’s about keeping water clean,” Ivany said.
