Shoreside Facilities and Pet Waste Management
Definition
Bacteria from shoreside restrooms and uncontrolled pet waste can contaminate waters around the marina. Shoreside sanitary facilities should be functioning properly to protect public health and the environment. Keeping them clean will reflect well on your business. Dirty, wet, and dark restrooms are often a source of complaints from boaters.
Uncontrolled use of the marina by visiting pets can also create a nuisance. Waste from pets, especially dogs, whether on a marina dock, walkway, or lawn is a major source of complaints from barefoot boaters. Pets should be led to designated walking areas and their owners should take responsibility for properly disposing of pet waste. This section covers some of the BMPs for shoreside facilities and pet waste management.
Legal Requirements
The following laws apply to shoreside facilities. Please note that many municipalities have enacted local bylaws that regulate pet waste.
- Massachusetts State Sanitary Code Title 5
- Massachusetts Waterways Regulations
Best Management Practices
Shoreside Sanitary Facilities Management
- Shoreside facilities make a strong impression on your customers. Take the following steps to be sure that they are pleasing to your visitors and protect the environment.
- Clean Restrooms: Provide clean, safe, dry, ell-lit, and ventilated restrooms for your customers 24 hours a day. Some marinas clean their restrooms four or more times a day on busy summer weekends. Other marinas have found that contracting out restroom cleaning is cost effective.
- Convenient Restroom: Locate restrooms convenient to all boats, especially for guests sleeping overnight on weekends.
- Septic System Maintenance: Ensure proper functioning and management of shoreside facilities including septic systems and sewer connections. Pump your septic tank on a regular basis.
- Dishwashing/Laundry Facilities: Provide an area near the restrooms where boaters can clean their dishes. Also, consider providing laundry facilities for your customers. Encouraging boaters to use on-shore facilities that provide adequate waste - and washwater treatment will decrease the amount of untreated wastes that enter coastal waters.
Pet Waste Management
Proper management is essential for setting ground rules for pets at the marina, avoiding conflicts between marina users over pet issues, and reducing the impacts of pet waste on marina waters. The following BMPs are important to an effective pet waste management program.
- Dog Walking Areas: Provide a specific dog walk area at the marina with signs to direct customers.
- Pet Waste Disposal: Require marina customers to immediately clean up all pet feces. Provide free disposable dog scoop or litter bags to boaters and ask them to dispose of the material in the marina dumpster. Also consider installing mini septic systems for pet waste. These systems are buried in the ground and have a lid on top for dropping the waste in. They also come with a digester enzyme. Pet septic systems are available in many pet catalogs for a low cost (<$50). One such product is called the "Doggie Doolie."
- Pet Regulations: Include relevant pet rules and regulations in patron contracts and signage.
- Litter Box Use and Disposal: Encourage cat owners to maintain litter boxes on their boats and to dispose of used litter in appropriate trash receptacles.
- Wildlife Feeding Rules: Prohibit the feeding of wild birds or animals at marinas. Consider posting "No Feeding Wildlife" signs around marina grounds and having staff casually educate children and adults on the negative effects of wildlife feeding.
Useful Contact
The State Sanitary Code regulations (310 CMR 15.00) are available from the MA Department of Environmental Protection website at: www.state.ma.us/dep/brp/wwm/t5pubs.htm#regs.