The solutions of the past are no longer sufficient to assure that contaminants do not reach the waterways, which we use. Such common solutions as having a package of oil sorbent material bouncing around in the bilge cannot assure that oil and other potential contaminants such as grease, solvents, and other substances are removed from the bilge water prior to discharge. Although the oil sorbent bundle may be capable of separating oil which it contacts, it is not likely to contact all oil, especially when storm water quickly enters the bilge and must be pumped out quickly. Also, oil sand and grit, which is in the bilge, will be pumped overboard without any impact from the oil sorbent material. Marina operators are constantly faced with potential problems resulting form overfills when fueling boats at their docks, spills resulting from boat mechanical work such as oil changing, winterizing, spring make-ready, bilge drainage while boats are in dry storage, cleaning operations, painting, and many other normal work activities.
Contaminants can either enter the ground on which the marina sits or runoff to the local waterways.
Both pose problems to the marina. Should the contaminants seep into the ground, the land will gradually become contaminated. When the land is sold, an environmental survey will be required and the contamination will be discovered. At this time, the current owner will be faced with the cost of removing the contaminated soil at his expense. It is likely they will increase with time.