Should I install both a MSD and holding tank?

I

ironmike

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Joined
Dec 17, 2003
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12572
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13
Note this is a repost feom the plumbing section as suggested.
Greetings All.
I dock in MD near the South River area. I recently purchased a Lectra san MSD for install in my boat but first checked the No Discharge Zone (NDZ) sites for MD. It looks like the location is o.k. but I was wandering if anyone knows of an installation where you have both a holding tank and a MSD? It looks like new areas are added periodically which seems to indicate that at some point in the future, maybe all of MD will be a NDZ. The other issue is the MSD's capacity is not very large so it seems that it would require emptying often. The MSD is setup for discharge only so I was thinking about adding a holding tank and a couple extra valves in order to reroute from head to holding tank or head to MSD. Or maybe I should scrap the idea of using the MSD altogether? What do you think about this idea?
Thanks in advance for your response.
 
Mike

What exactly did you buy? A new Electro Scan, or an used Lectra/San? There's a difference. Do you currently have a holding tank on your vessel? The only NDZ's on in MD are a small spot outside of Annapolis (Herring Bay) and in the bay "behind" Ocean City. Other than that, you're good to go (and if they ever make the entire Chesapeake and NDZ, I'll still use my Type I MSD until Baltimore stops discharging RAW sewage and PA stops pumping all their crap down the Susquehanna!)
 
Well, if you ever plan to any cruising in the northeast / New England, or down to the Keys, you'll need the holding tank. This would be a plus come resale time too, as it would broaden the market for your boat.

George
Hatteras 56MY
 
Mike, what MSD did you have in mind? Raritan Lectra/san, electro-scan, and Purasan (Type I systems, legal on boats up to 65 feeet LOA) all treat only 1 flush of the toilet - when it occurs. They don't have any storage capacity at all. They use a 3 gallon tank, but it stays full all the time, with treated waste. When you flush the toilet, what the toilet is forcing in at one end of it, to be treated, displaces an equal amount out the other end, that has already been treated. You don't pump the unit out, it has no pump. It works strictly by displacement, thus it is described as a "flow through" system.

If you choose to have the toilet flush through the MSD, then go on to a holding tank, the contents of the holding tank are not considered (by the Coast Guard) to be treated, and the holding tank may only be emptied at a dockside pumpout facility. Raritan Type I treatment systems are only certified to discharge one flush of the toilet at a time into the water, no more.

As far as other systems go, you'll have to check with that specific manufacturer as to how they work. The Galley Maid "Delta" system and the Groco "Thermopure" systems are also Type I's but they work differently.

Boats over 65 feet need a Type II system or a holding tank; Type I systems aren't legal on the larger boats.

Raritan has come out with their Hold 'N Treat system, which combines a holding tank and a treatment system. With the Hold 'N Treat, everything goes into the holding tank first, then goes through the treatment system at the rate of one flush volume at a time. If you're in a No Discharge Zone, it's simply a holding tank and must be pumped out by a dockside facility when full, just like any other holding tank. But when you leave the No Discharge Zone, you turn it on, and it begins sending measured amounts from the tank to the treatment system for treatment and overboard discharge. It has the capacity to treat approximately 5 gallons/hour.
 
Greetings. Thanks for the responses. I apologize for the delay. I have a Lectra/san. I currently have a holding tank which I would guess is approximately 16 gallons. I wanted to create a configuration where I could install a smaller holding tank, say 6 gallons in place of the existing 16 gallons and through the use of valves and a macerator pump, route sewage from the head to a holding tank, from here having the option to sending it to pumpout oulet or to the Lectra/san for treatment. I did look up the Hold 'N Treat system but that's out of my price range. I guess what I had in mind is basically what the Hold 'N Treat system does. Thanks for the clarification on the 1 flush distinction. I did not research this device as well as I should so I appreciate the education. Additionally, I read something that stated the distance from the head and the Lectra/san should not be more than 6 feet. I have a Raritan Crown head so I don't know if that makes a difference. At any rate, I want to know how feasible it would be to create a configuration using the Lectra/san in conjunction with a holding tank. I have created a couple of drawings I could post for feedback, showing the setup.
Thanks
 
The Hold N Treat option is what you would want, you can get one without the tank a kit of sorts and if you already have a macerator you don't need the Hold N Treat kit's pump. I currently just installed one with a PuraSan I have a 36 gallon holding tank then to discharge the tank I can either go to a pump out station or when out of the numerous NDZ's in New Jersey I can use the Hold N Treat to process the waste. Prior to that when we couldn't find a working pump out we would make a 3 mile run out in the Ocean and dump the tank with a Macerator. The heads distance is not an issue because the transfer pump would take your untreated waste from the holding tank and process it through the LectraSan in your installation. I would look at the H-N-T again without the pump or tank you will save a few bucks and be 100% legal.
Bill
 
I have the same system as Sam. Added a HnT Purasan to an existing holding tank and macerator. Simple key on/off operation. When we anchored out, key is off and turn it on when we go to bed. Never have to go home just because the potty is full.
 
Hey Dominic, how've you been? Haven't heard from you in quite a while. Who did the HNT installation for you? Is it working satisfactorily? Sounds like everything is going well. Regards to Jacky and the kids.
 
Thanks Vic. All is good, system works like a dream, quiet and clean.
 
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