Cassette Toilet Waste Disposal

[OGITD]

At the moment I'm sticking with my Jabsco sea toilet .... but I was just wondering if emptying the cassette down a standard loo was permissible?

Or would this have a detrimental effect on the filter-beds at the sewage plant?

 

[Cloven]

Happens all the time at caravan sites sites so presume no problems

 

[prv]

OK down loos, but not good into the sea.

Americans have a habit of using chemicals in their holding tanks which most of us on this side of the Atlantic do not. I was reading an article about how many of their popular anchorage sites had been sterilised of marine life by all the disinfectants and deodorants pumped into the water along with the waste.

Pete

 

[MoodySabre]

My marina has a special disposal point.

 

[VicS]

At the moment I'm sticking with my Jabsco sea toilet .... but I was just wondering if emptying the cassette down a standard loo was permissible?

Or would this have a detrimental effect on the filter-beds at the sewage plant?

No probs but it's not the nicest/ most sociable thing to do.
Decent marinas and camping sites have a place to empty them and flush them out..... but it all goes into the sewers or the site cesspit

Places with septic tanks do not like large quantities of formaldehyde based toilet fluid because it upsets the processes going on in a septic tank.
But formaldehyde smells so much that you'd not want to use it on the boat anyway. Use one of the non formaldehyde (organic) types.

Just done away with my (defunct) sea toilet and am pressing the old mini Elsan bucket into service in it place. Next ownwer can decide whether to fit a cassette toilet, a new sea toilet or keep the Elsan.

 

[Highland Bear]

I'm surprised that PRV didn't suggest throwing the cassette and contents at a passing yacht from which the skipper was shouting, "I'm racing! Get out of my way!"

 

[bigwow]

My marina has a special disposal point.

So does ours It's a manhole, direct into the sewer, with a bit of blue string as a handle to lift it. Handily just near to the kitchen door of the restaurant.

 

[mjcoon]

Americans have a habit of using chemicals in their holding tanks which most of us on this side of the Atlantic do not. I was reading an article about how many of their popular anchorage sites had been sterilised of marine life by all the disinfectants and deodorants pumped into the water along with the waste.

Pete

I was surprised to find on a Caribbean flotilla a dozen years ago that the yacht had no holding tank. Especially since there is little tide there, like in the Med. Sometimes I'm glad I don't swim...

Mike.

 

[maxi77]

I'm surprised that PRV didn't suggest throwing the cassette and contents at a passing yacht from which the skipper was shouting, "I'm racing! Get out of my way!"

Best idea so far, but many in the motorhome fraternity use bio washing products in toilet cassettes and claim it is effective and more environmentally acceptable

 

[aquaplane]

Our Centaur has a porta potti because it was on Windermere. There I used to empty it down the elsan disposal when I could but if I had to I took it to the public loo. I had to be much more careful not to get splashback in the loo as there wasn't a hose to washdown as there was at the proper disposal point. We also have an SOS policy.

Now on he sea we still use the porta potti, for all of the 2 weeks we have been there. I have used it as I did on a flotilla, only discharge over the side when in a suitable place. This meant going for a little trip out into the Loch just before we put the boat to bed before we came home. We don't use chemicals most of the time so I believe it's no different to using a marine toilet, better in some respects as we don't discharge in marinas or harbours.

We do have some Eco chemical but haven't used it yet, just kept incase someone makes a solid deposit and it's going to fester for a day or two.

I am thinking of refitting the marine loo out of the loft because it's there and the porta potti is getting a bit manky, it's a no cost option.

 

[davidpbo]

We like Aquaplane use a cassette toilet sans SOS policy.

We do use chemicals in it and empty it at disposal points available or toilet if not. Done carefully it makes little mess and what there is is easily sorted.

If I was on the sea I would not use, or choose more appropriate chemicals and empty over the side offshore.

 

[A1Sailor]

I'm surprised that PRV didn't suggest throwing the cassette and contents at a passing yacht from which the skipper was shouting, "I'm racing! Get out of my way!"

Then respond by saying he's going down the pan?

 

[Seajet]

I use ' green ' chemicals in the Porta Potti, and usually empty it down a loo at my club or at marinas if they don't have a disposal point.

If the loo smells it means the seals have got old, there are new seal kits but frankly I prefer to just buy a new loo.

The first chemical loo we had was not so clever as a Porta Potti, an earlier version; when the time came to bin it, it stayed by the club skip for weeks before the dustmen summoned the courage to take it, we always suspected it went to Porton Down.

Much to be said for the modern units, discreet to use in marinas or rafts and no nasty holes in the boat, a friend is taking out the defunct sea loo in his Centaur and fitting a porta potti; there are various different sizes and tank capacities to suit headroom, of course the place to buy both loo and chemicals is caravan shops.

 

[aquaplane]

a friend is taking out the defunct sea loo in his Centaur and fitting a porta potti; there are various different sizes and tank capacities to suit headroom, of course the place to buy both loo and chemicals is caravan shops.

If you friend is interested I have some pics of the plinth I made for our PP. The plinth for a bolted down marine toilet wasn't big enough for the PP.

 

[Seajet]

If you friend is interested I have some pics of the plinth I made for our PP. The plinth for a bolted down marine toilet wasn't big enough for the PP.

aquaplane,

that's very kind, I'm sure my chum would be very interested, thanks; PM on the way.