Can't Discharge Grey Water Overboard in my "Home" Lake

[Inkmann121]

I need to add a grey water system in a ‘05 260 Sundancer.
My “Home” lake of Lake George, NY doesn’t allow direct discharge.
I would simply like to add a "T" w/a valve under the sinks and a new line to the sump box and pump everything into the black water tank.
Anyone have any info or thoughts?

 

[Stee6043]

I'd personally add another tank for gray water. Or shoot, just plumb the sinks directly into a bucket in the cabinets underneath them?

 

[Pirate Lady]

What about an AC system? Have to pump that into a tank too?

 

[Inkmann121]

All 3 sinks dump overboard.
The AC condenser and floor drain for the shower go into the sump box w/pump underneath the stairs. That discharges overboard too.
Simply want to route a line from the galley sink and the head sink to the sump box.
Then the sump box to the black water holding tank.

 

[Golfman25]

You have a project on your hands. You’re going to have to trace everything and figure out where to tie in. I would also plug the overboard discharges to prevent water from flooding the boat in the event they become submerged.

 

[Skybolt]

Not to say this is easy, but plumb everything to go into a sump like a shower sump. Then instead on pumping over board pump into a new tank. Remember the water draining will not fill the tank without the help of a pump.

Running all of the new lines is not going to be fun. Plug the existing overboard's by cutting the existing hose close to the through hull and plug them from the inside.

 

[KevinC]

You are going to need to do a lot of work including the removal the step to get better access to the current sump pump and fishing new drain lines. The head sink should not be too bad but you will need to fish a drain line under the shower. The galley sink would probably be best to run back behind the fridge and then down into the sump area (not sure about access there) and the cockpit sink could be run forward and then down behind the shower. Your pump out would then need to be routed back to the holding tank. If you are putting in tees with flow diversion you will have a lot to source out. If you add the line back to the holding tank don't forget to seal the hole to prevent CO coming back into the cabin from the engine compartment.

Possible yes - fun no. Not sure if would be better or more economical to just look for a boat with a grey water system.

-Kevin

 

[Skybolt]

All 3 sinks dump overboard.
The AC condenser and floor drain for the shower go into the sump box w/pump underneath the stairs. That discharges overboard too.
Simply want to route a line from the galley sink and the head sink to the sump box.
Then the sump box to the black water holding tank.

I would not go into the holding tank with this. You will run out of room quicker then you think and then what do you do?

 

[mdolesh]

So every boat on this lake has a setup like this? I find that hard to believe. Are you sure they arent referring to discharging of waste water/sewage only?

 

[Skybolt]

So every boat on this lake has a setup like this? I find that hard to believe. Are you sure they arent referring to discharging of waste water/sewage only?

Yep, from their site https://www.lakegeorge.com/boating/regulations/

Because Lake George is a residential and protected area, a few other restrictions apply:

• No dumping is allowed, and boats are required to have sealed heads and holding tanks for showers and sinks. This prevents pollution to the water which many residents of Lake George use for drinking, and many wildlife species call home.

 

[mdolesh]

Oh wow! I stand corrected.

 

[Tim Fila]

I wouldn't do anything, and play dumb if/when you are called out.

 

[Lazy Daze]

A long time ago Lake George didn't have rules and reg's. But since these rules -- yes, a little "overboard", if you ask me -- the water quality has drastically improved.

Playing dumb won't work at this place - I've heard (from an acquaintance) that they (governing body) will hammer a wooden dowel into thru-hull drains. I have no idea if that's actually true, but the water is VERY nice!

Inkmann, I think your idea is sound. Yes, you'll run out of space in the black tank faster, but it's not like you're going to be out on the ocean for days at a time. You're on a lake and can pump-out every day if you needed to (although you won't need to do it that often).

Use the current discharge hose for the under-step sump and extend that to the black tank and install a panel-mount barb in the tank - essentially the same thing as a thru-hull discharge. Cut a hole in the top of the tank for a pie plate if needed (for access). I wouldn't rely on just a screw-in fitting. Unless you have a (currently plugged) unused port on the tank already - you could probably neck that down to the size you need.

Oh... am I remembering correctly that there's a cubby down by the driver's feet? Removing that, I think, gives you good access to the overboard discharge from the under steps sump.

 

[KevinC]

Oh... am I remembering correctly that there's a cubby down by the driver's feet? Removing that, I think, gives you good access to the overboard discharge from the under steps sump.

Removing that will also give him access to behind the shower wall on the starboard side to drain the cockpit sink.

-Kevin

 

[Blueone]

What’s the fine?….. I’d find another lake

 

[Little Ducky]

Saw this on another web site taking about no gray water discharge in various lakes.

"It has become clear to me at this point in my life that the majority of the damage to the environment is caused by humans and the only effective way to combat this is to eliminate the humans!"

 

[Blueone]

Ya I’ll bet no lake front home owner doesn’t use fertilizer or pesticides….. find a republican lake

 

[BlueYonder]

They will eventually ban gas/diesel boats completely. Unless you have a home there, I would move a few miles north to Lake Champlain.

 

[Hoplite808]

I would not have the lines go to the black water tank unless you also include a joker valve or a one way valve of some sort to that setup as well. Otherwise fumes from the other waste in the black water tank will come out through the drain lines and fill the cabin with a nice pooporri smell which will be especially nice on hot days. Also there is a likely risk of if the tank overfills it could start overflowing into the bilge, which again would create a lovely smell in your cabin. You should add a separate grey water tank somehow to your setup or just add valves to shut off the direct discharge entirely which would be easier. Don’t turn on the water while underway in that lake and nothing should go overboard or substantially fill a sink either.

 

[Stee6043]

This is a $5 problem looking for a $1,500 solution