GBA Update Summer 2024

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The second key finding from the Canada Shipping Act were the requirements to be met before discharging blackwater. Discharge must pass through a marine sanitation device and the effluent must have a fecal coliform count that is equal of to or less than 250 fecal coliform count/100 mL of water. The discharged effluent cannot cause a film/sheen, discolouration or a deposit on or underneath the water or shoreline. Additional environmental policies and regulatory frameworks apply to these cruise ships, including the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Cruise the Great Lakes Sustainability Pledge, and the Great Lakes Cruise Association statement. Through this information-gathering report, we were able to clarify several issues of potential concern: ≥ There are no designated sewage areas in the Great Lakes. ≥ No cruise ship discharges their blackwater at any of the ports. ≥ Four of the six cruise ships were able to confirm on-board treatment systems. ≥ There are several laws and policies to regulate the discharge of treated blackwater. The one area that remains an area of concern is the storage, treatment, and discharge of greywater on these cruise ships. This information was not readily available, and the Canada Shipping Act regulations must be more specific for cruise ships with less than 500 passengers. GBA will continue to follow up with Transport Canada and advocate for more precise regulations regarding the discharge of greywater, emphasizing the urgency and necessity of addressing this issue.

Here is some helpful information on understanding the measure of fecal coliform: ≥ E. coli is a subgroup of fecal coliform, and fecal coliform is a subgroup of total coliform. ≥ Measuring fecal coliform is an inexpensive indicator that a body of water may have recently been contaminated with human waste, which could possibly pose a health risk. ≥ The term “fecal coliform count” represents a cluster of fecal coliform bacteria. ≥ The standard for fecal coliform for drinking water quality in Ontario is not detectable/100 mL. ≥ The standard for fecal coliform for recreational water quality standards in Canada is equal to or less than 200 E. coli /100 mL (90% of fecal coliform are E. coli ).

The Pearl Mist cruise ship near Penetanguishene

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Contact: heathersanne.s7@gmail.com or 647-922-7891 for info

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GBA UPDATE Summer 2024

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