Washington Establishes NDZ in Puget Sound

A No Discharge Zone (NDZ) in Puget Sound and certain adjoining waters will become effective May 10. The designation means that boaters may not release sewage, treated or non-treated, into the water. The intent is to prevent pollutants from sewage discharges from impacting shellfish beds, beaches and water quality. The NDZ does not change graywater discharges.

Specific requirements are that onboard marine sanitation devices (MSD) will need to be secured in the closed position by means such as a padlock, wire tie or by closing the seacock and removing the handle. Alternatively, Type I or II MSD’s could be replaced with a Type III holding tank that can be pumped out ashore at a pumpout station.

The Washington Department of Ecology established the NDZ following a five-year public process and EPA approval. The action conforms with the state’s Puget Sound Action Agenda, which addresses other sources of sewage pollutants, such as on-site septic systems, stormwater and agricultural runoff. The NDZ was a key action for the Shellfish Restoration initiative under the action agenda. This is the first NDZ in Washington.