Keeping Allatoona Lake Clean
GA Department of Natural Resources
-Law Enforcement Division
The waters of Allatoona Lake provide great opportunities for those in the greater Atlanta area for recreation and family fun. Allatoona Lake receives more than 6.5 million visitors each year; most of those visitors are between May and September. There are also 8 marinas located on the lake that hold hundreds of boats from small sail boats to large 120 feet house boats. This much boating activity leads to a large amount of incidental fuel and oil spillage into the water from just normal boat operation. However, each year there are more and more complaints of sewage being dumped into Allatoona Lake from marine toilets which are being operated on the water.
The Georgia General Assembly has found that because of the increasing number of marine toilets being operated on several lakes throughout the state, “…for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare to prohibit the discharge of sewage from such vessels into the waters of such lakes.” (OCGA 52-7-8.1, a1) (Sewage is defined as human body wastes and the waste from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body wastes. OCGA 52-7-3, 23) Any vessel that is operated or floated on Allatoona Lake must not be capable of discharging sewage, treated or untreated, except by pumping out. This also applies to portable marine toilets. The vessels plumbing must not be equipped with a “Y” valve, which allows the holding tank to either be emptied over the side or emptied by pumping out. The mere presence of a “Y” valve is a violation of the law. In order to maintain compliance with the law follow the guidelines below:
1. If you have a marine toilet you must apply for a marine toilet certificate. This certificate cost $5.00 and must be displayed on your vessel. Also, each vessel that is operated or floated on protected fresh waters, and Allatoona Lake is protected, must be registered. The registration fee varies based on the length of the vessel.
2. Check your plumbing. If you locate a “Y” valve, which may be close to your holding tank, have the “Y” valve removed. It may be necessary to contact a plumber or a marine mechanic to complete this repair.
3. Maintain a pump out log. This is required by law and must have the following information-the name and location of pump-out facilities used and the dates of such use. This record must be maintained for at least one year after the creation. (Example-If the record is started in January 2012, that record should be available for review until January 2014.)
4. If you are the owner of a pump-out facility you must maintain a record, the same as above, and also indicate the name or vessel registration number, the date of pump-out, and verification of the pump-out.
It is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Law Enforcement Division to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to marine toilets. These officers can often be found walking marina docks to check marine toilets and records to maintain compliance with the law. However, due to the amount of boating activity around Allatoona Lake these officers are not always around when violations occur. If you witness any sewage being discharged into the lake please contact your local Conservation Officer at 1-800-241-4113 and provide the call taker with as much information as possible about the violation location, boat description, boat registration, and time of violation. You can remain anonymous if you so desire. Allatoona Lake is one of our area’s greatest natural resource; let’s keep it clean for generations to come. For more information on boating, boat registration, or marine toilets please visit www.goboatgeorgia.com.
GA Department of Natural Resources
-Law Enforcement Division
The waters of Allatoona Lake provide great opportunities for those in the greater Atlanta area for recreation and family fun. Allatoona Lake receives more than 6.5 million visitors each year; most of those visitors are between May and September. There are also 8 marinas located on the lake that hold hundreds of boats from small sail boats to large 120 feet house boats. This much boating activity leads to a large amount of incidental fuel and oil spillage into the water from just normal boat operation. However, each year there are more and more complaints of sewage being dumped into Allatoona Lake from marine toilets which are being operated on the water.
The Georgia General Assembly has found that because of the increasing number of marine toilets being operated on several lakes throughout the state, “…for the protection of the public health, safety, and welfare to prohibit the discharge of sewage from such vessels into the waters of such lakes.” (OCGA 52-7-8.1, a1) (Sewage is defined as human body wastes and the waste from toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body wastes. OCGA 52-7-3, 23) Any vessel that is operated or floated on Allatoona Lake must not be capable of discharging sewage, treated or untreated, except by pumping out. This also applies to portable marine toilets. The vessels plumbing must not be equipped with a “Y” valve, which allows the holding tank to either be emptied over the side or emptied by pumping out. The mere presence of a “Y” valve is a violation of the law. In order to maintain compliance with the law follow the guidelines below:
1. If you have a marine toilet you must apply for a marine toilet certificate. This certificate cost $5.00 and must be displayed on your vessel. Also, each vessel that is operated or floated on protected fresh waters, and Allatoona Lake is protected, must be registered. The registration fee varies based on the length of the vessel.
2. Check your plumbing. If you locate a “Y” valve, which may be close to your holding tank, have the “Y” valve removed. It may be necessary to contact a plumber or a marine mechanic to complete this repair.
3. Maintain a pump out log. This is required by law and must have the following information-the name and location of pump-out facilities used and the dates of such use. This record must be maintained for at least one year after the creation. (Example-If the record is started in January 2012, that record should be available for review until January 2014.)
4. If you are the owner of a pump-out facility you must maintain a record, the same as above, and also indicate the name or vessel registration number, the date of pump-out, and verification of the pump-out.
It is the responsibility of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources-Law Enforcement Division to enforce the laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to marine toilets. These officers can often be found walking marina docks to check marine toilets and records to maintain compliance with the law. However, due to the amount of boating activity around Allatoona Lake these officers are not always around when violations occur. If you witness any sewage being discharged into the lake please contact your local Conservation Officer at 1-800-241-4113 and provide the call taker with as much information as possible about the violation location, boat description, boat registration, and time of violation. You can remain anonymous if you so desire. Allatoona Lake is one of our area’s greatest natural resource; let’s keep it clean for generations to come. For more information on boating, boat registration, or marine toilets please visit www.goboatgeorgia.com.
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