SECTION 4: Management Measures

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4.13. BOATING CLEANING

Management Measure for Boat Cleaning:

For boats that are in the water, perform cleaning operations to minimize, to the

extent practicable, the release to surface waters of (a) harmful cleaners and

solvents and (b) paint from in-water hull cleaning

Management Measure Description

Preventing the entry of chemicals from boat

cleaners, cleaning solvents, and antifoulant paint

into marina waters is the most direct way to

prevent harm to the aquatic environment from

these products. The management practices

associated with this management measure are

easily implemented. They can be practiced by

boat owners and marina managers alike, and they

do not interfere with the need to keep boats clean.

Marina employees and boat owners use a variety

of boat cleaners, such as teak cleaners, fiberglass

polishers, and detergents, and boats are usually

cleaned while in the water or onshore adjacent to

the water. Some of the cleaner used ultimately

ends up in the water. Additionally, when boat

bottoms are cleaned aggressively while boats are

in the water, antifouling paint can be abraded off

and deposited into marina waters and sediments.

This management measure is aimed at minimizing

the release of harmful ingredients in cleaners,

bottom paints, and harmful residues on boat hulls

to marina basin waters.

Many cleaners contain harsh chlorine, ammonia,

phosphates, and other caustic chemicals that harm

fish and other aquatic life. If a product’s label

warns about potential harm to people’s skin or

eyes, the product is most likely harmful to aquatic

life. Some chemicals in these cleaners

bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms (that is, they

become more concentrated as they are ingested

successively by animals higher on the food chain)

and could eventually bioaccumulate in fish or

shellfish that are be eaten by people, posing a

health risk.

Under the Clean Water Act, the NPDES Storm

Water Permit Program defines boat wash water

as “processed water.” Discharge of any processed

water by a marina or boatyard is illegal nationwide

without a formal permit from EPA or a state

government. This permit requirement does not

apply to boat owners who are cleaning their own

boats, but it does apply to anyone who professionally cleans boats in a marina.

If work is done sensibly, chemicals and debris

from washing boat topsides, decks, and wetted

hull surfaces while boats are in the water can be

kept out of the water.

Cleaning boats that are transported from one

waterbody to another is important to preventing

the spread of exotic species, and it is a highly

recommended practice.

Applicability

This management measure primarily concerns the

actions of boat owners, and the BMPs are to be

implemented primarily by individual boat owners.

The information contained here is provided to

educate marina managers about the importance of

these measures in maintaining a clean marina, and

marina managers are encouraged to incorporate

the BMPs mentioned here into education programs and staff activities.

Best Management Practices

♦ Wash boat hulls above the waterline by

hand. Where feasible, remove boats from

the water and clean them where debris can

be captured and properly disposed of.
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National Management Measures Guidance

Washing the boat hull by hand (that is, not by

pressure washing) reduces the amount of abrasion to the hull, which results in less paint chipped

off and less debris lost to the marina basin. Where

feasible, remove boats from the water and clean

them where debris can be captured and properly

disposed of.

♦ Attempt to wash boats frequently enough

that the use of cleansers will not be necessary.

Frequent washings with water alone can prevent

a boat from reaching a point at which abrasive or

caustic cleansers are necessary to adequately

clean the hull or topsides. This practice will help

prevent the possibility of spilling chemicals into the

water.

♦ If using cleansers, buy and use ones that

will have minimal impact on the aquatic

environment.

“Nontoxic” and “phosphate-free” cleaners are

available and friendlier to the environment than

products with toxic components. Products that

carry safety warnings about the harm they can

cause to people (Figure 4-24) can harm the

environment as well.

Although “biodegradable” sounds good, it does not

mean that a product is nontoxic. Biodegradable

products are those which can be broken down by

bacteria, other organisms, or natural processes.

The degradation of “biodegradable” products in

water uses dissolved oxygen, and therefore these

products can lower dissolved oxygen levels. Also,

some products might not biodegrade in aquatic

environments—freshwater or marine.

♦ Switch to long-lasting and low-toxicity or

nontoxic antifouling paints.

Considerable progress has been made in antifouling paint technology in recent years, and more

improvements are expected that will reduce and

effectively eliminate the toxicity of hull paints and

increase their ability to keep hulls free of fouling

growth for longer periods. Silicone-based and

hard-surfaced, nonablative copper metal-based

paints are such recent innovations. In general,

harder paints last longer, and some reduce the

need to repaint boat bottoms to once every 10

years. More information on antifoulant paints and

specifications is available on the Internet (search

on “antifoulants”) or can be provided by a marine

paint supplier.

♦ Avoid in-the-water hull scraping or any

abrasive process done underwater that

could remove paint from the boat hull.

Any hull cleaning performed in the water will

remove the least amount of paint if done with

something soft. Mechanical underwater scrubbing

machines can scrape and chip off antifouling paint

and encourage fouling growth on the hull.

Frequent hand washing of hulls should not cause

any paint to abrade or chip off but can adequately

remove scum and fouling organisms.

In-the-water hull cleaning performed by divers

should also be done in a manner that does not

remove paint from the hull.

♦ Ensure that adequate precautions have

been taken to minimize the spread of exotic

and invasive species when boats are transferred from one waterbody to another.

Boat owners should be aware of the importance

of thoroughly cleaning boats taken from waters

known to be inhabited by exotic or invasive

species. Some species can be introduced to new

waterbodies this way. Generally, the spread of

exotic and invasive species can be controlled by

washing a boat in hot water and letting it thoroughly dry for a minimum of 5 days before putting

the boat into a different waterbody. The recomWARNING: EYE IRRITANT. Avoid contact with eyes. May cause skin irritation. For sensitive

skin or prolonged use wear gloves. Use with adequate ventilation. FIRST AID: EYES—-rinse

eyes with water for 15 minutes, call a physician. SKIN—rinse with water. IF SWALLOWED—-

drink a glassful of water. Call a physician. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.

Figure 4-24. Warning sign that indicates toxicity to both people and the environment.
SECTION 4: Management Measures

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waterbodies connected to a marina’s waters, or

where patrons from a marina are known to visit.

♦ Minimize the impacts of wastewater from

pressure washing.

There are several ways to treat the wastewater

from pressure washing to remove the paint chips

or particles that might be present:

• Settling: Trap the water in a container and

allow it to sit long enough after washing to

permit any particles to settle out of the

water. This method will remove only the

particles large enough to settle out of

solution.

• Filtration: Wastewater can be passed

through one or more filters that screen out

particles. A filter cloth used at the wash site

can be effective for straining out visible

particles. Additional filtration is achieved by

using a series of filters with smaller and

smaller mesh sizes.

• Treatment: Chemical or biological cleaning

technologies can be used to treat the wasteAssociated Marine Technologies (Florida) installed a closed-loop pressure washing system for

boat bottoms.

• Green Cove Marina (New Jersey) designed its own sump drain system and lift pump under the

boat lift. The system pushes dirty water into a filter and recycling system consisting of three

55-gallon filtering drums and a 225-gallon holding tank. The debris is dried and sent to a landfill.

• Harbour Towne Marina (Florida) installed a wastewater filtration system to clean the power wash

water to meet the county’s gray water standards for discharge into the municipal sewer system.

A concrete washing pad slopes down to a central drain, where the washwater is filtered and

treated with three different chemicals. The marina hauled and washed 650 boats in the

1994–1995 season.

• Summerfield Boat Works (Florida) installed a water filtration system that includes an ultraviolet

light ozone generator to oxidize all dissolved pollutants and erase odor. The wastewater is then

recycled within the marina. The boatyard pays for its wastewater treatment program by charging

an Environmental Cost Obligation for each boat hauled for pressure washing.

(USEPA, 1996: Clean Marina—Clear Value)

mendations for specific species vary, and information should be provided to boaters about any

exotic or invasive species known to occur in

water and remove contaminants. Treatment

can remove oil and grease, metals, or other

contaminants. Once wastewater has been

treated, it can be discharged into marina

waters or a sanitary sewer (check local

regulations) or can be reused at the marina

for more boat washing or grounds watering.

Effluent from pressure washing usually requires a

storm water discharge permit, issued by the state

or locality. Closed loop or zero discharge pressure

wash systems usually do not require a permit.

Check with the appropriate environmental authority before discharging any effluent to a sewer

system.

BMP Summary Table 13 summarizes the BMPs

for Boat Cleaning mentioned in this guidance.