In partnership with the Washington State Parks Clean Vessel Act program, WSG manages the Pumpout Washington program, which educates boaters about the importance of proper sewage disposal, informs them about where to find pumpout stations, helps marina operators secure grants to install more stations and advises on the deployment of mobile pumpout services on heavily used waters. In recent years, the more than 8.3 million gallons of sewage that would have been dumped into vulnerable waterways annually have instead been collected for safe onshore treatment, thanks largely to training, outreach and federal funds provided by the Pumpout program.
Watch Pumpout Washington’s latest instructional videos.
As part of the larger Clean Marina program, WSG conducts direct outreach to boaters, port districts and marinas through site visits, boat shows and other events statewide, with an emphasis on underserved areas with high concentrations of boaters. WSG trains boaters in how to use pumpout stations and distributes adapters that provide a secure connection between pumpout hose and boat holding tank. This eliminates a common source of sewage spills and reduces boaters’ reluctance to use pumpouts. To date, WSG staff have distributed more than 9,000 threaded fittings to recreational boaters, providing a clean and safe connection at pumpout stations around Washington.
Check out the Pumpout Washington website!