29 Jun Love Your Harbour!
Discharging untreated sewage from a boat in a harbour is extremely damaging and antisocial. It can create all kinds of problems and costs, from water quality to cleaning issues.
We’re proud to be supporting Natural England and Litter Free Coast and Sea in the launch of the #LoveYourHarbour campaign, designed to raise awareness amongst the boating community of the issues associated with discharging toilet waste.
If you love to sail, knowing what to do with your toilet waste can pose a bit of a dilemma. Litter Free Coast and Sea have launched a humorous 2-minute video that looks at the effects that toilet waste can have in the harbour, and offers simple solutions.
Watch the video here:
What’s the problem?
- Toilet discharge leads to bacterial contamination (E. coli) which affects our bathing waters, and aquaculture such as shellfish production.
- Elevated nutrients can lead to eutrophication effects such as very dense green weed, affecting coastal birds by reducing the availability of shellfish and worms they feed on.
- Smelly rotting seaweed can also affect our enjoyment of the harbour, not for just those on the water, but also for those living nearby
Use your head every time you go….
- Use on-shore toilets when you’re berthed.
- Fit a holding tank or chemical toilet if you can.
- Use a pumping station or sewerage facility to empty your toilet.
- And if you can’t do any of those, flush at least 3 miles offshore.\
WHERE CAN YOU FIND PUMP OUT FACILITIES IN POOLE HARBOUR?
Pump out facilities for Poole Harbour can be found at Poole Quay Boat Haven and are charged at £10 per vessel (free of charge to annual berth holders). For further information please see the Poole Quay Boat Haven website here or call the team on 01202 649488.
Please help keep our harbour clean. Find out more about the #LoveYourHarbour campaign and download free resources from the Litter Free Coast and Sea website.