BOATsmart! Canada
Knowledge Base

Module 04 - Safe Boat Operation

Black Water and Noise Pollution

Raw untreated sewage is called ‘black water’. Allowing black water to escape into Canada’s waterways is against the law, as it can cause serious bacterial infections, and damage to the environment.

For this reason, the following regulations apply for all boats in Canada:

If your boat is equipped with a marine toilet it must have a holding tank. These tanks store black water until it can be disposed of at an approved pump-out station.
If your boat is fitted with a portable toilet you must ensure that it is securely fastened to the boat, and is equipped with a permanent fixture, which allows it to be emptied at an approved location.
Certain boats are equipped with ‘Y’ valves, which can allow waste to be flushed into the water. These are often illegal, and must be fitted to ensure that black water cannot be spilled into the marine environment.

Noise Pollution

That’s right, noise can be a pollutant too. It’s important to remember that noise can travel much further on the water than in can on land. Ever wonder why you can hear voices from the cottage across the lake? Now you know.

For this reason, boats in Canada may not operate within 5 nautical miles (9.26 km) from shore unless they are equipped with a noise muffling device. A ‘wet exhaust’ is NOT considered a proper noise muffling device. Operators can check with their local Transport Canada office for any exemptions to this rule.

Be kind to your fellow cottagers and lake lovers. Don’t ‘buzz’ around in one area, and keep loud music to a minimum. Remember that creating excess noise on the water disturbs both people on land and your fellow boaters.