EPA recommends the following 5 steps for citizens to help reduce pollution from marine sanitation devices:

1. Marina owners and operators should understand and provide information to boaters that improper vessel discharges of sewage can result in beach closures, shellfish contamination, and loss of recreational opportunities;

2. Boaters and other citizens should be encouraged to read the information and to participate in activities that support a clean and healthy aquatic environment;

3. Marina owners and operators should provide clean and safe on-shore sanitary restroom facilities for boaters, and maintain adequate pumpout and dump facilities and encourage their use;

4. Boaters should be encouraged to install and use a Coast Guard-certified Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) appropriate for their vessel and the type of waterbody where the vessel will be operated (information on MSDs is available at http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regulatory/index.html and they should also be encouraged to learn how to use and maintain their MSDs properly, and to learn how to use marina pumpout stations for Type III MSDs; and;

5. Citizens should report violations of the MSD program to their local Coast Guard station (listed in the telephone book or located at www.USCG.mil).