EPA New England's Center for Environmental Industry and Technology (CEIT)

Boat Pressure Wash Water Control Technologies Virtual Trade Show
Introduction

Marina and boatyard owners need access to information on technologies to help them control the impact of wastewater from their pressure washing of boats. When boats are pressure washed, which usually occurs at or near the shoreline, preventative measures must be taken to prevent the release of harmful ingredients in cleaners, bottom paints, and residue on boat hulls to marina basin waters.

Under the Clean Water Act, EPA and states (when approved by EPA) regulate point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United States through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. Discharges within a marina facility or boatyard that typically require NPDES permits include process water, cooling water, and storm water runoff from drainage systems.

Any permit of this type issued to control marine pressure washing discharges is required to impose discharge limitations to ensure that state water quality standards are met in the receiving water. The concentrations of metals in these discharges can be high in comparison to water quality standards. Meeting water quality standards is thus likely to require the installation of a wastewater treatment system to comply with the requirements of such a permit. This approach is likely not the most cost effective option for most boat yards and marinas. The most promising options are:

• Recycling
• Containment followed by off-site disposal
• Discharge via a connection to a Publicly Owned Treatment Works
• Pollution prevention measures such as filtration and treatment which can be part of a recycling or containment system

The virtual trade show is designed to introduce marina and boatyard owners to technologies for controlling pressure wash water, such as recycling systems, containment tanks, and filtration-related products. We hope visitors to the trade show find this information useful.

For more information or questions contact the EPA New England Marina Assistance Team at (617) 918-1836.

• Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Regulations
• Links to Other Sources of Information