33 CFR § 159.53 - General requirements.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t33/s159.53"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "33 CFR § 159.53 - General requirements."
title_number: 33
title_name: "Navigation and Navigable Waters"
section_number: "159.53"
section_name: "General requirements."
chapter_name: "COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY"
subchapter_number: "O"
subchapter_name: "POLLUTION"
part_number: "159"
part_name: "MARINE SANITATION DEVICES"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "33 U.S.C. 1322(b)(1); 49 CFR 1.45(b). Subpart E also issued under authority of sec. 1(a)(4), Pub. L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763; DHS Delegation No. 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4."
regulatory_source: "CGD 73-83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "159"
---


# 159.53 General requirements.

A device must:

(a) Under the test conditions described in §§ 159.123 and 159.125, produce an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 1,000 per 100 milliliters and no visible floating solids (Type I),

(b) Under the test conditions described in §§ 159.126 and 159.126a, produce an effluent having a fecal coliform bacteria count not greater than 200 per 100 milliliters and suspended solids not greater than 150 milligrams per liter (Type II), or

(c) Be designed to prevent the overboard discharge of treated or untreated sewage or any waste derived from sewage (Type III).

[CGD 73-83, 40 FR 4624, Jan. 30, 1975, as amended by CGD 75-213, 41 FR 15325, Apr. 12, 1976]