Watercraft Decontamination
***New Ontario Regulations for Boaters to Prevent Spread of Invasive Species - January 2022***
The Ontario Government has introduced new regulations for boaters to help stop the spread of invasive species. These regulations took effect on January 1, 2022.
The province passed a series of amendments to the Invasive Species Act that will recognize certain watercraft and related equipment as vectors of spread for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). This means that there are now limitations that concern the movement of watercraft between water bodies in order to prevent accidental transportation of aquatic hitchhikers. For instance, watercraft such as motorboats, rowboats, canoes, punts, sailboats, rafts, or other related equipment may only be transported if drain plugs and other devices used to control drainage of water have been opened or removed. A summary of the changes follows:
Carrier - overland movement of watercraftWatercraft and watercraft equipment are regulated as carriers under the Invasive Species Act, 2015.
Rules:
ii. reasonable measures have been taken to remove any aquatic plants, animals or, algae from the watercraft, watercraft equipment, and any vehicle or trailer used to transport the watercraft or watercraft equipment overland
The Ontario Government has introduced new regulations for boaters to help stop the spread of invasive species. These regulations took effect on January 1, 2022.
The province passed a series of amendments to the Invasive Species Act that will recognize certain watercraft and related equipment as vectors of spread for Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS). This means that there are now limitations that concern the movement of watercraft between water bodies in order to prevent accidental transportation of aquatic hitchhikers. For instance, watercraft such as motorboats, rowboats, canoes, punts, sailboats, rafts, or other related equipment may only be transported if drain plugs and other devices used to control drainage of water have been opened or removed. A summary of the changes follows:
Carrier - overland movement of watercraftWatercraft and watercraft equipment are regulated as carriers under the Invasive Species Act, 2015.
Rules:
- A person shall not transport watercraft overland, unless
ii. reasonable measures have been taken to remove any aquatic plants, animals or, algae from the watercraft, watercraft equipment, and any vehicle or trailer used to transport the watercraft or watercraft equipment overland
- Prior to reaching a launch site for a body of water, the watercraft, watercraft equipment and any vehicle or trailer used to transport the watercraft or watercraft equipment must not have an aquatic plant, animal or algae attached to it
- No person shall place a watercraft, watercraft equipment, or any vehicle or trailer used to transport a watercraft into any body of water if the watercraft, watercraft equipment, vehicle or trailer has an aquatic plant, animal or, algae attached.
Decontamination of Watercraft and Watercraft-Related Equipment
Source: www.gov.mb.ca/stopais/spread/decontamination.html
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Step-by-step method to clean, drain, dry and decontaminate a watercraft, trailer or water-related equipment removed from an AIS invaded water body.
The most effective way to kill aquatic invasive species (AIS), including zebra mussels, is the use of extremely hot water. There is no need to use soap or chemicals. They are ineffective on zebra mussels and may cause damage to the aquatic environment. The measures described here must be used on land away from another water body or drainage system such as a storm sewer or roadside ditch. |
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Do not attempt decontamination using a car wash facility. Water temperatures are inadequate and failure to kill zebra mussels during the decontamination process can result in spreading zebra mussels to the facility's infrastructure, to municipal infrastructure or to a water body through a drainage system such as a storm sewer.
Caution: Before beginning to clean or decontaminate water equipment, consult the owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications to make sure the equipment can withstand required temperatures and, pressures you may wish to use.
Watercraft, trailer, and water-related equipment may be decontaminated by :
Decontamination using hot water
This can be a three-step process.
NOTE: Any watercraft, trailer or water-related equipment used in zebra mussel invaded water bodies, such as in the Central Control Zone, must be decontaminated with hot water before being placed into any other water body. High pressure hot water treatment is required as a second step if the watercraft, and water-related equipment has been moored or left in the water in a zebra mussel control zone for 12 hours or more. Use of high pressure ensures AIS have been completely removed from the watercraft. This ensures compliance with federal and provincial AIS regulations prohibiting possessing live or dead zebra mussels.
Step 1: Hot Water (thermal) TreatmentHot water (thermal) treatment at low pressure is always the first step of a decontamination. To ensure AIS is being killed then removed, these methods must be followed in the specified order below.
Never use a hot water together with a high pressure rinse first. AIS such as zebra mussel may not be successfully killed if using hot water at high pressure. This can lead to live zebra mussels entering un-invaded water bodies or access to municipal drain infrastructure resulting in zebra mussel-clogged pipes.
All surfaces that come into contact with a water body must be thoroughly decontaminated using low pressure, hot water. This includes the watercraft's exterior (ex: hull, motor), interior (live wells) and any equipment such as anchors, PFDs, nets, float cushions/belts, chains, ropes, fenders as well as the trailer and backend of the motor vehicle.
NOTE: Consult your owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications before carrying out a decontamination to ensure the areas or items being treated can withstand the required temperatures and pressures.
There are two hot water (thermal) treatment options available depending on the item being treated --Soak or rinse.
Soak (completely submerge) water-related equipment in a container for a minimum of 10 seconds in hot water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F) . Increase the contact time to 70 seconds for hard-to-reach or sensitive areas that do not receive direct contact with the hot water.
or
Rinse all surfaces of watercraft or water-related equipment that were exposed to the water body with hot water for a specific duration of time (see below). For a watercraft, focus on areas from the waterline down. Slowly and methodically thermally treat the watercraft or water-related equipment by ensuring all surfaces come in contact with the hot water.
A decontamination rinse, unless specified otherwise, is to be performed using low pressure (40-60 psi), hot water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F), ensuring at least 10 seconds of exposure to all surfaces. The nozzle where the water is exiting the hose can come into very close contact or direct contact with the surface being treated. The water must be sprayed at no more than 10 cm (4 inches) from the surface being treated.
Engine Decontamination Hot Water Treatment
Option 1: Use an appropriate flushing attachment for your motor's water intake/water intake port (motor muffs for outboard/outdrive motors; fake-a-lake for inboard/v-drive motors). Connect the attachment to a hot water source and use 60° C (140° F) water. Start the flow of water, then start and run your motor in neutral for 130 seconds to flush and kill any mussels in the engine cooling system. Monitor the engine temperature gauge to ensure the motor does not overheat. If water does not exit the telltale of the motor within 10 seconds, stop the motor. Recheck the muff seal, closely examine the water intake ports and check water intake screens for evidence of mussels or other blockage. Then try the motor flush again. If no water is seen emptying out of the telltale on the third try, contact a marine dealer for assistance. When completing the motor flush, shut down the engine first, then shut off the water supply. Disconnect all attachments and allow motor to drain.
Option 2: Fill a container (ex: a 44-gallon garbage container or flushing bag) with 60° C (140° F) hot water and drop the lower unit of the motor into the container ensuring the water intakes are submerged in the water. Start and run your motor in neutral for 130 seconds. Remove motor from container and allow the motor to drain. Dispose of the water used for the motor flush on land away from any water body or drain.
Step 2: High-pressure Treatment
Pressure-washing your watercraft, trailer and water-related equipment can help to remove any remaining attached mussels that have been killed by the thermal treatment.
Use a power washer capable of producing 3,000 to 3,500 psi. Be sure to use a nozzle head that directs the water in a fan-like spray. A 40-degree flat fan spray is recommended. Do not use a pinpoint (zero-degree) spray, as this could damage the watercraft. Note that the use of high pressure may cause damage to some areas (e.g., gimbal area, transducers, motor, trim tabs) and that these should be avoided.
Spray the watercraft from 12-16 inches away at a 45° angle from the surface. With the flat fan spraying vertically, move the wand horizontally and systematically covering all areas of the hull and trailer that were exposed to water body. In one foot sections, typically starting just above the high water mark working towards the bottom centre line of the boat before moving to the next section and again starting from the top. Allow the spray to follow the length of the watercraft hull as you move from the front to the back of the watercraft. See figure below for placement, direction and movement of high-pressure wand.
NOTE: Consult your owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications before carrying out a decontamination to ensure the areas or items being treated can withstand the required temperatures and pressures.
Step 3: DryingWater-related equipment, watercraft and trailers must be completely dry prior to being placed into another water body.
It is good guidance to subject the water-related equipment, watercraft and trailers to the hot summer sun. It is important to note, the time it takes for items to dry increases dramatically in the spring and fall due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity. To facilitate drying, keep the watercraft uncovered and open all compartments.
How to decontaminate specific areas of the watercraftThermal treatments must be conducted on all surfaces that have come in contact with water including:
Internal Systems: Decontaminate by rinsing/flushing all internal systems of the watercraft or water-related equipment that were exposed to a water body, including the engine cooling system, air conditioning system or domestic water systems. Decontamination must be performed by flushing all internal compartments with minimum 50° C (122° F) water for 130 seconds.
Hard to Reach Areas: Thoroughly rinse all hard-to-reach areas and areas of the watercraft with low pressure water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F). Note that the use of high pressure may cause damage to some areas (ex: gimbal area, transducers, motor, trim tabs). A watercraft-friendly brush may be used with the hot water to help remove mussels from hard to reach areas. Using low pressure, maintain a contact time of at least 10 seconds with the nozzle where the water is exiting the hose can come into very close contact or preferably direct contact with the surface being treated. Direct contact to hot water is the most effective way to kill zebra mussels. For areas that do not receive direct contact with the hot water, increase the contact time to 70 seconds. Heating up the surrounding surfaces for a prolonged period of time around the area that cannot be directly contacted by the hot water can be effective for killing inaccessible AIS such as zebra mussels.
On-board Compartments: Decontaminate the live well, bait well, wet storage compartments, bilge areas by flushing the surface thoroughly with 50° C (120° F) water for 90 seconds, or filling compartment with 50° C (120° F) water and letting it stand for at least 130 seconds before draining.
Ballast Tanks: Decontaminate the ballast tanks by filling each ballast tank with maximum 50° C (120° F) water for a minimum of 130 seconds prior to draining.
Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipment (Schedule C)If water-related equipment removed from a water body cannot be completely dried prior to placing it into another water body, the water-related equipment must be decontaminated using one of the measures indicated in the table below.
Water-related equipment could also be taken to a provincially-operated Watercraft Inspection Station to be decontaminated with hot water.
Here is a short video showing how individual boaters can help by implementing a Clean, Drain, Dry approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKZgcVFyULw
Caution: Before beginning to clean or decontaminate water equipment, consult the owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications to make sure the equipment can withstand required temperatures and, pressures you may wish to use.
Watercraft, trailer, and water-related equipment may be decontaminated by :
- using with very hot water (see step by step below or
- exposing the watercraft to temperatures below -10° C / 14° F for three consecutive days
Decontamination using hot water
This can be a three-step process.
- Use extremely hot, low pressure water to kill zebra mussels and other AIS;
- Use high pressure spray to physically remove any hard-to-reach or see AIS that may remain attached after the clean, drain, dry, and dispose steps; and
- Allow everything to dry.
NOTE: Any watercraft, trailer or water-related equipment used in zebra mussel invaded water bodies, such as in the Central Control Zone, must be decontaminated with hot water before being placed into any other water body. High pressure hot water treatment is required as a second step if the watercraft, and water-related equipment has been moored or left in the water in a zebra mussel control zone for 12 hours or more. Use of high pressure ensures AIS have been completely removed from the watercraft. This ensures compliance with federal and provincial AIS regulations prohibiting possessing live or dead zebra mussels.
Step 1: Hot Water (thermal) TreatmentHot water (thermal) treatment at low pressure is always the first step of a decontamination. To ensure AIS is being killed then removed, these methods must be followed in the specified order below.
Never use a hot water together with a high pressure rinse first. AIS such as zebra mussel may not be successfully killed if using hot water at high pressure. This can lead to live zebra mussels entering un-invaded water bodies or access to municipal drain infrastructure resulting in zebra mussel-clogged pipes.
All surfaces that come into contact with a water body must be thoroughly decontaminated using low pressure, hot water. This includes the watercraft's exterior (ex: hull, motor), interior (live wells) and any equipment such as anchors, PFDs, nets, float cushions/belts, chains, ropes, fenders as well as the trailer and backend of the motor vehicle.
NOTE: Consult your owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications before carrying out a decontamination to ensure the areas or items being treated can withstand the required temperatures and pressures.
There are two hot water (thermal) treatment options available depending on the item being treated --Soak or rinse.
Soak (completely submerge) water-related equipment in a container for a minimum of 10 seconds in hot water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F) . Increase the contact time to 70 seconds for hard-to-reach or sensitive areas that do not receive direct contact with the hot water.
or
Rinse all surfaces of watercraft or water-related equipment that were exposed to the water body with hot water for a specific duration of time (see below). For a watercraft, focus on areas from the waterline down. Slowly and methodically thermally treat the watercraft or water-related equipment by ensuring all surfaces come in contact with the hot water.
A decontamination rinse, unless specified otherwise, is to be performed using low pressure (40-60 psi), hot water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F), ensuring at least 10 seconds of exposure to all surfaces. The nozzle where the water is exiting the hose can come into very close contact or direct contact with the surface being treated. The water must be sprayed at no more than 10 cm (4 inches) from the surface being treated.
Engine Decontamination Hot Water Treatment
Option 1: Use an appropriate flushing attachment for your motor's water intake/water intake port (motor muffs for outboard/outdrive motors; fake-a-lake for inboard/v-drive motors). Connect the attachment to a hot water source and use 60° C (140° F) water. Start the flow of water, then start and run your motor in neutral for 130 seconds to flush and kill any mussels in the engine cooling system. Monitor the engine temperature gauge to ensure the motor does not overheat. If water does not exit the telltale of the motor within 10 seconds, stop the motor. Recheck the muff seal, closely examine the water intake ports and check water intake screens for evidence of mussels or other blockage. Then try the motor flush again. If no water is seen emptying out of the telltale on the third try, contact a marine dealer for assistance. When completing the motor flush, shut down the engine first, then shut off the water supply. Disconnect all attachments and allow motor to drain.
Option 2: Fill a container (ex: a 44-gallon garbage container or flushing bag) with 60° C (140° F) hot water and drop the lower unit of the motor into the container ensuring the water intakes are submerged in the water. Start and run your motor in neutral for 130 seconds. Remove motor from container and allow the motor to drain. Dispose of the water used for the motor flush on land away from any water body or drain.
Step 2: High-pressure Treatment
Pressure-washing your watercraft, trailer and water-related equipment can help to remove any remaining attached mussels that have been killed by the thermal treatment.
Use a power washer capable of producing 3,000 to 3,500 psi. Be sure to use a nozzle head that directs the water in a fan-like spray. A 40-degree flat fan spray is recommended. Do not use a pinpoint (zero-degree) spray, as this could damage the watercraft. Note that the use of high pressure may cause damage to some areas (e.g., gimbal area, transducers, motor, trim tabs) and that these should be avoided.
Spray the watercraft from 12-16 inches away at a 45° angle from the surface. With the flat fan spraying vertically, move the wand horizontally and systematically covering all areas of the hull and trailer that were exposed to water body. In one foot sections, typically starting just above the high water mark working towards the bottom centre line of the boat before moving to the next section and again starting from the top. Allow the spray to follow the length of the watercraft hull as you move from the front to the back of the watercraft. See figure below for placement, direction and movement of high-pressure wand.
NOTE: Consult your owner's manual and the manufacturer's specifications before carrying out a decontamination to ensure the areas or items being treated can withstand the required temperatures and pressures.
Step 3: DryingWater-related equipment, watercraft and trailers must be completely dry prior to being placed into another water body.
It is good guidance to subject the water-related equipment, watercraft and trailers to the hot summer sun. It is important to note, the time it takes for items to dry increases dramatically in the spring and fall due to cooler temperatures and increased humidity. To facilitate drying, keep the watercraft uncovered and open all compartments.
How to decontaminate specific areas of the watercraftThermal treatments must be conducted on all surfaces that have come in contact with water including:
Internal Systems: Decontaminate by rinsing/flushing all internal systems of the watercraft or water-related equipment that were exposed to a water body, including the engine cooling system, air conditioning system or domestic water systems. Decontamination must be performed by flushing all internal compartments with minimum 50° C (122° F) water for 130 seconds.
Hard to Reach Areas: Thoroughly rinse all hard-to-reach areas and areas of the watercraft with low pressure water at a minimum of 60° C (140° F). Note that the use of high pressure may cause damage to some areas (ex: gimbal area, transducers, motor, trim tabs). A watercraft-friendly brush may be used with the hot water to help remove mussels from hard to reach areas. Using low pressure, maintain a contact time of at least 10 seconds with the nozzle where the water is exiting the hose can come into very close contact or preferably direct contact with the surface being treated. Direct contact to hot water is the most effective way to kill zebra mussels. For areas that do not receive direct contact with the hot water, increase the contact time to 70 seconds. Heating up the surrounding surfaces for a prolonged period of time around the area that cannot be directly contacted by the hot water can be effective for killing inaccessible AIS such as zebra mussels.
On-board Compartments: Decontaminate the live well, bait well, wet storage compartments, bilge areas by flushing the surface thoroughly with 50° C (120° F) water for 90 seconds, or filling compartment with 50° C (120° F) water and letting it stand for at least 130 seconds before draining.
Ballast Tanks: Decontaminate the ballast tanks by filling each ballast tank with maximum 50° C (120° F) water for a minimum of 130 seconds prior to draining.
Approved Decontamination Methods for Water-related Equipment (Schedule C)If water-related equipment removed from a water body cannot be completely dried prior to placing it into another water body, the water-related equipment must be decontaminated using one of the measures indicated in the table below.
Water-related equipment could also be taken to a provincially-operated Watercraft Inspection Station to be decontaminated with hot water.
Here is a short video showing how individual boaters can help by implementing a Clean, Drain, Dry approach.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKZgcVFyULw
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