Bilge Care And Preventing Oil Spills

• Never use soaps or detergents to clean oil or fuel – it is illegal and increases the pollution problem.

• Install an on-board bilge filtration system that filters gas, oil or diesel from bilge water before the automatic pump discharges the water.

• Use oil-only absorbents in the bilge, securely fastened to prevent clogging the bilge pump or its sensor, to capture unexpected leaks.

• If you have a large quantity of oil in the bilge, use a bilge pumpout system.

• Never use the sewage pumpout for the bilge.

• If the bilge and/or engine compartment still needs significant cleaning after bilge pumpout, use a steam cleaning service.

• Learn how to use an oil absorbent.

Report Oil and Chemical Spills

• If you see or cause a spill, do not apply soaps to disperse the sheen (it is illegal).

  

• Report spills of oil or chemicals to (800) 424-8802, (800) OILS911, and to the marina office.

• Spill-proof your oil changes and recycle your used oil and oil filters. For recycling locations visit www.Earth911.org or call 1-800-CLEANUP for a collection site near you.

• If you change the engine oil yourself, use a closed system – a portable vacuum oil change pump drained into a container that can be closed to prevent spills during transfer of oil (available at most marine supply stores).

• Do not mix used oil with other waste. Keep it segregated for recycling. Recycle used motor oil, oil filters, and fuel filters at a used oil recycling facility. Look on www.Earth911.org or call 1-800-CLEAUP for a collection site near you.

• Always keep oil-only absorbents on hand to wipe up spills.

• Saturated oil-absorbents are hazardous wastes and must be disposed of at the marina, the fuel dock, or at a hazardous waste disposal facility. For a statewide list of marinas collecting used oil absorbents visit www.coastal.ca.gov/ccbn/mobileservices.pdf or on www.Earth911.org or call 1-800-CLEAUP for a collection site near you.

Use Safe, Spill-Proof Fueling Practices

• SAFETY: prevent fires by shutting off motors, lights, and electrical equipment. Extinguish cigarettes and any other sources of ignition.

• Keep fuel-soaked absorbents away from sources of ignition. Close doors, hatches, ports, and entryways and turn off blowers.

• Maintain nozzle contact with the fill pipe to prevent static Spark and spills.

• Do not rely on the automatic shut-off nozzle to prevent spills; they do not shut off in time.

• Know the capacity of your tank and leave it at least 5% empty because fuel expands.

• Hold an absorbent sheet under the nozzle to catch drips, and properly dispose of fuel-soaked absorbents as hazardous waste.

Fueling Built-in Tanks

• Fill tanks slowly to prevent overflows from the air vent. Avoid “topping off” the tank.

• Attach a fuel spill container to cover the air vent and catch spills (if available).

• Install fuel-air separator in air vent line to prevent
• spills or “splash back.”

• When fueling, keep your hand at the air vent or listen – air gushes when the tank is nearly full.

• At the end of boating season, leave tank full to reduce corrosion and condensation. Add fuel stabilizer to prevent stale gas.

• Fuel on land whenever possible.

• Use funnels to fill portable tanks, or spill-proof portable containers, and keep oil-only absorbents on hand to catch spills.

• Prevent stale gas by leaving fuel tank empty during long periods of inactivity.

MORE INFORMATION:

Learn more about boat–to-boat mobile services.

Learn more about environmental laws associated with oil and fuel.