16 • October 10 - 23, 2014 • The Log
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The discharge of black water and gray water became an issue at Oceanside Harbor after someone formally filed a complaint with state officials. While the identity of those who filed the complaint were not revealed, officials from Oceanside and San Diego County reported there were allegations of liveaboards dumping black water into the marina.
Oceanside advisory committee discusses liveaboards, water quality
By Parimal M. Rohit
OCEANSIDE — Amidst complaints of liveaboards discharging black water into the harbor, the Oceanside Harbor and Beaches Advisory Committee discussed concerns of water pollution and state regulation at its Sept. 25 meeting. Mo Lahsaie, an environmental offi- cer with the city of Oceanside, request- ed the topic be discussed at the advisory committee’s third quarter meeting. Speaking in front of a full dais, Lahsaie explained to the eight-member panel there had been complaints of live- aboards dumping black water into the harbor. In the context of boats, the dumping of black water occurs whenever some- one discards waste water from his or her vessel. Conversely, the California Department of Housing and Community Development defines gray water as untreated wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash- basins, clothes washing machines and laundry tubs. Not included within the state’s definition of gray water is waste- water from kitchen sinks or dishwash- ers.
At Oceanside Harbor, Lahsaie said someone filed an anonymous com- plaint with the California EPA about toi-
let waste water being discarded into the harbor.
The complaint was forwarded to the
Regional Water Quality Control Board in San Diego, where a compliance supervi- sor looked into the matter. One question raised at the meeting included how to determine who has open valves. According to Lahsaie, there were sug- gestions for a regional agency to per- form an unannounced boarding of ves- sels to inspect and test open valves and determine whether any illegal black water dumping has been taking place. Oceanside Harbor Manager Paul
Lawrence, who assumed his position in late August, said state and county offi- cials definitely have a legitimate con- cern in regulating black water but he was unaware whether an unannounced boarding ever took place in the harbor. While he has only been the harbor manager for a few weeks, Lawrence said black water has been a nonissue in Oceanside during his brief tenure. “I’m not aware of it being an issue.
I’ve not seen any evidence of dumping here,” Lawrence said. Black water is not easy to miss or
overlook, Lawrence noted, particularly because of the strong smell emanating from the discharge.
“I can’t picture anyone being able to do this without being discovered. It doesn’t dissipate quickly,” Lawrence said. “It’s so easy to lawfully and ethical- ly get black water into the system. I can’t imagine why a boater wouldn’t wish to take advantage of the free pump out.” Lawrence said a pump out station is easily accessible at Oceanside Harbor. Also brought up at the Harbor and
Beaches Advisory Committee meeting was the prospect of off-shore dumping. Specifically, committee member Jim Jenkins asked whether a liveaboard or other boater would be so inclined as to dump black water in the Pacific Ocean. Lawrence confirmed that the dumping of black water in the ocean is lawful. Still, the main concern is how much black water dumping liveaboards are actually doing. Part of the issue is an inability to
know exactly how much black water a boat carries at any given time. Lahsaie said the pump out machines at Oceanside Harbor tabulate the total amount of black water collected during the course of a day, but there is no way to determine amounts collected from individual vessels. Accordingly, Lahsaie suggested a short-term solution.
Management Anchor
“I suggested to our harbor folks that whenever boat owners come in for inspection … the people who live aboard their boats should be inspected every year,” said Lahsaie who added that boat owners are generally required to go through inspections every three years. He also recommended a dye tablet should be used to test leaks of blackwa- ter discharge. Looking further ahead, Lahsaie said the on-site pump out machines will eventually need to be able to give out individual readings of black water lev- els within each vessel. However, the technology to provide such individual readings does not yet exist. Once the technology does become
available, Lahsaie suggested city officials should apply for a grant to help pay for the new equipment. Lahsaie said the new pump out machine, once updated, would be rather expensive. Oceanside Harbor allows up to 90
liveaboards, which is within its regulat- ed limit.
While black water dumping is illegal and the discarding of gray water is heav- ily regulated, there has been little enforcement. Chiara Clemente, a senior environ- mental analyst with the San Diego Water Board’s compliance assurance unit, said her agency has not pursued any enforcement cases since she came on board two years ago. “We have received complaints,” Clemente added, confirming a com- plaint in the state’s database alleging improper maintenance by liveaboards at Oceanside Harbor.
Clemente said her office did visit the harbor and discussed the filed complaints with city leaders. However, no cases were opened. In terms of law enforcement, the
Harbor Police would be the first line of defense in citing anyone who illegally dumps black water into the marina. State agencies could become involved in enforcement if the root cause of ille- gal black water dumping involves mal- functioning pump outs or if local authorities fail to enforce regulations. The Oceanside Harbor Department is looking into developing a program to address black water and gray water dumping.
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Parimal M. Rohit photo
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