Peeing in the sea/marina

[Hypocacculus]

Hmm interesting. As our marina is swept by 6m+ of tide twice a day, we too will do the odd sneaky pee. However, it is against the T&C of our Marina so we keep it quiet.

But it's got me thinking. According to a medical website, the average production of urine is somewhere between 800-2000 ml a day. Let's say 1500ml for the sake of argument. Our Marina holds about 300 boats. Let's say an average of 3 people per boat. So, if everybody did it, that's potentially 1350 litres of urine a day, or about 320 UK gallons. Of course it doesn't come to that, but it's safe to say there is more than a "few millilitres" involved. There is another marina just across the river and a bunch of boats moored upriver, which with no marina facilities...

And shell fish beds downstream.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Hmm interesting. As our marina is swept by 6m+ of tide twice a day, we too will do the odd sneaky pee. However, it is against the T&C of our Marina so we keep it quiet.

But it's got me thinking. According to a medical website, the average production of urine is somewhere between 800-2000 ml a day. Let's say 1500ml for the sake of argument. Our Marina holds about 300 boats. Let's say an average of 3 people per boat. So, if everybody did it, that's potentially 1350 litres of urine a day, or about 320 UK gallons. Of course it doesn't come to that, but it's safe to say there is more than a "few millilitres" involved.

Ah, but let's continue with the hypothesising. If those three hundred boat are on average 10m x 3m, and cover about one third of the water surface in the marina, the total area will be 300 x 30 x 3 = 27,000 m^2, and two 6m tides a day means that 27,000 x 2 x 6 = 324,000 cubic metres of water per day are coming in to and then going out of the marina. That's a shade over seventy million gallons, and means that even with 3 people per yacht relieving themselves, urine would make up only 0.00042% of the water coming out the marina.

In any case, urine is sterile and generally harmless stuff. You can drink it if you're so inclined, in which case the main hazard is the relatively high level of sodium, which is pretty irrelevant when it's being diluted 240,000:1 by sea water. In many parts of the world human urine is used as a safe and effective fertiliser.

 

[NickTrevethan]

Over the side at night, via the heads during the day. My mate used to go over the side at any time, even with female company.

Your presumeably unmarried mate Most SWMBO would put a stop to that.

 

[No Regrets]

Your presumeably unmarried mate Most SWMBO would put a stop to that.

Unmarried, or well hung...

 

[Robert Wilson]

Ah, but let's continue with the hypothesising. If those three hundred boat are on average 10m x 3m, and cover about one third of the water surface in the marina, the total area will be 300 x 30 x 3 = 27,000 m^2, and two 6m tides a day means that 27,000 x 2 x 6 = 324,000 cubic metres of water per day are coming in to and then going out of the marina. That's a shade over seventy million gallons, and means that even with 3 people per yacht relieving themselves, urine would make up only 0.00042% of the water coming out the marina.

In any case, urine is sterile and generally harmless stuff. You can drink it if you're so inclined, in which case the main hazard is the relatively high level of sodium, which is pretty irrelevant when it's being diluted 240,000:1 by sea water. In many parts of the world human urine is used as a safe and effective fertiliser.

I was reading the new Yachting Monthly last night in which there is an article about a book "Desperate Voyage". I read that book at school in 1963 and the story has stuck vividly in my mind ever since, even though the title didn't!
I shall acquire a copy and read it again. I thoroughly recommend it, not only as a sailing story but as one of human determination and survival.
At the time of first reading the significance of indelibly marking food tins seemed inconsequential, but on my trip to Largs last year I did just that and it saved me having creamed rice with stew!
I'll let you find the relevance to urine - buy the book. And thank you YM for unearthing the book/story after 51 years!!

 

[Graham_Wright]

Loveable rogue or no social skill?

You'll notice he said went over the side. Perhaps someone took exception?

 

[Graham_Wright]

Hmm interesting. As our marina is swept by 6m+ of tide twice a day, we too will do the odd sneaky pee. However, it is against the T&C of our Marina so we keep it quiet.

But it's got me thinking. According to a medical website, the average production of urine is somewhere between 800-2000 ml a day. Let's say 1500ml for the sake of argument. Our Marina holds about 300 boats. Let's say an average of 3 people per boat. So, if everybody did it, that's potentially 1350 litres of urine a day, or about 320 UK gallons. Of course it doesn't come to that, but it's safe to say there is more than a "few millilitres" involved. There is another marina just across the river and a bunch of boats moored upriver, which with no marina facilities...

And shell fish beds downstream.

Some of you may recall I dived inside Fleetwood marina. The visibility was around 4". I tried not to think why. I was hosed down thoroughly afterwards.

 

[pcatterall]

Thanks guys, all very interesting!!
I was not really concerned about the exposure side of things, (we use the bucket and chuck it system) but more the ecology concerns. Urine ( as has been pointed out) is relativly harmless but I wondered if there were any issues with its discharge ( dont start!! I mean discharge over the boat)

 

[Hypocacculus]

Ah, but let's continue with the hypothesising. If those three hundred boat are on average 10m x 3m, and cover about one third of the water surface in the marina, the total area will be 300 x 30 x 3 = 27,000 m^2, and two 6m tides a day means that 27,000 x 2 x 6 = 324,000 cubic metres of water per day are coming in to and then going out of the marina. That's a shade over seventy million gallons, and means that even with 3 people per yacht relieving themselves, urine would make up only 0.00042% of the water coming out the marina.

In any case, urine is sterile and generally harmless stuff. You can drink it if you're so inclined, in which case the main hazard is the relatively high level of sodium, which is pretty irrelevant when it's being diluted 240,000:1 by sea water. In many parts of the world human urine is used as a safe and effective fertiliser.

I totally agree, and I pee in the marina without guilt. Frankly, I was curious to see what quantities could conceivably be involved. If I rolled up and poured 320 gallons of pee into the marina, I think words would be said though! In UK waters, I don't think it makes the slightest bit of difference because the seas are already nutrient rich - that's why they are so cloudy.

However, the "a little won't hurt" is tending to be less and less true as time goes on because there are so many of us. The sea in the Ionian for example is beautifully clear but in some popular anchorages it was noticeably cloudy so people obviously aren't obeying the rules; I wonder how many were thinking "just this once won't matter"?. Fertiliser is good on land but highly undesirable in naturally nutrient poor ecosystems like coral reefs, or Ionian anchorages because it sets off algal blooms. Urine may be sterile but it contains lots of nitrogen and phosphate.

So there are times when I prefer to not to be part of the problem, no matter how small.

 

[theoldsalt]

....and not one single contributor has stated they wash their hands after urinating over the side. But then if you are all so lazy as to not use the heads, what are we to expect. Obviously no-one considers personal hygene a priority. It is a well known fact that very few people wash their hands after relieving themselves and I find it discusting to think what they subsequently handle (including food preparation) and gets passed on to me. It does not - and will not happen on my boat.

 

[Monique]

Peeing over the side is rather disgusting.

Use the galley sink. Nobody will see you.

But... you may develop diaper rash on your face if you wash in it...!

 

[l'escargot]

....and not one single contributor has stated they wash their hands after urinating over the side. But then if you are all so lazy as to not use the heads, what are we to expect. Obviously no-one considers personal hygene a priority. It is a well known fact that very few people wash their hands after relieving themselves and I find it discusting to think what they subsequently handle (including food preparation) and gets passed on to me. It does not - and will not happen on my boat.

Not supporting unhygienic habits but the soap washed down the sink probably causes more harm than the pee over the side...

 

[theoldsalt]

Not supporting unhygienic habits but the soap washed down the sink probably causes more harm than the pee over the side...

....but probably millions of gallons of soap get discharged into the sea by the water companies. What we put down the sink on our boats is insignificant.

 

[l'escargot]

....but probably millions of gallons of soap get discharged into the sea by the water companies...

Which is treated first along with the sewage...

 

[Robert Wilson]

....and not one single contributor has stated they wash their hands after urinating over the side. But then if you are all so lazy as to not use the heads, what are we to expect. Obviously no-one considers personal hygene a priority. It is a well known fact that very few people wash their hands after relieving themselves and I find it discusting to think what they subsequently handle (including food preparation) and gets passed on to me. It does not - and will not happen on my boat.

I hardly ever washed my hands after relieving myself - until the Scotland-wide typhoid outbreak centered on Aberdeen - in the early 60s........ I was at school in Edinburgh and in virtual "lock-down" until the medics deemed it safe for us to be evacuated to home etc.

Since then I have washed my hands on almost every occasion - the exceptions being when no water was available such as in deserts, the hills, behind a hedge (don't feel comfortable until ommision redressed, and would never touch food for anyone else).

IIRC, the original outbreak of typhoid was caused by dodgy corned beef from Argentina but the lack of this basic washing hygiene caused it's rapid and widespread transmission.

 

[Graham_Wright]

....and not one single contributor has stated they wash their hands after urinating over the side. But then if you are all so lazy as to not use the heads, what are we to expect. Obviously no-one considers personal hygene a priority. It is a well known fact that very few people wash their hands after relieving themselves and I find it discusting to think what they subsequently handle (including food preparation) and gets passed on to me. It does not - and will not happen on my boat.

The necessity is avoided if you are naked

 

[PabloPicasso]

I wouldn't in a marina as it seems uncouth and too much like pollution even if no-one seems to be around, and nowadays there's lots of CCTV inc night vision !

At sea and out of sight, no problem EXCEPT a large proportion of MOB incidents, especially fishermen, happen when someone is peeing over the side...

Pee down the cockpit drains while at sea. No danger of MOB then. Especially if short crewed. It'll all wash away in the rain...

 

[targa31]

Which is treated first along with the sewage...

Unless you are southern water
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/23/southern-water-fined-sewage

 

[Zen Zero]

Thanks guys, all very interesting!!
I was not really concerned about the exposure side of things, (we use the bucket and chuck it system) but more the ecology concerns. Urine ( as has been pointed out) is relativly harmless but I wondered if there were any issues with its discharge ( dont start!! I mean discharge over the boat)

It's a subject we all like to joke about, but I think the OP was asking if we thought he'd get away with it in Turkey.

I believe any kind of discharge within 3 NM of the coast is against the law throughout the Med. But some countries are more strict about it than others. It's the law in Italy for example and boats should all be fitted with foul water tanks, which of course they're not, it's seen as an impractical law here and ignored along with lots of other impractical laws. Same, I hope, in Greece because there's no budget or room on board my boat for tanks, and besides the fish love it. But I don't know about Turkey.

PS I've just got back from competing in a prestigious classic boats event in Italy. 3 days of racing, all day on the water, with much over-side relief, but the photographers and tv people so far have been disctete enough not to show that side of things.

 

[sighmoon]

We tried doing everything by the book, back when it was all new. More than once, we were in a busy visitors' marina and there's one loo, a long way away, and never anybody in there. QED: whether they admit it or not, most folk flush into the marina.

It is a well known fact that very few people wash their hands after relieving themselves and I find it discusting to think what they subsequently handle (including food preparation) and gets passed on to me. It does not - and will not happen on my boat.

Ah well, I plead mitigating beliefs to that charge, m'lud.

Being happily married and generally hygienic, I'm confident that my penis is clean. If I've gone to the loo, and touched nothing else, I fail to see how I could have picked anything up. Whereas, if I wash my hands, I have to touch the tap, which must have been touched by others before they clean their hands, and is damp - a perfect breeding ground for germs. I do contribute to the tap's germ pool after a No 2 though. On the boat, I use a wet wipe.