WATCH: Is your boat too loud?

• Excessive boat noise can disrupt people and local habitat
• Transport Canada asking for public's opinion by May 13th
• Majority of boats meet standards

A day out at the lake should be a relaxing experience. But the noise of excessively loud boat motors can disrupt the water for users, and an organization has been advocating for change in the federal regulations.

The public has a few more weeks to offer feedback on changes that could result in stricter measures.

Member of the National Task Force for Decibel Coalition, Gary Milne, told Kelowna10 noise pollution is the number one issue currently affecting people on a lake.

“The general public had pretty much said, ‘it really bothers us, but there’s nothing we can do,’” Milne said.

The Small Vessel Regulations currently require all power-driven vessels be equipped with a muffler to limit the noise pollution and avoid disturbing both the environment and other waterway users.

“We have, working with U.S. counterparts and those in the EU, determined a decibel limit standard. And that standard is about 80dB,” Milne said.

Though a muffler is required, the regulations don’t include any performance standards.

Police have also reportedly noted that it is hard to enforce the requirements as they lack the technical expertise required to identify whether a muffler is properly equipped or not.

According to Milne, a way to determine proper volume levels could be through the use of decibel measurement equipment.

“The marine patrol units in British Columbia would have decibel measurement equipment on board. And we suspect in most cases, they would be monitoring boats as they’re being launched,” Milne said.

Taking these challenges into consideration, Transport Canada is looking at several ways to address the concerns, and is asking for the public to weigh in on the proposed options:

• Option 1: Make no changes;
• Option 2: Clarify and modernize existing requirements
• Option 3: Introduce performance standards for manufacturers to follow
• Option 4: Introduce performance standards for vessel operators to follow
• Option 5: Introduce performance standards for manufacturers and vessel operators to follow – so both manufacturers and operators must make sure their vessels do not exceed noise-emission levels.

The Decibel Coalition, which is comprised of over 65 associations and municipalities across Canada, is endorsing Option 5, saying it would best address the issue.

“The majority of boats are just fine,” Milne said. “Action can result when people get together and say ‘not here.’

Canadians who wish to have a say in the matter can register and fill out the survey online. The engagement period ends May 13, 2022.

-- With files from Vernon Matters