What does "black water" mean? Where can it be disposed of?
Updated on: 26/05/2025All rental boats are equipped with one or moreblack water tanks, used to store organic waste from the toilets. These tanks typically hold only a few dozen liters, so they fill up fairly quickly if there are many people on board. It’s important to empty them regularly, which you can do in two ways:
- Either at sea, when you are a certain distance from the coast. There is a lever inside the boat that allows you to activate the grinding and emptying of these tanks. If you have a skipper on board, they will take care of this.
- Or in port, using a dedicated discharge pump, if the marina is equipped with one (in this case, either there’s a pump on the dock, or a specialized boat can come to you). Here’s a video example.
Here are two precautions to keep in mind.
Be careful to empty the black water tanks as often as possible. If you forget, the tank may overflow after 3 or 4 days, which can lead to unpleasant odors.
Under no circumstances should you discharge black water in ports or near an anchorage where people are likely to swim. You risk a hefty fine.
Theoretically, in France, you must be at least 3 miles from the coast (5.5 km) to discharge black water or leave the tanks open. But in practice, it’s especially important to remember to close them properly as you approach an anchorage or a port. Keep in mind that black water is biodegradable and non-polluting.
