Poo in the river

boatone

boatone

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Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
The theead re pump-outs leads me to ask if this really needs to be such a big issue. Human waste is biodegradable and the discharge from boats almost insignificant compared to natural wildlife excrera - Canada geese etc. Few coastal harbours require holding tanks or forbid overboard discharge.
The Environment Agency appear unconcerned or they would take more effective action to ensure facilities exist and are maintained in good working order, not to mention the total lack of any realistic enforcement.

The emotional response to this is predictable .......
 
Trying to be non-emotional, but as a former Thames island resident, I'd be very unhappy about the debris washing up on the banks before it has a chance to bio-degrade. Still, the willows and montbretia and himalayan balsam would grow more vigorously..And It's bad enough at the height of summer and low flows walking over e.g. Ham Hough Island weir, without the additional whiff of human poo. I've often wondered what the aerosols downwind of the weirs contain.

It's also the the non-biodegradable material used in loos that would remain in the river. The EA might have to commission another "bubbler" vessel to cope with the BOD (biological oxygen deficiency) that allowing sewage into the river would produce. Do you remember the PLA and their wonderful air pumping boat parading daily up and down in front of the Houses of Parliament ?
 
sarabande said:
Trying to be non-emotional, but as a former Thames island resident, I'd be very unhappy about the debris washing up on the banks before it has a chance to bio-degrade.
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We're not talking "solids" here. Discharge via a typical boat installed sea toilet is effectively macerated.

I am not suggesting a blanket 'anything goes' and there could still be clear delineation between leisure users and liveaboards. However, I fully expect pump-outs and charges to become an increasingly vexatious issue.
 
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Geese, ducks, fish etc don't eat meat or take medication. Carnivorous poo is toxic to the environment, which is one reason given by The Royal Parks for picking up after dogs.
We could always follow the dog walkers example, by pooing in bags and hanging it from the trees:D
 
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sarabande said:
... Do you remember the PLA and their wonderful air pumping boat parading daily up and down in front of the Houses of Parliament ?
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Yes, The London Bubbler IIRC. The one which crashed heavily into a bridge, causing lots of repairs etc.
Driven by Licenced Thames Watermen of course ;)
 
Apparently the problem exists everywhere. I have heard that French are also experiencing the same pooroblem with Seine. I wonder if there really is no other way to deal with it.

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I wanna sail and fish all day!
 
In the good old days when you came through teddington lock they put a wire seal on the toilet preventing it discharging
 
Chill said:
In the good old days when you came through teddington lock they put a wire seal on the toilet preventing it discharging
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That's probably when the staff had some authority and before PC means that everyone has to tread carefully to avoid the ambulance chasers.
There needs to be a balance somewhere....

(I got a verbal clip round the ear from a well known and now long retired lockkeeper years ago. I took notice and use his very sensible advice every (?) time we use any lock.
Nowadays for fear of abuse, they say nowt and we're all the poorer for it.
 
boatone said:
The theead re pump-outs leads me to ask if this really needs to be such a big issue. Human waste is biodegradable and the discharge from boats almost insignificant compared to natural wildlife excrera - Canada geese etc. Few coastal harbours require holding tanks or forbid overboard discharge.
The Environment Agency appear unconcerned or they would take more effective action to ensure facilities exist and are maintained in good working order, not to mention the total lack of any realistic enforcement.

The emotional response to this is predictable .......
Click to expand...
Last summer when in Enkhuiesn a local stated that the Ijselmereer was "Too clean" &* was affecting the fish eco system
 
On the River Gt Ouse and other Anglian EA waterways it is considered normal to use a sea toilet. Although the EA rules state that you may not pollute the river, they permit the fitting and usage of sea toilets......

They also provide FREE EA pump outs.... although they are often in poor order and will be charging for their use soon.
 
Alpha22 said:
On the River Gt Ouse and other Anglian EA waterways it is considered normal to use a sea toilet. Although the EA rules state that you may not pollute the river, they permit the fitting and usage of sea toilets......

They also provide FREE EA pump outs.... although they are often in poor order and will be charging for their use soon.
Click to expand...

And I've never seen a floater on the Great Ouse either :-)
 
Chill said:
In the good old days when you came through teddington lock they put a wire seal on the toilet preventing it discharging
Click to expand...

The wire seals are still there , in their handmade wooden box. The book in which the 'sealed' boat names are recorded goes back to the 70's.

It does require a degree of honesty on the boaters behalf , when they decide which box to check ... 'Does your toilet discharge overboard yes or no'

I've sealed plenty over the years.
 
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