Y-Valve education pilot program

The Y-Valve Education Pilot Program is a voluntary program, designed to educate boat owners and operators about vessel sewage systems and best practices for managing blackwater in the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone. The aim is to show boaters how to find and operate the Y-valve, how to secure it in the closed position, and how to tell if the onboard head system is in good working order. Participating marinas and yacht clubs will use dye tabs to check for vessel system leaks and Y-valve closures during routine inspections that occur upon lease initiation, renewal, or other times determined by the marina or yacht club. 

No. This is an educational program. It is one part of our ongoing efforts to develop and implement a comprehensive education and outreach program for the Puget Sound No Discharge Zone. We hope to use this program to reduce accidental and deliberate discharges of sewage in the No Discharge Zone. The visual observation of a dye in the surface water body will help boat owners and operators determine whether their marine sanitation devices (MSD) are sealed and functioning properly. The dye tabs will serve as prompts to remind them about the No Discharge Zone rule.

If a sewage discharge is found during this program, the marina or yacht club staff will educate the boater about proper sewage storage and disposal, and zip tie valves or close them in another way to prevent any further discharges from the vessel. The emphasis should be on communicating best management practices and the No Discharge Zone rule requirements with tenants and guests of the marina or yacht clubs.

Marinas and yacht clubs participating in the pilot are expected to:

• Complete the participating marina and yacht club form to indicate your commitment to participate in the program.
• Attend an on-boarding webinar organized by Ecology to go over the program and answer your questions.
• Review training materials to educate you about the program, your role, what information will be collected, and ensure that your staff is aware of the pilot program and basic No Discharge Zone rule information.
• Use Ecology provided dye tabs when inspecting vessels moored at your marina. Drop dye tabs in the boat toilet and ask the boat owner or operator to flush their onboard toilet and check the water surrounding the vessel for dye.
• Check the Y-valve during inspections, record when it’s found in the open position, and use Ecology provided zip-ties to secure the Y-valve in the closed position before deboarding.
• Educate boaters about the importance of preventing sewage discharges in the No Discharge Zone and how to secure their marine sanitation devices.
• Document the total number of boats inspected using dye tabs, number of Y-valves found open, and the number of sewage discharges identified, if any.

If a sewage discharge is found during this pilot, the marina or yacht club staff will educate the boater about proper sewage storage and disposal, and zip tie valves or close them in another way to prevent any further discharges from the vessel. The emphasis should be on communicating best management practices and the No Discharge Zone rule requirements with tenants and guests of the marina or yacht clubs.

• It is a good opportunity to demonstrate to your tenants the proper way to secure their Y- valves and prevent sewage discharges.
• You provide the boat owner or operator with information about their marine sanitation devices by identifying potential problems caused by leaks or incorrect use.
• It's a chance to show your tenants that you are a clean marina who cares about water quality.
• Your marina receives free complimentary dye tabs, zip ties, and educational materials provided by Ecology.
• With your approval, we may feature your efforts in our social media feed, blog posts, webpage, or other education materials which can illustrate your commitment to clean boating to the entire Puget Sound community.

If you want out, no problem. Just notify us of your intent to withdraw (email justine.asohmbom@ecy.wa.gov or call 425-495-1569).

Once the pilot wraps up, Ecology will reach out to participants to collect and analyze the vessel inspection data collected (number of boats inspected, dye tabs used, Y-valves found open, discharges identified, etc.). We will also conduct a follow up survey about your experiences, such as challenges, benefits, and lessons learned. We hope to make this feedback process as easy as possible.

After we’ve received the data and feedback, we will review the information and then determine if and how this pilot program could or should be developed into a full-scale ongoing education program.