Politics & Government
No Poop In Puget Sound: New Sewage Law For Boaters
Starting next month, boats won't be able to dump treated or untreated sewage in Puget Sound.
SEATTLE, WA - Starting May 10, boaters won't be able to dump in Puget Sound or Lake Washington.
On Monday, state Department of Ecology Director Maia Bellon signed a new regulation banning the discharge of sewage in local waters. The "Puget Sound No Discharge Zone" includes the sound, the lake, and all waterways that connect them.
The new regulation applies to treated and untreated sewage. Rules covering graywater discharge remain in place. Under previous rules, boaters could dump untreated sewage 3 miles from shore, and treated sewage could be dumped anywhere.
Find out what's happening in Across Washingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
“Making Puget Sound a no discharge zone for vessel sewage connects a missing piece in our strategy to clean up and restore the Sound,” said state water quality program manager Heather Bartlett. “Our shellfish beds, swimming beaches, and protected areas are especially vulnerable to bacteria and viruses in vessel sewage. This will prevent pollution from impacting these areas and protect human health and overall water quality.”
The no-discharge zone covers an area from approximately New Dungeness north to the Canadian border and south to Olympia.
Find out what's happening in Across Washingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Get caught dumping in Puget Sound No-Discharge Zone? The penalty is up to a $10,000 fine and up to a year in jail.
File photo by Neal McNamara/Patch
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