What is the Clean Vessel Act?

Grant Proposal Guidelines and Form 

Inland Water Pumpout List (PDF)

Clean Marinas (Division of Coastal Management Web Site)

What is the Clean Vessel Act?

Purpose: Provide pumpout and dump stations for boaters to dispose of human waste in an environmentally safe manner. Pumpout stations are used to pump waste out of recreational boat holding tanks. Dump stations are used to empty portable toilets. Appropriate State agencies are the only entities eligible to receive grant funds.

Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act in 1992 (CVA) to help reduce pollution from vessel sewage discharges. The Act established a federal grant program administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and authorized money from the Sport Fish Restoration Account of the Aquatic Resources Trust Fund for use by the States. Federal funs are used for public outreach and for installation, renovation, operation, and maintenance of pumpout and dump stations. Marinas can be reimbursed by these funds for up to 75% of the approved project costs.

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Why Use Pumpouts or Dump Stations?

• Raw or poorly treated sewage can spread disease, contaminate shellfish beds and lower oxygen levels in water. Waterborne diseases including hepatitis, typhoid and cholera can be transmitted by shellfish. Organic matter in sewage is decomposed in the water by bacteria. During this process, the bacteria use oxygen. As a result, sewage in the water may deplete the water's oxygen level, causing stress to fish and other aquatic animals.
• Areas most likely to be affected are sheltered waters with low flushing rates, waters with significant recreational value, areas set aside for shellfish harvesting, State and Federally designated significant habitats such as those in Coastal Zone programs, as well as waters designated by the Environmental Protection Agency as "No Discharge Areas."
• Increased sewage acts as a fertilizer causing excess growth of algae, which blocks out needed sunlight for aquatic vegetation which provides nursery habitat for fry or young fish.
• Boats with holding tanks that discharge their sewage illegally and carelessly may be pouring large amounts of harmful chemicals in the water used as deodorizers in the holding tanks, such as formaldehyde, chlorine, and ammonium compounds.
• Also, floating sewage tends to ruin your outdoor experience.

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N.C. Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Proposal Information

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is now accepting proposals to apply for a cooperative grant under the Clean Vessel Act Program. The required guidelines and form, Grant Program Guidelines & Grant Request, are available for download from the web. (see Grant Proposal Guidelines and Form below)

The importance of keeping our waters clean is evident in all aspects of our lives. Your willingness to participate in this program accomplishes many benefits and will help us “Keep our Waters Clean”.

Thank you for taking the time and initiative to improve waste reception facilities for the boaters of North Carolina.

If you have any questions, contact Tammy Eliopoulos at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, 1720 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27606; (919) 707-0157.

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Grant Proposal Guidelines and Form  

PLEASE NOTE: NO WORK IS TO COMMENCE UNTIL YOU HAVE RECEIVED A SIGNED CONTRACT.

The North Carolina Pumpout Facility Grant Program for Inland Waters is administered by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, Division of Engineering Services. The grant program was established under the federal Clean Vessel Act of 1992.

The goal of the Clean Vessel Act is to make pumpout and dump stations readily available and significantly more convenient for recreational boaters and marina operators. It should be as easy to receive pumpout services as any other common service usually provided at boating facilities.

This grant program will provide financial assistance in the form of matching funds for the installation or renovation of sewage pumpout and dump stations at boat docking facilities on inland waters.

Local permit requirements for pumpouts or dump stations and the specific local agencies that issue those permits may vary from county to county. Exact permit requirements must be determined on a case by case basis by the local agencies that have authority to review and/or issue permits. The applicant is responsible for securing all necessary permits (health, building, electrical, etc.).

Funding is available to marinas (private, commercial and municipal), gas/service docks and other boat docking facilities in the inland counties of North Carolina. This excludes the following coastal counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans. Tyrell, and Washington. Eligibility requirements for coastal counties are on the Division of Coastal Management Clean Marina site, see link below.

Eligible ActivitiesEligible grant activities include the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance, planning and engineering for pumpout and dump stations, including floating restrooms in the water, not connected to land or structures connected to the land, used solely by boaters.

Eligible grant activities also include any activity necessary to hold and transport sewage to sewage treatment plants, such as holding tanks, piping, haulage costs, and any activity necessary to get sewage treatment plants to accept sewage, such as installing bleed-in facilities. Modification of existing on-site septic systems is allowed provided that such a modification is necessary to handle the additional flow generated by the newly installed, or renovated, pumpout system or dump stations.

Funds will not be provided for the construction or renovation of upland restroom facilities, or the construction, renovation, operation and maintenance of on-site sewage treatment, such as package treatment plants and septic systems and municipal treatment plants for primary or secondary treatment. Funds will not be provided for activities that do not provide public benefits or enforcement activities.

The North Carolina Pumpout Facility Grant Program for Inland Waters will provide financial assistance. Federal funds can constitute up to 75% of all approved projects with the remaining funds provided by the States or marinas. Grant recipients must provide a minimum of 25% of the total project cost. The match requirement may be met through a combination of cash, in-kind services(non-cash) and permit/engineering fees. Non-cash match, as well as all project costs, must be fully documented.

All recreational vessels must have access to pumpout and dump stations funded under the grant program, regardless whether the facilities are private, commercial, or municipal. Facilities shall continue to be accessible to the public during reasonable business hours for the full period of their useful life (minimum of 5 years).

A maximum fee of $5may be charged for the use of pumpout and dump station systems constructed, or renovated, with grant funds. The maximum use fee shall be evaluated for inflation and other elevated operating costs at the end of each year.

There are four basic types of pumpout stations on the market. Each type of system has its advantages and disadvantages. Since every marina is unique, there is no one solution that will work in all cases. Therefore, each marina operator should examine their own situation and choose the system that will work most efficiently. The Commission does not promote, or endorse, the use of any particular brand or manufacturer.

• Stationary Pumpout Unit: These units consist of a connector hose and pump which are connected directly to a local or municipal sewage treatment system. The unit is usually located at the end of a dock, often near a fueling station. Vessels access the pumpout station by approaching and securing to the dock or pier. Advantages are convenience, efficiency and speed of use. The principal disadvantage is that the unit restricts pumpout service to a single area of the marina, which may cause congestion.

• Portable Pumpout Unit: This unit typically is a wheeled device, consisting of a holding tank, hose and mechanical or hand pump that is pushed along a dock to the vessel’s location. When full, the unit is emptied to the marina sewage system, or the sewage is removed by a licensed septic hauler. The advantage is that the unit is brought to the boat, rather than the boat to the pumpout station. When full of sewage, however, the unit can be heavy and cumbersome. Since it must be moved from boat to boat, the time required to complete the pumpout operation could be greater than that of fixed systems. Portable units require twice the effort in handling when compared to fixed units.

• Portable Pumpout Unit on Vessel: This unit is a boat with a pumpout on board, consisting of a pump and holding tank. The advantage is the convenience of having the pumpout come directly to the boat needing service. Disadvantages are similar to a conventional portable unit.

• Remote Operated Multi-station System: This system consists of a pump that transports wastes via a main sewer line to a central collection and treatment site. This unit can provide pumpout services at any number of locations throughout the marina. This system provides wastewater collection anytime and combines the convenience and efficiency of fixed units with the versatility of portable types. The disadvantages are that the system must be specifically designed for the marina and is the most costly of the four types.

• Dump Stations: A dump station consists of a receiving receptacle for sewage from portable toilets and includes rinsing capabilities along with storage tank or sewer line connections.