Lets talk about poo .......

[boatone]

Would be interested to hear views on pump-out facilities on the Thames - both EA and commercial.

Do you use them ? How do costs vary? How many of you use elsan type disposal rather than holding tanks?

 

[Chris_d]

Always used Elsan's, much less hassle if a little inconvenient sometimes but never liked the idea of having a tank full of poo on board:disgust:

 

[Brayman]

Always used Elsan's, much less hassle if a little inconvenient sometimes but never liked the idea of having a tank full of poo on board:disgust:

My holding tank was big enough to last the whole year - but I was never allowed to! Trouble is the draft increased the more it filled!

T&K berthholders got free pump-outs so no worries about how often we did pump out.

 

[Actionmat]

I use Molesey lock and pay £9. Last summer was a nightmare. Pumps were out of order when we really needed them and all for the sake of the same spare parts, but the EA has no stock.
Its a thinly spread system that's prone to failure when the river's at its busiest, so I hope they've got back up plans this year (or spare parts)

I reckon the EA pump is about six quid cheaper on average, but it's self service, there isn't time for a proper flush out and you supply your own chemicals. Which doesn't sound like much of a deal when you consider that Thames Water may be slinging it straight back in the Thames at Isleworth

 

[Chris_d]

My holding tank was big enough to last the whole year - but I was never allowed to! Trouble is the draft increased the more it filled!

Is that why you needed a deep mooring for any ODCC event

 

[apollo]

My holding tank was big enough to last the whole year

i always thought you were full of ...

 

[oldgit]

i always thought you were full of ...

 

[boatone]

I suppose toilet humour was to be expected

Helpful answers still very welcome. How often do you use pump-outs in an average season? Are there enough of them? How often do you find they are out of service etc etc.

 

[alanch]

My holding tank at 320lts easily lasts for a 2 week cruise away from the marina. I have only used the marinas pumpout at £5 a time for moorers and it is rarely out of service. No more than 10 pumpouts a year.

 

[Chris_d]

My holding tank at 320lts easily lasts for a 2 week cruise away from the marina. I have only used the marinas pumpout at £5 a time for moorers and it is rarely out of service. No more than 10 pumpouts a year.

Crumbs 10 x 320lts that a lot of **** don't think I empty my elsan many more times and that only holds 20lts!

 

[Alan ashore]

My 21 foot boat has built-in loo and holding tank, but we simply don't use it as the convenience is not worth the inconvenience, if you follow. We also have a Porta-Potti, which we do use. Disposal, more often than not, is to my home WC.

I would say that in general we are more interested in the availability, quality and cleanliness of toilets than of disposal facilities. With a small boat many passengers find it more comfortable and dignified to go ashore than to "go" on board.

(For any readers not familiar with the river, there are toilets at many locks, but they are by no means universal)

 

[Actionmat]

I suppose toilet humour was to be expected

Helpful answers still very welcome. How often do you use pump-outs in an average season? Are there enough of them? How often do you find they are out of service etc etc.

There aren't enough of them, I experienced 'out of service' at least 3 times last year and I reckon I spend about £100 annually emptying an 80ltr tank. Id rather the comfort of my own reading room than a lock WC, but I do wish that more had showers. I can't think of any shower facilities apart from Cookham(clean)and Hurley(awash with mud from campers dirty boots). I may be dreaming, but I'd like to see more facilities at more locks(especially pump outs). I like the fact that the cards are universal and can be bought in advance.

Any info on the running costs of the pump out facilities? Do they make or lose money for the EA?

 

[boatone]

There aren't enough of them....... Any info on the running costs of the pump out facilities? Do they make or lose money for the EA?

There are 8 EA pump-outs at St Johns, Rushey, Eynsham, Abingdon, Mapledurham, Shiplake, Boveney and Molesey. I would say the chances of any additional ones is a big fat ZERO - in fact, it is my distinct impression that they come pretty low on the list of EA priorities. Boveney has been out of service since last October although I believe action is now in hand to sort it - watch this space.
Another 6 locks have chemical toilet disposal facilities - Days, Whitchurch, Hurley, Cookham, Shepperton and Sunbury.

There are also about 15 commercial pump outs at marinas etc. Prices seem to vary - EA charge £9 this year - probably increasing to £10 in 2015- which seems to be quite competitive against commercial rates although berth holders usually get preferential rates.

I am seeking information regarding the financial position but I am pretty sure the net result will be a loss to the Agency. Some of the pump outs are cess pit based so emptying costs can be considerable especially at places like Shiplake where there is, as I understand it, no connection to sewer services.

One might expect the EA to be intent on ensuring that every effort is made and facilities in place to avoid discharge of sewage into the river. Unfortunately i am gaining a distinct impression that they do not regard pump-outs as an essential service and will only act against offenders if they are actually caught in the act.

The TMBA position is simple - if pump outs are provided they should be maintained in good working order and repaired promptly in the event of failure.

 

[TrueBlue]

I've got two "large" tanks, well they were large when we build the boat. I suppose we pumpout 4 or five times a year, depending on when they get a bit niffy (dump through, so easy to maintain, but not "nice" by today's standards). We would also do two more pumpouts when we go ditch crawling - where the charge is often less.

Many of canal facilities are from the same manufacturer that has supplied EA in the past and these have always been working when we've wanted to use them.

Depending on where we're cruising we've used all of EA's Thames facilities - which is just as well as often the 'next' one is out of order, so we have to take care until we make it to the following facility. I've found Shiplake fairly unreliable and the reason often is that boaters have put down / attempted to put down stuff they really shouldn't ought to (not just wipes). However a couple of years ago the unit was out of operation for several weeks for want of a new probe valve which a boater had broken (and apologised). I suppose it's cost of £154 + VAT was beyond someone's spending limit....

Molesey's unit has been very unreliable - which is strange (to me) because it discharges into the public sewer and no macerator is needed. Believe now fixed, thanks to an 'above the call of duty' solution.

Abingdon's and to a lesser extent Eynsham is often 'unavailable' because people actually use them and they get full up. Doubtless EA's process requires someone in Hull (joke) to authorise it and get the poo truck to site which takes ages. As there are now more widebeam boats with large tanks now on the system, the existing capacity just can't cope. Anyway there's not a lot of point in having a tank which is larger than the emptying lorry's capacity!
Radcot's unit has had problems for me - but as the lock is often unmanned, I've not always been able to get a reason. I carry spare lengths of rinse out hose and have repaired a couple of locations on occasion. That's probably a disciplinary offence. What the hell I'm a Customer.

Marinas facilities are not attractive to me because of poor access and one in particular who was somewhat hostile (You don't moor here?), but as I'm in a minority, I'll just have to put up with it.

Harleyford's unit is awkward to get at if the river is running. £13 for residents £18.50 for anyone else. It used to be much less, BUT because boats use that awful blue stuff (OK for porta potties), it destroyed their very nice ecological system and now it has to be carted away and treated as hazardous waste.
I wish folks with holding tanks would use Odorlos or similar, or even bio washing powder (?) as some in Another Place say works, these are environmentally friendly and don't kill the reed beds. The advantage of these latter compounds is that they break down the solids making the pumpout operation less prone to blockage and they work out CHEAPER than Blue.

It would be great to have more units available, Hurley in particular would have been a candidate when it was recently refurbished;
the layby is long so there's room,
Harleyford don't really want the business,
the next one upstream is Mapledurham,
downstream Boveney (.....)
I think the lock island is connected to the main sewer, so the cost is less.

I see elsewhere that informed comment reports that a very senior EA person has stated “The public are not interested in boats and boating” so it's perhaps not surprising that maintenance of facilities peripheral to the maintenance of the navigation are skimped.

Despite the above pent up tirade, I do have some sympathy for EA; some folks treat the facilities with contempt - leaving them in a disgusting condition. Using the bucket and chuckit ports for self pumpout - and the flexible pipe come out of the hole discharging high pressure ordure on the floor...... It happens I've got pictures of that from the canal system.

 

[DogsBody]

"Bucket n Chuck it" user here and think there should be more Elsan disposal points at locks. These things have small tanks and it can make planning awkward when travelling up river trying to work out which lock has and hasn't got facilities.

Last boat had a holding tank and I used the Boveny Lock pump out regularly (when it was working - apparently got vandalised quite often), as it was said to have a better suction than the MDL one at Windsor. Few years ago though, so no idea what its like now.

When I was boating in Holland many years back, I believe all the pump outs were free of charge to try and encourage boaters to use them, rather than pumping overboard, very few Elsan points about over there though.

 

[Chill]

These pump outs seem to give quite a lot of problems the one at MDL Windsor was always playing up together with Bovney this caused problems when they were both out of action. It would be great to have one at Hurley. Since out teenage daughter does not come on the boat as much we do not seem to need to pump out as frequently!!!

 

[No Regrets]

We usually go down to Windsor racecourse marina and empty out there.

In the marina.

It's a bit tricky getting in and out though, in the dark...

 

[A_Madden]

We usually go down to Windsor racecourse marina and empty out there.

In the marina.

It's a bit tricky getting in and out though, in the dark...

No need to come under the cover of darkness Mr. Regrets. Please feel free to come by in the day time and I will make sure you get a free pump out token like our berth holders do. I'll even stand you a cup of coffee.

Kind regards,
Allison Madden
Racecourse Marina

 

[Ramage]

Now there's an offer you can't refuse John!

 

[No Regrets]

I quite like the sneakiness though!...