No one's looking, so why not? You're out in the middle of the lake with a full sewage tank or portable head that frankly is making the outing a little less enjoyable. So why not take care of business
right then and there?

Common courtesy for starters. You still have nightmares from that pool episode where the kid with the funny grin on his face ruined the entire summer for everyone. You always harp about people dumping trash into the water, so how is treated or untreated sewage any different?

But playing by the rules is as good a reason as any, because it's against the law to dump your waste. Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act in 1992, and re-authorized it in 1998 as a means of reducing pollution from vessel discharges.

Sewage from recreational boating has an impact on the environment in a number of ways. Because recreational boating in lakes, rivers and offshore is often concentrated in specific areas, any dumped waste, no matter how small, can accumulate with other waste over time. Sheltered coves keep waste and debris in. This waste buildup could potentially taint a local water supply, local marine wildlife, and even boaters.

Don't think vessel discharges can get back to you? According to the government's Clean Vessel Act website ( federalaid.fws.gov/cva/cva.html ), the Journal of the American Medical Association reported that outbreaks of virus gastroenteritis in 70 people who ate raw oysters in four states could be traced to one oyster bed in Louisiana, where an unsuspecting oyster harvester dumped his untreated sewage smack dab into the oyster bed.

There are steps you can take to ensure you won't have to worry about dumpouts, pumpouts and no-discharge areas. The first and most obvious is, go before you go. Use an offshore restroom before you shove off, and make sure all of your crew does the same. If you need a bathroom break in the middle of the fun, plan out a spot or two onshore at a dock or landing to jump off and use. Your crew will probably sing your praises for the chance to use a grounded facility anyway.

If you plan on taking longer outings offshore where a trip back to land may be too much of a hindrance, invest in a portable head. You can only dump it out shoreside, but it'll give you those precious extra hours away from it all.

Be aware of when you're in a no-discharge area and what you're carrying onboard. The no-discharge areas mean no discharging for treated or untreated waste, and include enclosed freshwater lakes and reservoirs, and rivers without interstate navigation. Many states have also listed more of their waters, including offshore spots, as no-discharge areas.

If you have an installed or portable head onboard, know which kind of Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) it is. The MSDs are broken up into three categories ' types I, II and II. Type I MSDs send waste to a holding tank, or a Y-valve to legally discharge treated waste overboard. A Type II MSD provides more treatment, power and space. A Type III is a holding tank and can be emptied at a pumpout station or three miles offshore.

There's plenty of options and sizes so you can fit what you need onboard, but look for MSD Type I or II portable heads, because they pretreat the sewage before discharge.

Visa's Potty 248 Portable toilet ($85, www.envirolet.com ) is a freshwater flush toilet with sight-level indicators. A high-velocity water rinse washes the bowl thoroughly, while a detachable spout makes disposal easy. SeaLand's Marine toilet ($124.99, www.dometicusa.com ) has a 5.2-gallon capacity and allows for a discharge hose connection. Thetford offers a number of portable toilets, including the 565 ($149, www.thetford.com ) with 6.1-gallon waste holding tank, hold downs and fits for even V-Berth configurations. SaniPotte's marine portable toilet ($106.99, www.dometicusa.com ) has a 3-gallon holding tank that can discharge at stations or overboard.

But even if you get a portable head, eventually you're going to have to empty it. A less than pleasing process, there's steps you can take to make it as painless as possible. Don't let the waste fill to the brim before you decide it's time to empty it. Having to stay onboard an unexpected day or so on a trip is one thing, neglecting to take care of the waste on a regular basis is another. If you want more motivation, consider this: The longer you wait, the greater the chances of a messy disposal done with pinched nostrils.

No matter how frequently you pump out or discharge, smell is going to be a factor, but many companies offer disinfectants to not only snuff out bad smells, but help with the treatment of the waste too.

Thetford's Aqua-Kem ($7.99) liquefies waste to prevent unwanted clogging, and is formulated to stop odors. Thetford also offers marine tissue, which dissolves faster in holding tanks. Star brite's Instant Fresh Toilet Treatment for permanent heads ($6.99, www.starbrite.com ) is non-staining, biodegradable and breaks down waste for easier pumpout at any dumping station.

The Clean Vessel Act made pumping out more convenient for boaters by mandating an increase in pumpout stations. Even if you haven't used one yet, chances are you've probably seen one already.

Pumping out your boat is a pretty easy process, and although different equipment and makes vary, the procedure is about the same for all of them. To empty out your tank or portable head via a pumpout station, carefully remove the cap from the waste fitting, and insert the pumpout hose nozzle into the fitting. Check to see if there is a hose valve to turn on, and once set, turn the pump on. You'll see the waste being sucked out of the tank, and once it looks like the hose has gotten everything, close the valve and remove the nozzle from the waste fitting ondeck.

You're not finished though. It wouldn't be fair for someone else to deal with what you left behind in the cleanup, so put the nozzle in a bucket of water and turn the valve on so the hose can cleanse itself. Once it looks good, close the valve, turn the pump off and return the hose. If any mess was left, now is the time to wash it down.

The BoatUS foundation has three tutorials for boaters learning the ropes of the Clean Vessel Act. For a complete listing of the information cards on No Discharge Areas, Pumpouts and Marine Heads, visit www.BOATUS.com.

That wasn't so bad, was it? How dirty the job is depends on you, but it's mandatory. The steps you take to manage your waste storage could be the difference between a simple chore and a stinky situation.

March 2004